Tummy Warming Snacks!

As Labor Day approaches and children head back to school, I would highly recommend that you have some good recipes on hand for the kiddo's since they are normally trying to quickly grab something healthy to snack on before running in from school, changing into their sports gear and jumping back into the car to head out to their practice games.

I would hate for you to discover a note such as this one,

which was left to us by our

 darling Nicholas when he was a tad bit younger!





Now  mind you, I believe I was not neglectful in feeding my four children. Only problem was, most of their snack food would disappear all too quickly! We look back on this and laugh now, but poor darlings....it must have been an act of desperation when tummies were growling......the plight of  working parents no less. Oh the guilt, the guilt!

We especially enjoy this hearty bread at autumn apple picking time,

but it is wonderful year 'round. It also freezes well!

 A single vintage quilt patch would make a charming topper or liner

 for a bread basket when serving this apple bread!

Apple Pie Bread

3 cups all purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. ground cloves

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup oil

1 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup sugar

1 T. vanilla

2 cups Fuji apples, cored, peeled and roughly chopped

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a bowl, set aside. Beat eggs, oil, sugars and vanilla together in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, beat well. Add apples and pecans, stir until well mixed. Pour into 2 greased 8" x 4" loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 40-60 minutes. Turn bread out of pans when completely cooled. Delicious with a glass of cold milk!

This recipe is over 100 years old and came from

Nancy Neff Bell's Grandmother in Kansas.

This scrumptious bread is very moist, yet it has no eggs in it.

Raisin Spice Bread

1 cup shortening

3 cups water

3 cups sugar

16 ounce package of raisins

1 t. ground ginger

1 t. ground cloves

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

1/8 t. salt

5 cups all purpose flour

2 t. baking soda

1 cup chopped walnuts

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, combine shortening, water, sugar, raisins, spices and salt. Bring to a boil, boil for  minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool completely. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour batter into 2 greased 9" x 5" loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cool completely before turning out of loaf pans.

Is it a wonder why we called them "Partners in Crime?"