Apricot Poppy Seed Bread

About four days ago, I stopped at a local fruit stand that's set up in Fernbridge, California.  The apricots looked stunning, so I got a basket of them.  However, even eating two and three at a time, the two of us didn't get through them fast enough and they were getting pretty ripe.  So I made a bread out of their puree today.  It came out pretty great!  I was stoked!  Firm, but moist.  (Heheh...no time for that now!)  It smelled a lot like pumpkin bread when it baked.  I actually doubled the poppy seeds that I listed in the recipe and we both liked twice as many... but I sort of figured for the general public, halving them would be better.  Tasty bread!  It'd be yummy with a whipped apricot and cinnamon cream cheese!  Didn't have any cream cheese though.

Man, this is some newer Anti-Flag and I'm not real familiar with their later stuff.  I listened to a lot of their earlier music.  But this song... it just keeps getting stuck in my head.  It's catchy... despite or because of the hi-hat?  I can't decide.  Anti-Flag's "If You Wanna Steal".  -jen

APRICOT POPPY SEED BREAD
Prep Time:  15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Difficulty:  Easy
Yields:  1 loaf

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 pounds fresh apricots, peeled, pitted and pureed until smooth
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 cup poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricot

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom and salt. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the apricot puree, eggs, butter, vanilla, almond and mix well.  Add the dry mixture and mix just until combined.  Fold in poppy seeds, pecans and apricot.

Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes.  Test by sticking a knife or tooth pick in the middle to make sure it comes out clean.  Cool on a baking rack for 10 minutes.

Spiced Cider & Pumpkin Bread

Homemade pumpkin puree

I don't really get into the baking mood much, but on Christmas morning this year, I was overcome with the notorious holiday baking bug.  We had two sugar pumpkins getting pretty ripe, so we cut those suckers up and roasted them, then pureed the roasted insides.  I had some delicious, dark cider left over in the fridge, and thought I'd use that and mulling spices in the pumpkin bread!  It was great!  Not especially sweet, but very moist and spiced!  I think I might make this a Christmas tradition.

And nothing says Christmas like busting out some old school Agent Orange being "Too Young To Die".  (And, you know... pumpkins... orange... etc.)  -jen

Roasting sugar pumpkins

SPICED CIDER & PUMPKIN BREAD
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time:  60 minutes
Yields:  2 loaves 

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup apple cider
• 4 and 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• zest of 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Generously coat 2 loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Combine brown sugar, pumpkin, eggs, vegetable oil and cider.  Add flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves, cardamom, orange zest and baking powder and mix until thoroughly combined.  Stir in pecans and divide batter equally into the two loaf pans.  Bake for 60 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Cool on baking rack until room temp.

Note:  If you'd like to make your own pumpkin puree, quarter a sugar pumpkin and roast at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.  Let cool, remove skin, and puree in a food processor or with an stick blender.  A medium sugar pumpkin will yield about 2 cups of puree.