Filed under: apples, breakfast, bulk buying, bulk cooking, cooking, cooking ahead, frugal living, homemade, make-ahead, recipes, saving money, simple living
I’m always on the look out for recipes that are quick, easy, family-friendly, inexpensive and flexible. This quick bread meets all of my criteria for a budget-worthy recipe. Plus it’s tasty and super-simple, too! 
Quick Bread Tips: When making any quick bread (banana bread, zuchini bread, cornbread, etc.) be careful not to overmix. Stir mixture until just combined or it may become heavy and too dense. Also, be sure to bake in the center of the oven where the temperature is the most consistent.
MIX-N-MATCH QUICK BREAD (from Frozen Assets)
(Makes two loaves)
You can also make muffins with this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups Mix-n-Match (see below)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts or seeds (your choice)
Mix-n-Match (one or more of the following to equal 2 cups)
- Apples, grated or chopped
- Applesauce
- Apricots, chopped
- Bananas, mashed or chopped
- Berries
- Carrots, cooked and mashed or grated
- Cherries, pitted and chopped
- Coconut, grated
- Cranberries, dry or raw, chopped
- Dates or figs, pitted and finely chopped
- Lemon, 1/2 cup juice
- Marmalade (omit 1 cup sugar)
- Oranges, chopped
- Orange juice, 1/2 cup juice
- Peaches, fresh or canned, chopped
- Pears, fresh or canned, chopped
- Pineapple, crushed and well-drained
- Prunes, chopped
- Pumpkin, canned
- Raisins
- Rhubarb, finely chopped (add 1/2 cup more sugar)
- Strawberries, well-drained
- Sweet Potatoes or Yams, cooked and mashed, or grated
- Zucchini, grated and well-drained
Directions:
- Sift together dry ingredients.
- In separate bowl, beat eggs; add oil and sugar; cream together.
- Stir in vanilla and your choice of Mix-n-Match.
- Add dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in nuts.
- Spoon into 2 well-greased loaf pans.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
For Muffins:
- Spoon batter into muffin tins.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
Tasty MIX-N-MATCH combinations:
- Carrot-Raisin-Walnut
- Pumpkin-Raisin-Sunflower seeds
- Apple-Cranberry-Walnut
- Cranberry-Orange-Walnut
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deborah Taylor-Hough is the author of a number of popular books including the bestselling Frozen Assets cookbook series, Frugal Living for Dummies®, and A Simple Choice: A practical guide for saving your time, money and sanity. She also edits the Simple Times email newsletter. To visit Debi online, go to: www.SimpleMom.com
4 Comments so far
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ANY IDEA HOW TO MAKE LESS SUGAR FOR DIABETICS ??
Comment by KATHY WINEBRENNER July 27, 2012 @ 6:38 pmHow do you freeze and reheat this?
Comment by Nicole August 27, 2011 @ 10:55 amWrap tightly in plastic wrap or foil. To thaw, simply place in the fridge overnight. You can reheat in the microwave if you want, but I usually just serve it cold or at room temp.
Comment by dsimple August 27, 2011 @ 1:14 pmCan’t believe mine is the first comment! I’ve relied on this recipe for years for great muffins and quick breads. It makes the BEST pumpkin muffins ever. Tonight I’m using it to make zucchini bread for the gourmet market where I bake. : )
Comment by Donna August 10, 2011 @ 8:40 pm