Every week I make at least one loaf of what I call "baby bread." This quick bread is, well, quick, and easy, so a little guy can help. It's also healthy but tasty, with a slight sweetness. It's a perfect snack upon wake up from a nap, or a mid-morning bite after a romp outside. The great thing is the versatility of these breads. The one above was made with pureed sweet potatoes, beets and carrots. The batter was a bright, technicolor pink! I had pressure cooked a small dice of these root vegetables for the little guy, but he decided not to be interested in them. So, I pureed them. Still not interested. Baking them in a bread did the trick, and made the loaf naturally sweet and moist. Like baking with applesauce. I'm sure you could interchange any number of vegetables or fruits and get a satisfactory result. 3 cups of flour (2 cups wheat and 1 cup all purpose)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk or yogurt
1 cup vegetable puree (beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, in this case)
1/4 cup agave
Mix wet and add to dry. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes. I used a square 8x8 inch pan.
Flower interlude: aren't grape hyacinths special? I never planted a one, and they are scattered all over my lawn, probably thanks to the squirrels. They are so intricate! And the neighbors wonder why I don't cut my lawn. There's too many nice things growing in there!
Now here's a sturdy baby bread. Peanut butter bread! Slathered with jelly, this is my kind of snack. I used vanilla sugar, too, so when it was baking it smelled like Reese's Pieces, which I have a thing for. I was going to make peanut butter granola cookies. But I saw via Twitter this from Foodista, an anonymous recipe that I adapted to my tastes and needs. The hook was peanut butter bread with jelly. Of course I was sold. There's the random beauty that is Twitter. 2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup oil (I wonder if this is even necessary, but did it anyway)
1 cup buttermilk (milk or yogurt would do fine)
2 eggs
I wouldn't mow my lawn, either, if I had one . . . especially if it had something so beautiful as grape hyacinths growing in it. That is some really cute pink bread! What a great ritual for your little person.
ReplyDeleteTotally have to try this one... my boy won't eat many veggies right now(tho he used to eat anything pureed when he was tiny...). Love that it is in a square pan too! Thanks for posting it!
ReplyDeleteBoth breads look great! I'll definitely give that peanut butter bread a try. What a great snack - even with banana and honey or raspberry mash!
ReplyDeleteShae - Mowing is overrated! You should have seen it before baking. So pink! The kitchen gets messy, but it's nice messy.
ReplyDeleteR - Same with my guy. He just started refusing all the veggies he used to love. Oh well. Everyone said it would happen. I do love my little square pan!
Kristin - Oh, yes! Banana and honey sounds perfect!
Love the idea of beets in bread like this! I hate that picky stage where they stop eating things they once would eat. We are still there and he'll be 4 in July. It's just getting worse. Curses!
ReplyDeleteI did a double take at your first baby bread--first the name, and second, the wonderful colour of it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I must admit, I like the sound and look of the second baby bread even more. Peanut butter is awesome sauce.
Annette- Curses indeed!
ReplyDeletefattydumpling - Oh, we stuffed our faces with that pb bread. It really was more on the sweet than savory side, which is how we roll.
I love the idea of sneaking veggies into breads. My kids always go for it.
ReplyDeleteNever tried sweet potatoes or beets. Sounds delish!
E - Thanks! Yes, it's not a new idea by any means. Moms have been working on this one for years, I'd say. I never thought to bake with beets, though, either. It really worked.
ReplyDelete