Cinnamon Bread

     Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived a little girl in an old house in the mid-west. She lived with her mother and father, sister and brother. She had a happy, normal life even if the days dragged until Christmas time. Each year for as long as the little girl could remember a box, or sometimes two, always arrived from Grandmother in Pennsylvania before Christmas. Not only did it contain brightly wrapped presents, it also held packages of goodies, all homemade by Grandmother's loving hands. There were cookies, fudge and, most importantly to the little girl, there were loaves of Cinnamon Bread and Nut Bread! The little girl's favorite was the cinnamon bread, and she could hardly wait until it was time to eat it!
     While many families created large, special Christmas breakfasts, the family of the little girl kept things simple. On Christmas morning after the stockings were opened on the mother and father's bed, the little girl hurried to get dressed for breakfast. Filling her plate with thick slices of Grandmother's cinnamon bread and nut bread, the girl sat down with a smile. Taking a large bite of the cinnamon bread, the sweet flavor filled her mouth and warmed her heart. This was Grandmother's special Christmas gift.
     Slowly the years passed by and the little girl grew. But, though she was older, she still looked forward to that special box from Pennsylvania. Each Christmas, as she bit into her Christmas breakfast of cinnamon bread, she smiled. It was baked with love and she could taste it.
     More years passed by and the little girl's sister learned to cook. One time, on a visit to Grandmother's, Sister got the recipe for those special Christmas breads. It wasn't many years later that the box from Pennsylvania no longer brought the bread for Sister had begun to make them. They tasted every bit as good as Grandmother's and the little girl, who wasn't so little any more, smiled. She knew it just wouldn't be Christmas without that special breakfast.
     More years past by and one Christmas the little girl, who was now quite grown up and in her twenties, blinked back tears as they opened a box from Pennsylvania. In it were a few extra special Christmas gifts packed with care by an aunt. They were special things that had belonged to Grandmother who had gone to Heaven earlier that year. But, even though the little girl knew she would miss her Grandmother, she knew she'd never forget her. A few days later, as she ate her thick slices of Cinnamon bread, she could still feel Grandmother's love. It had become a part of the recipe and, though Grandmother hadn't made it and wouldn't ever make it again, it was still there. "It just wouldn't be Christmas without that bread," the little girl said more than once.

So, no matter who makes it, the Christmas gift of love is still tasted in this delicious Cinnamon bread, and I hope you can taste it too.

Cinnamon Bread

Peg Morris

1/2 cup oleo (or use half butter and half oil)

1 cup sugar

Add:

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

Add:

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

Cinnamon Mixture

2 tsp. flour

2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon or more (Grandmother said, "I use 2.")

Put 1/2 or the batter in two small bread pans. Sprinkle 1/2 of the cinnamon mixture on top in pans. Add the rest of the batter and the other 1/2 of the Cinnamon mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 - 50 minutes. Enjoy! Enjoy!

P.S. That is a true story. :)

Peanut Butter Fudge

Good Morning Dear Readers,
I hope you are getting in the mood for some Christmas baking and cooking! Last year I posted a poem titled "Baking Day." In it I mentioned the fudge and even posted a picture of it. I was asked to share the recipe and here it is. Well, here is half of it. The other half, the chocolate fudge was the recipe from a little friend. We each made our special fudges and then made some mixed. Very delicious! Sorry, I don't have the other recipe, but if I can get it from her, I'll share it with you all. But for now, here is the yummy peanut butter fudge recipe from from my Grandma.

Grandma's Peanut Butter Fugde

Peg Morris

4 cups sugar

1 can evaporated milk

2 cups peanut butter

2 cups marshmallow creme

1 tsp. vanilla

Cook sugar and milk to soft ball stage (use candy thermometer.) Stir now and then. Add other ingredients. Mix until blened. Spread into greased 9x13 pan. Let harden. Cut and serve!

Makes about 4 1/2 pounds. :) (Works well to freeze for later too.)