Whole Wheat Applesauce Bread

After a few moves, trips, and holiday seasons we are back to blogging.  We apologize for the lack of recent posts, but from here on out our goal is to post once-per-week.  We hope that those of you who have read our blog in the past will continue to visit us, and we welcome any newcomers out there.  We hope you all are enjoying the recipes and your time spent making delicious food!

We wanted to start back off with an easy and quick recipe that is both versatile and customizable.  Quick breads are delicious to eat any time of day, whether it be for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.  They are also great to bring to parties or as a simple present.  This applesauce bread has the added benefit of being healthy and withstand a wide variety of additions - from dried fruit and nuts to chocolate and spices.  The spices give the bread a great warm flavor to the bread and especially appropriate for the winter season.  Meanwhile the nuts provide a great crunch to compliment the moist bread.

We hope you enjoy this recipe and look forward to sharing many more with you!

Granola

Over the past year, yogurt and granola has become our staple breakfast.  Not only is it healthy and satisfying, but it is also quick and easy to travel with.  While there are a variety of commercially and locally made granolas available at the store, it starts to become expensive. We've found that homemade granola is simple to make and there are endless variations.  Nuts, dried fruits and maple syrup can get expensive, but when used in moderation and bought in bulk it can be considerably cheaper than pre-made granola.  In addition, granola is a great gift and can be customized according to the season and tastes of your recipient.  Here are two of our favorite combinations and we encourage you to experiment with your own ingredient preferences.  We are sure granola will soon become a staple breakfast, snack and dessert.

Whole Wheat Bagels

One of our favorite ways to begin a weekend morning is with a fresh and warm bagel and cream cheese.  While we certainly have some favorite local bagel shops, we decided to try to make some of our own.  The process itself is a bit time consuming but the results - pillowy soft and airy bagels - are well worth the effort.  This is a fun project for a calm weekend morning and freezing the bagels will allow you to enjoy them for weeks or months to come.  These bagels are relatively small, so plan on one and a half or two per person, and you can experiment with toppings of your choice.  We used the classic "everything" toppings - garlic, sesame seed, poppy seed, and salt - but are looking forward to experimenting with more flavors in the future.  To top them off, we made raisin walnut cream cheese which added a wonderful sweetness and crunch.  Start off your next weekend with this delicious treat and let us know what toppings you like best!

Apple Chutney

Apple season is in full swing and this year we wanted to experiment with preserving apples to enjoy year round.  Last fall we canned apple sauce, which came out delicious, and this time we decided to try something new and make apple chutney.  This chutney is filled with onions and spices that make it a unique holiday gift.  We were excited that we had a bit leftover after canning so we could sample it and pair it with a variety of foods.  It was delicious on top of a sharp cheese, such as cheddar or blue cheese, and provided a unique touch for a grilled cheese sandwich.  Whether you decide to can this chutney or not, try it today to enjoy your local apples in a new way!