Strawberry Bread

[fireun]

 We had a bake sale for Life Long Tails last Saturday, and as I was looking for one last thing to make (cookies were cooling, but I just wasn't done baking yet) I came across a quart of strawberries and decided I wanted to bake something using that ingredient. 

A staple cookbook when I was growing up was Applehood and Motherpie: Handpicked Recipes from Upstate New York and, having received a copy from my Vati for Christmas last, decided to see what strawberry recipes it contained. Strawberry bread called to me. And I am glad it did. Delicious, almost light loaf (I made it without the suggested topping) that is unique and very appropriate to the season.

3 cups mashed strawberries
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups oil

4 well beaten eggs

 

For Topping
8 ounces cream cheese, softened

 

Mash strawberries. Drain 1/2 cup strawberry juice from mashed strawberries if you are making the topping and set aside for use later. In another bowl, mix all dry ingredients together. Make a hole in the center of the mixture. Add mashed strawberries, oil, and eggs. Mix by hand until thoroughly combined. Poour into 2 greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 50- 60 minutes.

 

For topping
mix together reserved strawberry juice and softened cream cheese. Blend until smooth. Drizzle over top of bread.

 

May I suggest this makes excellent cupcakes/muffins as well. I ended up making one loaf and one dozen muffins. Muffins cook for about 15- 20 minutes.