Cardamom bread recipe & other happenings

Sounds like there was some interest in the recipe, and I haven't found anything similar online, so here goes. This is an old family recipe (my great aunt brought it from Germany). We eat it at the holidays, toasted, with melted butter, for breakfast. ;-) It's a bit of an acquired taste, as it has candied fruit & a glaze. We typically toast in the oven, as the toaster can get finicky with that melted glaze.

Recipe below, as well as a few modifications I make. Also, I buy extra chopped fruit (this is the glazed kind) & use it to top the bread with, while the glaze is still sticky. This year, I got 3 larger loaves out of it, so you may get smaller ones, depending on how big your yeast gets. I did get some very nice loaves, Rivulet. ;-) I laughed when I saw your comment. I make mine ahead & freeze, as I'm traveling with it. I hope you enjoy!

Cardamom Bread Recipe:
1 c milk

¾ c butter

¾ c sugar

3 eggs, beaten

7 c flour

1 c chopped mixed fruit

½ c nuts (I skip this)

1-1/2 tsp ground cardamom (based on your taste preference)

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp dry yeast

½ c warm water

Scald the milk & butter (bubbles along the pan, don’t boil). Stir in sugar, cardamom, & salt. Let that cool all the way to room temperature.

Dissolve yeast in water. Stir into cooled milk mixture, & beaten eggs. Stir in ½ of the flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in fruit & nuts. Add enough flour to form a soft ball. Turn & knead until elastic. Add only enough flour to keep from sticking. Let rise until doubled. Punch down & divide into rolls. (small four loaves). Let it rise again, bake 375 for 35 minutes.

Glaze:

1 c powdered sugar

2 tbsp of hot water.

Makes small four loaves

_____________________________________

Other than that, we are busy getting the house cleaned (sheets, towels, etc) before we leave town, & exchanged our gifts to & from the boys this afternoon. It's hard to travel with everything, so they each opened up the gifts they had purchased for each other. Nick received a cool duffel bag for sports tournaments, etc. Sam received a puzzle. I gave M his jam. Nick was helping him take it out of the bag, and as Nick handed him one of the jars & reading the labels, he's said, here's the "lemon crud Mom got you. Enjoy." Totally deadpan. It was actually lemon curd. Hopefully it's an improvement on crud. ;-) Love kids.

The boys may have had as smidge of financial help buying me my gifts, as I received a replacement Clarisonic & a new food processor. I had my eye on a replacement, after my 20 year old Cuisinart gave up the ghost & was beyond repair. With my arthritis (lupus complication), lots of easy things like grating cheese are challenging, so this really helps. I'm thinking that the allowance savings didn't fully cover this. ;-) M also received a pair of expensive running socks ($12/pair), but they are amazing. He' thrilled. What, with the crud & new socks, how can you go wrong?

We will have pumpkin soup, goat cheese crostini, salad & grilled chicken for dinner, and then go drive around to see Christmas lights. Should be a fun & snuggly evening.

Oh, and one recommendation for you. I had some leftover frosting (canned, bought on impulse for an impromptu cookie making session with Nick), & didn't know what to do with the rest of the can. I tried this frosting cookie recipe (yes, you use the frosting to make cookies!) & they were good. Not the best cookie I've ever had, but good with a hot cup of tea. I thought they could have used a little glaze, but that would get me back to where I started. . . ;-)

Thanks for all of the great NYE meal suggestions! Do you menu plan between the actual holidays, or just nibble on what's in the fridge? Our kids don't like a lot of holiday food, so I meal plan, at least for them. And, how are your holiday preparations coming along? Are you feeling ready?