Anadama Bread

Not sure why it is, but another thing we often tend to do on a snow day, is to bake bread! I bake bread very often, but I guess snow days are great because you are home for a long period of time. And of course the family is always looking for yummy treats during a storm.
We did get a lot of snow this time! It has been very windy, so I don't know what the final measurement was, but I would say at least 18 inches, maybe more. But today the sun is shining and the skies are a beautiful blue!
This Anadama Bread recipe is one from Mummu. I have another that I often use, but wanted to try hers again. It was delicious (of course), but maybe not quite as sweet as my own recipe. I doubled her recipe, to get two loaves.
For those of you who don't know, Anadama Bread is a popular old New England bread. It contains cornmeal and molasses. The origin of the bread is not known, though it can be traced to the Rockport, MA area before the 1850's. Many believe it was from the local fishermen there, but others feel if came from the Finnish stone cutters that were living there.
Either way, it is a favorite of my family!




Anadama Bread

1-1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup corn meal
1/3 cup molasses
1-1/2 tablespoons shortening
1 package yeast
4 to 4-1/2 cups flour

Bring to a boil in saucepan, the water and salt. Stir in the cornmeal, stirring constantly while bringing it to a boil again. Set aside to cool. Stir in the molasses and shortening. Mix the dry yeast in the flour and spoon into the mixture. Knead until smooth and let rise about 1-1/2 hours. Punch down, and then put into bread pan and let rise until double, about 1 hour. Bake at 375 degrees until dark brown, about 40-45 minutes. Brush with butter when removed from the oven.

Banana Bread

Banana Bread (I always double this recipe)

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
3 bananas, mashed
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
3 tblsp. sour milk
1 tblsp. lemon juice
1 cup chopped nuts (if desired)

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Sift and stir in dry ingredients. Mix Well. turn dough into a 9x5 greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Banana and Cinnamon Bread

•1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
•1 teaspoon Baking Soda
•1 teaspoon Cinnamon
•¼ teaspoons Salt
•3 whole Overripe Bananas Smashed
•⅓ cups Melted Unsalted Butter
•¾ cups Sugar
•1 whole Large Egg, Beaten
•1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
•¾ cups Cinnamon Chips
•_____
•FOR THE CINNAMON-SUGAR TOPPING:
•⅓ cups Sugar
•1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

Preparation Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 loaf pan with cooking spray. Dust it lightly with flour and set aside.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Mix the bananas, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla together in a medium bowl. Add in the flour mixture and carefully stir. Don’t over mix. Add in the cinnamon chips and gently stir.
4. In a small dish, mix together the 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon for the topping.
5. Add the batter to the loaf pan and smooth out with a spatula. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar topping generously over the batter.
6. Bake bread for 50-60 minutes, or until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean. Transfer to cooling rack.
7. Let bread cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Cool, slice, and enjoy.

Mmmmmmmm ~ Nisu

We were raised on Mummus delicious Nisu. I have memories of going to her house every day after school and drinking a glass of milk and many pieces of toasted, buttered nisu. There has not been a family event where her nisu is absent. I have tried for years to make it just like her, and to me, it's never the same. But I still practice, and have gotten to the point where at least I am happy with the outcome!
She is 91 years old now, and still making nisu many times a week. She is known for giving them to all of her family and friends, and even at her church, people always look for it. People can come back to town for a visit after many years of absence, and still look for her bread ~ and when she hears this, they are sure to receive a fresh loaf!

Cinnamon Rolls