Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread

You know that feeling when you haven't done something that you love in a really long time, and when you finally get to do it, you feel on top of the world?

That's how I felt tonight, as I, at long last, turned on the oven and caught up on some much-needed baking. It's been many weeks since I have had time to bake. This year, I've been caught up in lots of work, both school related and extra-curricular stuff. I had a midterm and a couple of nasty reports and assignments this past week, and I got very little sleep...but today, I finally handed in my papers and breathed a huge sigh of relief. I feel as if a huge weight has been pulled off of my shoulders.

Because of my long days, by the time I get home and eat dinner, I do work, it's time to go to bed. Fun life, right? But today, I rolled up my sleeves, pulled out my measuring cups, and underwent some stress-relief therapy. Some girls call it retail therapy, I call it kitchen therapy!

This bread has a very special place in my heart. It's simple recipe with few ingredients (and a bit of cheater's recipe with the packages of instant oatmeal), but the apple cinnamon oatmeal bread is one of the very first recipes that I made seven-odd years ago, around the same time that I became obsessed with watching Christine Cushing, Anna Olson, Jamie Oliver, and Iron Chef. I remember being so proud of myself as I removed the bread from the oven and the smell of winter filled the kitchen.

The recipe can easily be modified - add chopped apples in the mix, sprinkle in some raisins, or add ground flax to boost the nutrition in the recipe. It's simple, takes literally minutes to make, and is perfect for this time of the year.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread (courtesy of allrecipes.com)
makes 12 servings

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup chunky applesauce
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 packets instant apple cinnamon oatmeal (single serving size)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in applesauce, cinnamon and the packets of oatmeal. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Mix in the baking soda and flour. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.