Monday's Menu

Before I begin,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Continuing with our bread theme for another week, I have something special today. If you want to check out some the other posts, you can take a look at the White Sandwich Bread post or Pepperoni Bread/ Garlic Bread post. Remember we started with a basic bread recipe and now we're sprucing it up some (which in my opinion is the most fun part).

In this case, you need to add some raisins to the dough when you mix it up.

The extra stuff you'll need.

See those dark spots. Those are the raisins.


Then, as normal, you knead it and pat it into a rectangle. Now spread on some softened butter or margarine....
It already looks yummy, huh? Now you sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar...

Or, if you're lazy like some un-named persons (okay, like me), then you can sprinkle on some sugar and then some cinnamon. Roll it up tight -- err, or not so tight if you aren't feeling neat. Hmmm.

Cut it into appropriate sized pieces and stuff the little buggars in your loaf pans.


Okay. Be nicer than that. Allow them to rise. And bake. And what duh ya got? Cinnamon Raisin Bread. See the swirl. This is a mini loaf. If it had been a full sized loaf (and I was neater), it would have had more than one swirl.

Ummmm. Hurt me.

Now you just stand humbly while your husband and children tell you how wonderful you are.

By the way, you could also use chopped nuts in the swirls and leave out the raisins but just remember to watch the weight. The bread won't rise if the filling is too heavy.


Cinnamon Raisin Bread

1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3 Tablespoons sugar
3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup milk, warmed
1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 Tablespoons butter or margarine, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup raisins (approximately)
margarine or butter for spreading
Cinnamon and sugar

Mix together water, yeast, milk, and butter. Set aside. Mix together sugar, about 2 1/2 cups flour, and salt. Add yeast water and lemon juice. Mix well, adding enough of remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface, mixing in raisins as you knead. Place in warm greased bowl and allow dough to rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until double in bulk. Punch down dough and turn out onto floured surface. Knead until soft and elastic. Shape into a rectangle. Spread with softened butter or margarine. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Beginning at short end, roll tightly. Cut in half and place each piece in a greased loaf pan. Allow dough to rise in warm place for about 1 hour or until double in bulk. Bake in 350 degree oven until done -- about 15 - 30 minutes.