Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease the bottom of a loaf pan. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 c sugar and 1 Tb cinnamon. Set aside.


In a large bowl, combine 2 c flour, 1 c sugar, 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp salt.


Stir together, and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine....
1 Tb lemon juice or white vinegar...


and enough milk to make 1 cup. (This is my substitution for buttermilk, because I never buy it, so it is never on hand.)


Add 1/4 c vegetable or olive oil


and 1 tsp vanilla...combine.


Now you are going to mix the liquid mixture into the flour mixture.


Mix until it is just blended.


Batter will be very thick.


Carefully spread half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan.


Next, you are going to take the cinnamon-sugar mixture, and sprinkle about 2/3 of it onto the batter.




Carefully spoon the remaining batter over the top, and spread it as evenly as possible.


Sprinkle with remaining cin-sugar.


Now you are going to take a knife, and run the knife through the batter, end to end, zig-zagging the length of the pan.


Then continue right around to do the same across the pan.


It will look something like this.


Now you are going to bake it for 50-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The loaf will form a crunchy crust on top.


And when you slice it....


Ooooooo.......Aaaaaaah

You can top with a simple glaze if you like.


Enjoy!

Printable Version: Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread

Biology: The Worm

This week, my daughter had her first dissection lab in Biology.

Do you see her excitement?



"Mooom!"



"The Worm." Dum dum DUM!!!!!



She was really not happy about having to TOUCH the worm, and feel for its little bristles.



But once she got over the initial horror.....on with the dissection.







This would be a dissected worm.


Sometimes in life, we have to do unpleasant things. Things we might not want to do, or may not be accustomed to. Sometimes they are things we dread.

But the end result, is learning, growing and becoming a stronger person for it.

Dissecting a worm may not seem like that big of a deal, but within the process lies that life lesson.

If we don't do what we don't want to do, how will we ever achieve the things in life we do desire?


"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13

Alaska Here We Come!

Well, we found out today that we are locked in for the assignment!

This October, we will be heading to Alaska!!!! After twelve years in North Carolina, we are going to see something new and exciting. For the first time, we will see the western part of the country!


(internet photo)

Spanish Moss

In this part of North Carolina, you don't really see Spanish Moss. We are just too far north for it I guess. But in this one place, it is everywhere.





This is in an historic cemetery in downtown Fayetteville, NC.




I just find this stuff so beautiful and surreal.

























Another thing you will find in this old cemetary, are things like this.



And this.

Bacon Cheddar Bread

This is one of those yummy, yummy, devoured before it's even cooled kind of breads. I think it is my elder son's favorite.

Bacon Cheddar Bread...

First, fry up about 8-10 slices of bacon, until crispy, then drain it on some paper towels. DO NOT toss your bacon drippings yet!


Chop up your bacon, to 1/2 inch or so sized pieces.

Cut off the soft, fatty pieces, and feed them to the dogs.

Or the boys that are hovering around like drooling hyenas.



And grate up about 1 1/2 c sharp cheddar cheese.


I like to cube up some of the cheese too, so that every so often you get a very intense taste of cheddar.

Now, go to your pan, and save 1 tablespoon of the drippings...


...and set aside.


Now, in your stand mixer (with dough hook)...add 3 cups white bread flour.


1 1/4 c warm water and the bacon drippings...


1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 Tablespoon sugar, and 2 1/4 tsp yeast...


...and 3/4 of the cheese and bacon. Now, turn your mixer on, and let it run 14 minutes. You will have something like this:


Let it rise, covered, for 1 hour. Then turn your mixer on for a few seconds to "beat down" the dough.

Turn it out onto a floured surface.


Divide the dough in half.


With one section, pat it out into a rectanglish shape, and roll the dough up.


Place the dough onto a baking stone or sheet, covered with parchment paper. Repeat with the other half.


Cover the stone with a towel, and let rise in a warm place. I like to use my oven with the light on.


After about an hour, when the loaves have doubled in size, take them out and brush them lightly with some milk.


(Note to self: NEVER buy another one of these silicon brushes. Nope, I just don't like them.)

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Now take the reserved cheese, and sprinkle over the tops of the loaves.


And do the same with the rest of the bacon.


Bake for 25-30 minutes. (Don't these look like loaded baked potatoes?)


And when they come out....

Oh heavens.



Oh yum!



Enjoy!





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Printable Version: Bacon Cheddar Bread