Cinnamon Bread FAIL

The recipe seemed so simple.  The plan - make sweet bread to enjoy over the Easter Holiday.  Unfortunately, we all know the saying about the best laid plans.

Above is a photo of the bread that had been destined to be shared with my family at my cousin's Easter Dinner.  I wish I would have snapped the picture when it came out of the oven - it would have been the cover model of "The most perfect loaf of bread to ever come out of your oven" magazine.  Instead, I sat it on the cooling rack, grabbed the girls as well as our two new puppies and went for a stroll.  Coming back inside, I noticed the bread didn't look so perfect.  Getting closer, I gasped.  The center of my bread was missing!!!!

I believe my bread should have stayed in the oven another minute or two.  If I would have just waited, I would have been able to take my perfect looking bread to my cousin's.  Instead, we had a centerless loaf of cinnamin bread for breakfast the next day. 

The bread isn't bad.  I may make it again . . . if only to show that I can make a loaf that doesn't have the center up and disappear!

Cinnamon Quick Bread
~ Adapted from Taste of Home Magazine

1 1/2 cups white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup applesauce

Cinnamon Center
1/3 cup white sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly grease a bread pan. 

Mix all ingrediants for quick bread until moistened.  Pour 1/2 of quick bread mix into bread pan.  In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon.  Pour over mixture in bread pan.

Pour remaining mixture over cinnamon sugar combo. 

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted into center of bread comes out clean. 

Cherry Vanilla Cake

I was hungry for something sweet. Going through my cupboards, I found a white cake mix and a jar of maraschino cherries.  It sounded like the perfect combo . . .

especially if I added in some vanilla . . .

I was right!  It was pretty danged yummy for a cake mix!

Cherry Vanilla Cake

1 white cake mix
1 jar maraschino cherries  (reserve juice to use instead of water called for on box)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs (my cake mix called for three egg whites, but I was lazy)
Applesauce - to replace oil called for on box

In large bowl, mix cake mix, eggs and applesauce.  Chop cherries in half.  Add to bowl.  Use reserved juice + water + vanilla to make liquid amount called for on mix.  Add to bowl.  Mix until moistened.  Pour in cake pan and bake per mix directions.

Frost with your favorite frosting when completely cool.

+ I think this would be even better with 2 jars of cherries . . .  but I'm weird like that!