Monday, September 16, 2024

Apple Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

 

Apple Bread with Cinnamon Swirl - 
Once Upon a Chef

Penny Kuckkahn made this for a wine get together on September 9th. It is incredibly moist with delicious cinnamon and apple flavors.

Penny doubles the apples. I made it just as the recipe suggested and it turned out great!


Adapted from Erhardts Eat 
This lovely apple bread has a generous cinnamon swirl and crisp sugared top.
Servings: 12 slices
Prep Time: 30minutes 
Cook Time: 55minutes 
Total Time: 1hour  25minutes 
  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup peeled cored, and finely diced tart baking apples, from 1 apple (preferably Granny Smith)
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray an 8½ x 4½-inch (22 x 11-cm) loaf pan lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Line the long side of the pan with a parchment paper “sling” and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray again.
  • In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon until evenly combined. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the eggs and granulated sugar on medium speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.
  • With the mixer on low, gradually add the melted butter followed by the milk and vanilla, and mix just until evenly combined.
  • Add the flour, salt, and baking powder to the batter and mix on low speed until evenly combined.
  • Add the apples to the batter and fold with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated.
  • Spoon about ⅔ of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle about ⅔ of the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture on top of the batter. Spoon the remaining batter over top, followed by the remaining brown sugar-cinnamon mixture. Using a butter knife, swirl the layers by making a zig-zag motion through the batter once in each direction (don't overdo it!).
  • Bake for about 50 minutes, until the bread is golden brown and a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool on a rack for about 30 minutes, then use the parchment sling to lift the bread out of the pan and onto the rack. Let cool completely before slicing, a few hours or overnight. Store loosely covered with aluminum foil on the countertop for up to 4 days.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Spinach and Tomato Quiche

 I cut this out of The Milwaukee Journal on May 1, 1994. It is one of my favorites. The section was called "The Sunday Cook" and the author us Grace Howaniec.

Ingredients

  • 1 unbaked (9inch - diameter) pie shell, homemade or commercial refrigerated crust. I make my own and prebake it.
  • 1 pound fresh spinach, stemmed. (one 10 oz. frozen, thawed, uncooked drained chopped spinach may be substituted. I use fresh.
  • 4 green onions, chopped (1/2 cup)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (1 teaspoon)
  • 2 T. butter or margarine
  • 6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded (1 1/2 cup)
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten or 3/4 cup egg substitute
  • 3/4 cup skim or low fat milk
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 1 t. leaf basil, crumbled. I use fresh basil
  • 1/2 celery salt
  • 33 medium fresh plum or Roma, tomatoes, thinly sliced crosswise
  • 1 T. dry bread crumbs
  • 1 T. grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Line ungreased pie plate with crust fluting the edges as desired. (I use a quiche dish. I also precook the crust at 425 degree F using pie weights. This makes the crust a little crispy.) NOTE: use a glass pie plate for crisper crust

Cook the spinach and drain well. (should make 1 cup. I often don't make this much.) Squeeze out excess water, chop fine.

In a 10 inch skillet, saute green onion and garlic in butter until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Add reserved spinach; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until all excess moisture evaporates, remove from heat.

In large bowl, blend together spinach mixture, Swiss cheese (i often use other cheeses but Swiss is the best.) eggs, milk, salt, basil and celery salt; mixture will be dense. Pour into prepared pie shell. Arrange tomato slices around the outer edge with slices overlapping. Bake at 425 degree 15 minutes; lower temperature to 350 degrees and bake 10 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, in a cup, mix bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese, When quiche has cooked 25 minutes, open oven and sprinkle the crumb mixture over the tomato slices. Make 10 minutes more (a total of 35 minutes), or until the top is puffy and center quivers slightly when quiche is removed.

Makes 8 servings.

I like to serve this with blueberry muffins, though any muffin will do. along with fresh fruit.

Picture taken in 2024, 30 years later.

Picture taken in 2024, 30 years later.