Grandma Mc’s Sweet Breads

My family Christmas tradition is to nosh on sweet breads — banana nut bread & nut bread— with butter or cream cheese as we tear into Christmas gifts all morning long. And no, I do not mean the disgusting kind of sweetbreads — or rather what I deem disgusting because I am not a big animal gland fan. Whoever came up with the term sweetbreads to describe animal glands was a million dollar copywriter. What a misnomer! But yet I digress, these breads are the yummiest and will not only hold starvation at bay but become part of your family tradition as well.

Over the years, we’ve added Citarella smoked salmon with bagels, tomatoes, diced red onions, and capers to our Christmas morning mix. I mention smoked salmon because it’s effortless to put this type of platter together the night before as Classics (SJs), Organic Structures (NFJs) and Smart Structures (NTJs)  might do — save perhaps cutting up the tomatoes. In addition, the salmon gives you just the right amount of protein to not have a massive sugar crash before eating Christmas dinner. And practical types like Classics and Organic Structures, don’t think that just any smoked salmon will do. It’s Christmas morning for heaven’s sake! Go Citarella and get the silkiest smoked salmon you’ll ever eat. And I’m not a paid spokeswoman but I should be!

Oh and truth be told, there is a third sweet bread that we eat on Christmas morning — Aunt Kathy’s pumpkin bread. But, I’m saving that in my back pocket for next year’s Christmas smorgasbord!

Grandma Mc’s Nut Bread

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 4 c flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp soda
  • 1 Tbsp butter (melted)
  • 2 c buttermilk (or sour milk)
  • 1 c chopped walnuts

Beat eggs until thick. Stir in sugar. Alternate all of dry ingredients with buttermilk. Add melted butter and chopped nuts. Bake in 2 greased and floured loaf pans for 1 hour at 350 degrees or until done.

I also sometimes use smaller loaf pans and make them into gifts for all of the myriad folks in my life with whom I don’t exchange actual Christmas gifts.

Grandma Mc’s Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 c shortening
  • 3/4 c sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 mashed bananas
  • 3 Tbsp buttermilk or sour milk
  • 2 c flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 c chopped walnuts

First, mix together the shortening and the sugar and then add the egg. Next, stir in the mashed bananas and the buttermilk. Then in a different bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and add this dry mixture to the above wet mixture. Add the chopped nuts. Grease and flour a loaf pan and then pour in the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour or until done.

I also sometimes use smaller loaf pans and make them into gifts for all of the myriad folks in my life with whom I don’t exchange actual Christmas gifts.

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