Apple Bread

Monday evening when I arrived home from work, I walked to the mailbox, opened it, and found a box addressed to me from Gigi. I was totally thrilled and hadn't even opened it yet, but isn't that the magic of Christmas? Inside of the box I found a really sweet Christmas card and a huge bag of shelled pecans. I was ecstatic - Georgia pecans and I was touched by Gigi's kindness. Gigi wrote on the outside of the plastic bag that she shelled these pecans on her way to and from Missouri. Gigi saying you amaze me would be putting it lightly.

The pecans were right on time since I was planning to bake some apple bread to take to work. I work with four hungry guys that will eat anything that won't eat them first.

While this bread is baking, your house will smell like Christmas. When it comes out of the oven to cool you will hope the wonderful smell never ends!

Apple Bread -

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour a standard size bread pan - this one is 8" x 4" x 3".

Cream one stick of softened butter and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Turn off mixer and add to bowl 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, 1 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 cup apple sauce, and 2 large eggs. Mix together until thoroughly blended.

Gigi's pecans before I chopped them. Gently fold in to bread batter 1/2 cup of chopped pecans and 1 cup of raisins.

The homegirlz go crazy over pecans. I walked out of the kitchen for 2 seconds and return to find Lauren in pecan heaven.

Pour batter into prepared bread pan and bake for 1 hour.

A nice accompaniment is apple butter cream cheese. Oh, please no groaning, it's the holidays! You can't eat bread dry! Soften one 8 ounce package of cream cheese. Whisk or beat the softened cream cheese with 1 cup of apple butter until smooth.