Morning Applesauce Loaf (Oamc)

photo by Realtor by day, Chef by night


- Ready In:
- 2hrs 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 15
- Yields:
-
2 loaves
ingredients
- 1 cup shortening
- 1 1⁄2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
- 4 eggs
- 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 cups sweetened applesauce
- 1 1⁄2 cups uncooked oats (quick or old-fashioned)
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup finely chopped pitted dates
- 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (your choice, but I prefer walnuts)
directions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
- Beat shortening and sugar together until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Sift together 2 cups of the flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Add alternately with applesauce to creamed mixture; blend well. Stir in oats.
- Combine remaining 1/2 cup flour with raisins, dates, and nuts; stir to coat fruits and nuts evenly with flour. Stir into batter.
- Pour into 2 greased and waxed paper-lined 8-1/2" x 4-1/2" x 2-1/2" loaf pans. Set a pan of hot water in the bottom of oven before adding loaves.
- Bake loaves for 2 hours. Loosen edges; cool on wire rack about.
- 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool thoroughly. Wrap cooled bread.
- in plastic and store one day before slicing.
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Reviews
-
We really enjoyed this for breakfast this morning. It felt like we were having dessert. I really like the nice, moist, soft texture. And what a great flavor! I sprinkled ours with powdered sugar but it was just fine without anything on top. I made just a few small changes: I added 1/2 tsp almond extract, substituted chopped prunes for the dates and skipped the nuts because my little one doesn't care for the texture of nuts in her food. I was a little skeptical about baking them for 2 hrs and also wondered if they would overflow since the pans were about 2/3 or so full but at exactly 2 hours, I pulled them out and they were perfectly. They didn't overflow either. They puffed up nicely and they stayed that way, too- no shrinking back like some recipes do. Thanks for posting this one! Made for 123 tag game.
Tweaks
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We really enjoyed this for breakfast this morning. It felt like we were having dessert. I really like the nice, moist, soft texture. And what a great flavor! I sprinkled ours with powdered sugar but it was just fine without anything on top. I made just a few small changes: I added 1/2 tsp almond extract, substituted chopped prunes for the dates and skipped the nuts because my little one doesn't care for the texture of nuts in her food. I was a little skeptical about baking them for 2 hrs and also wondered if they would overflow since the pans were about 2/3 or so full but at exactly 2 hours, I pulled them out and they were perfectly. They didn't overflow either. They puffed up nicely and they stayed that way, too- no shrinking back like some recipes do. Thanks for posting this one! Made for 123 tag game.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
JackieOhNo!
Stormville, New York
I didn't start cooking until my early 20's, even though I come from a family of accomplished and admired home cooks. While I grew up watching my Italian grandmother in the kitchen, I remained uninterested in trying anything on my own. As a young lady, I was known for being particularly ignorant in the kitchen, with no idea how to even make a hot dog! All this changed, however, when I got engaged. I realized it was time to let my inherent talents out of the bag. At the time, the New York Times had a weekly column called The 60-Minute Gourmet by Pierre Franey. Each week, I would follow these recipes diligently, and taught myself to cook that way. From there, I began to read cookbooks and consult with relatives on family recipes. At my ripe old age now, I feel I know enough to put together a very pleasing meal and have become accomplished in my own right. Having an Irish father and an Italian mother, I'm glad I inherited the cooking gene (and the drinking one too!). One thing I have learned is that simpler is always better! I always believe cooking fills a need to nurture and show love. After being widowed fairly young and living alone with my dog and cats, I stopped cooking for awhile, since I really had no one to cook for. I made care packages for my grown son occasionally, and like to cook weekly for my boyfriend, so I feel like I am truly back in the saddle!!