A LITTLE FALL BAKING and BEACH

FALL 2014

BAKING & BEACH & BUTTERFLIES

Buttermilk Quick Bread

This is such an easy peasy recipe that can be tweaked in SO many ways.

Put something in the crock pot and bake a loaf of this bread...VOILA!

You have supper.AND you can sew ALL day if you're lucky enough to be retired!

I thought I would share this recipe I found (don't know the source...sorry) with you

as well as a few pictures from our Fall Beach Vacation.  My family has decided that October is THE PERFECT MONTH to go to the beach....Temps are perfect,,,warm days...cool nights...beach fires...smores...fishing is great....and prices are cut in half!  It's a WIN WIN!

Our schools have returned to having a Fall Break after 3 yrs of none.  Let me tell you, as a retired teacher, I can remember when Fall Breaks became a reality...OMGOSH...it was the Best Mental break I had ever had.

Three Terrific Grandsons

Meet RJ, 6 weeks old (isn't he precious?)

These Three are pretty tight. 

13 yr. old Ryan with his new IPHONE and RJ!

Is this not adorable?????

Ryan has never had his own phone but due to soccer practice

 and 

security issues, a phone was a safety precaution, not a luxury.

GULF SHORES ALABAMA

2014

BABY RJ AT THE BEACH

Our Home for a Week!    James loves the waves! (see PaPaw in the background getting his fishing rod all baited up?  That man fished for 1 solid week morning till night)

Basic Buttermilk Quick Bread

Makes one loaf

2 cups (10 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (4 oz) white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 oz) buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 cup (2 oz) unsalted butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil

Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease or spray with nonstick cooking spray a standard 9x5 loaf pan.

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Melt the butter, if using. Whisk it in a separate bowl with the buttermilk and the egg.

Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients. Gently stir and fold the ingredients until all the flour has been incorporated and a shaggy, wet batter is formed. Be careful not to over-mix.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and pat it into the corners. Bake for 45-50 minutes. When finished, the loaf should be domed and golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing and slicing.

Wrap baked loaves tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. Baked loaves can also be wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil and frozen for up to three months.

Basic Variations:

• Sugar can be reduced to a tablespoon for more savory breads.
• Up to half the flour can be substituted with an alternative flour.
• Replace the buttermilk with a mix of yogurt and milk or milk and a squeeze of lemon.
• Use up to 1 1/2 cups fruits, nuts, olives, cheese, or other ingredients, added to the dry ingredients.
• Use 1-3 teaspoons of herbs or spices, added to the dry ingredients.

10 Variations:

1. Cranberry-Walnut Loaf (pictured above) - 1 c. dried cranberries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnuts, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one orange
2. Apple-Cinnamon Loaf - 1 c. diced apples, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped nuts
3. Cherry-Almond Loaf - 1 c. dried cherries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped almonds, 1 tsp almond extract
4. Blueberry Loaf - 1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one lemon
5. Ginger-Orange Loaf - zest from two oranges, 1/4 cup minced crystallized ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of cloves, pinch of nutmeg
6. Herbed Sun-dried Tomato and Cheese Loaf (pictured below) - reduce sugar to 1 T, 1/2 c. grated cheese, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp thyme, 2 T minced sun-dried tomatoes
7. Onion-Dill Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 T, one minced onion cooked until soft, 1 T minced fresh dill
8. Pesto Loaf - reduce sugar to 1 tablespoon, 1/4 c. pesto, 1/2 c. shredded parmesan cheese
9. Spicy Jalapeno Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 tablespoons, 1/4 cup minced jalapeno peppers, 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tsp chili powder
10. Irish Soda Bread Look-Alike Loaf - reduce sugar to 1/4 cup, 1 T caraway seeds, 3/4 cup raisins   SOURCE:  Noshing with the Nolands

FALL BLESSINGS & REMINDER

GMAMA