Just before leaving on our last trailer trip, I decided to bake this bread mainly for our dear friend Margo who dearly loves tart cherries. Since we would be spending several days trailering with them, it seemed like a good way to spoil her a bit. And it worked. Both she and her husband Jim loved the bread. We of course enjoyed it too. It was simple to make, and stayed fresh for several days. And with our coffee in the morning, it was just that perfect way to greet the day. And speaking of greeting the day, this is how I awakened this morning.
Bread, bread, glorious bread
Nothing quite like it for fending off dread
Bake some today
Put your worries away
Just so much better than staying in bed
Sorry – I just couldn’t help myself. And abject apologies to Flanders and Swann* for taking the words to their endearing Hippopotamus Song* and making them my own. But for some reason, I woke up this morning with the words to this song buzzing around in my head. Can’t complain – it could have been the words to The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round. Now there’s an ear worm that could drive a sane person crazy. As if there isn’t enough craziness all around us already. Enough so, that I’m strongly considering giving up my decades old habit of reading the newspaper as I drink my morning coffee. I can no longer stand to read about what masquerades as “leadership” in our nation’s capital. The values (or lack thereof) demonstrated by some of the high ranking officials are so foreign to me as to be incomprehensible. And in many cases – unforgivable. (And you wonder why I bake so much bread. For me it’s either stay busy, or go crazy!)
So with that uplifting comment in mind, I think I’ll go start a batch of sourdough English muffins. If they work, you will be hearing from me. If not, another recipe will take its place.
As always, peace, love, and a healthy dose of “I need to take care of myself” to all.
½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.
1 c. granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
½ tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. sour cream
2 c. tart cherries, halved and patted dry with paper towels (I use frozen pie cherries)
Cream the butter and sugar together until well blended (about 5 minutes). Scrape down bowl periodically. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat until well blended.
In a separate bowl whisk the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together. Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Stir in sour cream until completely incorporated. Fold in cherries. Pour batter into 1 9×5-inch bread pan or 2 – 7½ x 3½- inch bread pans greased with non-stick spray.
Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 50-60 minutes (about 45 minutes for smaller pans) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out fairly clean. Remove to a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely before cutting or storing.
Please note: If you have old aluminum pans that are rusting, maybe you should consider getting some new loaf pans. Mr. C. finally asked me to replace my old pans because he didn’t want to consume any more rust. OK, I get that. I don’t think I even noticed anymore because I had been using those same pans for 50 odd years.
So I went on line and purchased a two pack of Stellar James Martin 1 lb. non-stick Loaf Tin Pans.
Now you know this is a non-advertising site. But these are the best loaf pans I have ever used. They are the perfect size for us, because recipes that make enough batter for 1 9×15-inch loaf pan is just the perfect amount for 2 of these little darlings. They measure 7½ x 3½ x 2¾ inches. And I have always enjoyed using the smaller pans for everything from meat loaf to quick bread. For us, 1 loaf can be consumed while the other loaf can be tucked away in our freezer for some later date when it’s obvious to both of us that we deserve a treat.
*Flanders and Swann were a British comedy duo. Lyricist, actor and singer Michael Flanders (1922–1975) and composer and pianist Donald Swann (1923–1994) collaborated in writing and performing comic songs. The Hippopotamus Song is one of my favorites. If you get a chance, look them up. They are incredibly entertaining. Makes me laugh just to think about them.
The Hippopotamus Song
[1st Verse]
A bold hippopotamus was standing one day
On the banks of the cool Shalimar
He gazed at the bottom, as it peacefully lay
By the light of the evening star
Away on a hilltop sat combing her hair
His fair hippopotami maid
The hippopotamus was no ignoramus
And sang her this sweet serenade
[Chorus]
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me, follow
Down to the hollow
And there let us wallow in glorious mud
[2nd Verse]
The fair hippopotama he aimed to entice
From her seat on that hilltop above
As she hadn’t got a ma to give her advice
Came tip-toeing down to her love
Like thunder the forest re-echoed the sound
Of the song that they sang as they met
His inamorata adjusted her garter
And lifted her voice in duet
[Chorus]
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me, follow
Down to the hollow
And there let us wallow in glorious mud