Basic Quick Bread for the Holidays

Written by PFA Cultural Commissioner, Larry Kozlowski

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread!”

These words are most familiar to us taken from the “Our Father” recited at Holy Mass, while praying the Rosary, and during our nightly prayers. The word bread is mentioned at least 492 times in the Bible, and it is easy to recognize how important bread is in our everyday life.

In Poland, bread is seen as a necessary part of daily life. In the region of Kujawy, a folk song’s lyrics lament our daily bread: “Mamy soli, mamy chleba, mamy wszystko, co potrzeba,” or “If we have bread and salt what more do we need.” The sharing of bread and salt is an old Polish tradition at special events, family gatherings and Polish weddings, offering best wishes for health, prosperity and faithfulness.

With the celebration of Polish Heritage Month in October and the many holidays ahead – mix, bake and share bread with family and friends. In less than one hour’s time and with only six ingredients from your kitchen, you can enjoy your own homemade-batter bread. Perfect for a family dinner, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even frozen ahead to give as holiday gifts!

Basic Quick Bread

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 C. flour
• 1 TBSP baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 C. milk (add 1 TBSP white vinegar)
• 6 TBSP oil

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare loaf pan with spray or oil. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt) until well combined.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together wet ingredients (eggs, milk, oil). For savory or sweet bread, mix in additions to the wet ingredients.
4. Add the blended wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until forming a batter-like consistency.
5. Pour bread batter into greased loaf pan and bake. Savory Bread – 45 to 50 minutes; Sweet Bread – 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool, remove from pan and brush Savory Bread with melted butter. Sprinkle Sweet Bread with Confectioners’ sugar. Cool completely before wrapping and freezing.

Savory Additions:

Cheese Bread – 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
Onion Bread – 1/2 C. sauteed, seasoned, chopped onions
Garlic Bread – 3 to 4 cloves, minced, sauteed garlic

Note: For Savory Bread, stir batter for 3 additional minutes to form gluten and bake. Brush baked top crust with melted butter to soften crust. Recipe may be doubled. Well wrapped bread may be frozen up to 3 months once completely cooled.

Sweet Additions:

Cinnamon Bread – 1 C. sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla
Apple Bread – 1 C. sugar, 1 peeled, chopped, cooked & drained apple
Banana Bread – 1 C. sugar, 3 mashed, overripe bananas, 1 tsp. vanilla

Note: White, brown or mixed sugars may be used. Bread Recipe may be doubled or tripled. For Sweet Bread, stir batter only until blended and bake. Well wrapped bread may be frozen up to 3 months once completely cooled.

“Bread and salt never quarrel.”
~Polish Proverb