Amish Cinnamon Bread - 5 points, Date Night, Pink Saturday, Music Friday

Last weekend, a need arose for me to use some of my sourdough starter or risk my kitchen being overrun by yeasty liquid. I found this recipe through Allrecipes.com. It is full of nuts and fruit and cinnamon and pudding - four things which I believe make a very good cake. I was not disappointed with the dense, dark cake that emerged from my oven. In order to keep myself from eating it all, I sent some to school with Simon and took some to work. Everyone who tasted it gave it high praise - even the toddlers.

Amish Cinnamon Bread
1 cup Amish friendship starter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
8 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 (3 oz) pkt instant vanilla pudding
2 cups flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup peeled, cored, apples chopped
1 cup raisins

1. Mix starter with oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the flour mixture to the starter and mix by hand. Add the pecans, raisins, and apples. Mix well.
3. Pour into a bunt pan or two bread pans (greased if not stone wear).
4. Bake for 1 hr at 325.
5. Yields 32, 5 point servings

You can see that my cake ripped a bit when coming out of the pan. I am still working on getting my stone wear bunt pan completely seasoned. It is important to cook lots of greasy food in your stone wear, or to oil it frequently. 

Simon has been hearing a lot about dating since Stone and I became involved. Tonight, he felt that he needed to go on a date with Aunt Angela. He wore his church shoes, put on cologne, and sang a song called, "We're Going on a Date" (the lyrics, like many popular songs, are simply a repetition of the title). He took me to The Bangkok and didn't seem to mind that a couple of friends joined us at the table.

I thought the soup was quite nice, and even chewed up some salad on the non-crowned side of my mouth. Simon wanted nothing to do with either dish.

He did enjoy the tempura shrimp and vegetables. He even ate a shrimp tail before I realized what was in his mouth. (Dear sister Alanna, I am joking, of course. I would never allow him to eat a shrimp tail. How silly. PS As an unrelated aside, I volunteer to change all of his diapers for the next couple of days).

Next, I wish everyone a happy Pink Saturday.  I've already found a post I love for this Pink Saturday - check out this adorable Barney cake! My pink item for this week comes from a scrapbook I created when I was eight. My family took a drive through Southern Africa (South Africa to Botswana to Zimbabwe to Zambia to Malawi). It turns out that my parents were on a business trip, but I thought we were having a vacation and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This is a brochure from one of my favorite stops, the Stellenbosch Museum.

I got a lovely little doll at this stop. She is now resting happily in my attic. If ever I have a larger house, she will come downstairs and find a cozy bed upon which to recline.

Finally, it is music Friday. I do love music, and I love sharing it with you. This week my Zen DJ has chosen for you, "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" by Simon and Garfunkel. I have fond childhood memories of my mother singing Simon and Garfunkel to me to the accompaniment of an eight track tape. I also love Frank Lloyd Wright dearly. My mother has a friend who lives in a FLW house. If she ever gives me permission, I shall show you dozens of pictures of her amazing home.

Much love to you all and happy weekend.