"Cranberry Crazy"!.....

O.K. ...I'll just come out & admit it!....I am "crazy for cranberries"!!....I adore them!!!...to eat, & to decorate & to bake with!....When I first saw this photo & how Martha Stewart combined "cranberries & white roses"... I just melted, so fresh & pretty & easy!!!....I love the calmness of all those white blooms, but then to have that fabulous shot of "red"!!.....Just love it!!

And of course, "baking" with cranberries, & eating the delicious results may be my favorite thing of all!....Many years ago, my mother sent me a recipe for "Cranberry Bread". Now using the word bread is just a tad misleading!.....it would be much better served to call it "Cranberry Cake"!!.....This is a recipe that you simply must try & try soon!.....Anyone I have ever served it to has asked for the recipe!.....So as an early Christmas present I am offering it to you!....This cranberry bread freezes well, it mails well & you can serve it for breakfast, an afternoon snack or as a delicious dessert!.....And it also makes the most wonderful gift!... wrapped in cellophane & gorgeous plaid ribbon!.....So here it is!.......I hope it is a recipe that you all will enjoy as well!......Heidi XO

"Heidi's Cranberry Bread"

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

1t. vanilla

1t. lemon juice

2 eggs (well beaten)

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4 cups flour

1t. baking powder

1t. baking soda

2 cups buttermilk

2 cups frozen cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

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Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Makes 2 loaves.

Bake for 60-70 minutes, approximately.

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In a large bowl or mixer, Cream together the sugar & butter....mix well. Add eggs. Add both vanilla & lemon juice; mix well. Sift together flour, baking powder & baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, along with the buttermilk. Beat well. Add cranberries & walnuts.

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Grease two loaf pans. I prefer the long French-style ones. Split the dough between the pans. Sprinkle generously with granulated sugar & bake. When loaves are done baking, remove from the oven. Melt 3/4 cup butter in a pan or microwave. Proceed to pour 1/2 of the butter over each loaf. Allow to cool approx. 10 minutes. While still warm, remove from pan & allow to come to room temperature. Can be enjoyed warm from the oven or fully cooled.

*Hint: delicious toasted, too!