Sunday, May 30, 2010

apricot bread

I'm on maternity now and so you'd think I'd have more time for things like cooking and blogging, right? I thought so too! Sorry about the neglect... :(

I still have a bunch of fruit from last year's bounty in the freezer. It's really a shame that we have so many gorgeous fruit trees in our yard but are not a frequent fruit-eating household. I know it's something we should change, and I'm working on it. But for now, I'm also working on clearing out the freezer because before you know it, our fruit trees are going to be abundant with fruit again and I'm going to need that freezer space!

One of the fruits that my freezer is overflowing with is apricots. I looked up recipes to use up my apricots, but everything I found was for dried apricots. So I looked up peaches instead. They're pretty similar, right? One that caught my eye was this peach bread recipe. I just substituted the peaches for apricots and it worked out nicely. It actually doesn't taste very apricot-y, but it's a tasty bread either way. It could be that my apricots weren't all that flavorful, who knows.

I also substituted half of the flour with white whole wheat flour to make it a bit healthier and have been eating it for breakfast this week.

If you have any other great apricot recipes, I'd love to hear them!

Adapted from A Life Less Sweet
Ingredients:
- 2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour

- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 cups very ripe, mashed apricots
- 1 egg
- 2 tbs melted butter

Directions:
- Combine the flours, sugars, salt and baking soda in a bowl.
- In a second bowl, combine the peaches, egg and butter.
- Stir in flour mixture.
- Grease a 9x5 loaf pan and pour the mixture in.
- Let it stand for 20 minutes while preheating the oven to 350 degrees.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then remove it to a cooling rack to finish cooling. minutes. Bake at 350 for 45-55 min. Cool
bread in pan 15 min; remove from pan and finish cooling on wire rack.

15 comments:

TabzChewy said...

This looks like banana bread and I love banana bread!

Have you thought about making tarts or pies? That sounds good for hot weather...Microwave-made jams are also nice! They make great gifts and you can clear up the freezer quickly too!

Joanne said...

I bet this would be great with chunks of apricot as well as the mashed version...then it would really be beaming with apricot flavor! What a great idea for a quickbread!

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

This bread look very healthy and wonderful. Try to rest more during this time.

Claudia said...

I do love fruit breads and have never had apricot bread - apricots seem to magically turn into jam here! More important that you take care of yourself than bake and blog!

Jo said...

Oh wow .. you mean you found time to make this delicious bread. You really should be take it easy you know.

Dragon said...

Love everything about this cake!

Laura in Paris said...

Apricots in bread is a great combination. I often buy a nuts and apricot bread my baker sells and I love it.

MaryBeth said...

I love Banana bread and of course Zucchini bread, so this would have to be just as awesome.

Sook said...

The bread looks great! I actually didn't have much of an appetite when I was pregnant with my first. I didn't want to eat for like 4 months. So I understand why cooking and blogging could be hard for you. :)

TasteHongKong said...

I'm imagining having a piece of this adorable bread with a spread of homemade fresh apricot jam. I love apricots. Enjoy your maternity leave : ).

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Sorry not much luck here with apricot recipes but your bread sounds good. Bet it tastes yummy lightly toasted with some butter on it.
~ingrid

Btw, wish I was a neighbor so I could snap your fruit surplus!

Juliana said...

Wow, I never had apricot bread, sounds and looks interesting...must try it soon :-)

foodhoe said...

I have a plum tree that is loaded with fruit too... I just filled up a bucket and am wondering what to do with them... maybe just eat them, they smell so good. The bread sounds delicious!

Simply Life said...

oh my, that bread looks so goo!

stephchows said...

oo this bread sounds delicious! love apricots!