Easy Cinnamon Bread

I am a devotee of cinnamon. If I can add cinnamon to a recipe I will do it. So when I found this recipe for Easy Cinnamon Bread I knew I had to make it for the holidays. To quote the recipe: "This bread is a cross between a typical baking powder-leavened quick bread, and a yeast bread. The result: a cinnamon coffeecake-tasting loaf that's wonderful served plain, and is incredible toasted."

You will need both yeast and baking powder and the rising time is about an hour. I mixed it in my wonderful Kitchen-Aid standing mixer (an appliance I bought when we moved here two years ago and would not want to be without). To find the recipe, go to the King Arthur site and search for Easy Cinnamon Bread. I'm sure the Cinnamon Chips from King Arthur are wonderful but they are also a bit pricey. I looked all over for Hershey Cinnamon Chips and finally found them at Schnucks in Peoria (2 bags for $4.00). Hopefully they are just a seasonal item because I could see myself getting obsessed with them and they are full of fat. Clearly this bread is for special-occasions.

The best yeast I have ever used in 35 years of bread baking is SAF, which I have purchased from King Arthur. You can find it in Peoria at GFC.

I baked it in my Woven Traditions Loaf Dish. It was not baked through at 40 min so I baked it for an extra 10 min. Enjoy!

Next Recipe: Chewy Cinnamon Chip Cookies.

Christmas Glimpses in Our Home

Take a walk through my house with me.

Don't you love this year's Snowflake Christmas Cookie Basket and the beautiful Snowflake Cookie Platter? I am leaving this basket out through the winter months.

Fill a basket with old mittens for a nostalgic winter decoration. Our sons enjoy seeing their handknit woolen mittens and remembering fun times playing outside in the snow while wearing them. A few favorite photos tucked into the basket add to lively family conversations.

The Collector Club Wrought Iron Tree looks great on our mantle. I love the Backyard Bird Collection. A few of my dad's handmade wood ornaments and the birdhouse are whimsical additions.

Easy Peasy Table Centerpiece

My centerpiece garnered a lot of attention at the home tour yesterday.

You can make this centerpiece as quickly as you can say, "Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!"

You will need:

• Handle Platter (on sale today for 12 hours only in Ivory or Paprika!)
• 15 to 20 oranges
• 6 lemons
• 3 limes
• small silver ornaments
• evergreen or rosemary springs

Using the Handled Platter fill the bottom with oranges. Add about 6 lemons to the pile and a few more oranges. Dot with 3 limes and stick the balls in there so the candle flames are reflected nicely. Place candles on the ends of the platter, but not too close to the greenery.

For the greenery, I trimmed my rosemary plant, which won't last much longer outside anyway. Rosemary is known as the Christmas herb. Legend is that when the Holy Family fled to Egypt Mary threw her cloak on a rosemary bush and the flowers turned blue. I bet you always wanted to know that.

Now hurry on over to my website or give me a call and get your platter now! The platter is also perfect for baking a loaf of hearty bread (classes coming in Jan and Feb!), for vegetable assortments, serving turkey (keep warm in the oven), or for baking a giant cookie. I'm sure you can think of many more uses! Leave your ideas in the comments section or email me and I will post them for everyone to see. You may remain anonymous.

Crossroads Christmas Home Tour

Visit 5 homes and support a worthy cause! Proceeds will go toward the purchase of an automated external defibrillator at Crossroads United Methodist Church.

Crossroads Christmas Home Tour

December 13, 2009

4 to 7 PM

Ticket Prices:

$10 Pre-Sale

$12 Day or Tour (may be purchased at any home)

$5 Children ages 6-12

contact me for more information. Paulaef@aol.com

Thanksgiving Pics

The Fam minus our youngest son, Pete, and girlfriend Lyndzi.. Photo was taken at my sister's house.

Bob, Potscrubber Extraordinaire.

The young people's table. They always have such fun together.

Emily and Nils (Son #2)

We have a Winner!

The winner of the R.S.V.P. drawing at the Open House was Emily Mueller! Emily won a Snowflake Cookie Platter. I was so busy at the Open House that I forgot to take photos of the folks who won door prizes that day. There were quite a few! Everyone who came received a Longaberger coaster. If the coaster had "Door Prize!" on the back they rang the jingle bells and then chose their gift from the assortment at the table. Everyone seems to get in the spirit of the game! I hope you all enjoy your coasters and products!

Open House and Thanksgiving Wishes

Thanks to all my customers and friends who came to my Open House on Sunday afternoon and to those who placed orders by internet and phone. I appreciate your support! My guests enjoyed a brunch of egg casserole, pastries, coffee, hot cranberry mulled drink (aka "The Bog"), Scottish shortbread, and veggies. The weather was beautiful. There was no ice or snow as we have experienced during the last few years that I held this event in early December.

The 2010 Sweetheart Basket is available starting December 1. The Hershey Kiss Basket is our first collaboration with the Hershey Co. The chocolate pottery is another first! It is so rich and elegant. Wouldn't these be perfect gifts for the chocolate lovers in your life?

Our library is a happy place to be when the morning sun streams through, and especially when the table is filled with Longaberger baskets and pottery.

I am so thankful for the support of wonderful people through the years. May you have the very best Thanksgiving Holiday!