Apple-Raisin Cinnamon Bread on a Rainy Day

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope you are enjoying 

these mellow days of September! 

Here in western Washington State, the seasons 

are changing rapidly. 

It started with a 'visitation' :) 

A lenticular cloud formation, just past 

Mt. Rainier at mid-morning on Friday. 

These amazing cloud formations usually forecast rain 

within 24-48 hours. 

You can read about lenticular clouds and see more amazing photos, Here.

You might almost believe it's a UFO streaking

across the sky! 

Except it wasn't moving........

at least not perceptibly. 

The lower, wispy clouds are smoke, finally lifting,

from the Norse Peak fire near Mt. Rainier. 

By Sunday it rained. 

I could almost hear the collective sigh of relief

from every living thing. 

It has been the 2nd driest summer on record. 

The driest summer was during the years 

between 1915 and 1920 when the 

Pacific Northwest was in a drought. 

100 years ago. 

The good news is that we are having

 several days of rainy, cool weather. 

This will help slow down the fires 

 that were started by lightning back in June, 

in steep, rugged and remote 

locations that are difficult to access. 

While Mother Nature is doing the watering for me, 

I thought I would use my time to do some early Fall baking.

 Apple - Raisin Cinnamon Bread. 

Yum. 

This recipe is so easy - made with ingredients 

you might already have on hand. 

I like recipes like that......there's no planning

involved, just a sudden craving, 

a spare hour or two,

and a kitchen that smells divine. 

Apple-Raisin Cinnamon Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease and flour a 9x5 in. loaf pan. 

1/3 cup brown sugar (not packed)

1 tsp cinnamon

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

 2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 apple - peeled and cut into small dice

1/2 cup golden raisins

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and set aside. 

Beat white sugar and butter together until creamy. 

Add eggs, one at a time and beat until smooth. 

Add Vanilla extract. 

Combine flour and baking powder. 

Stir into butter mixture. 

Add milk and stir until smooth. 

Pour half of batter into loaf pan. 

Sprinkle half the diced apple, half of the raisins,

 and half of the brown sugar - cinnamon mixture

over top. 

Pat into batter. 

Pour remaining batter over apple layer, 

top with remaining apples and raisins, 

and brown-sugar - cinnamon mixture. 

Swirl lightly together with finger or wooden spoon handle. 

Bake in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes 

or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

xoxo

Cut a nice, thick slice while still slightly warm :)

It's especially nice with a hot cup of tea 

on a blustery evening. 

Or with coffee and the newspaper on a lazy weekend morning. 

Happy Fall, my friends! 

xoxo

Today I am linking with:

Cooking and Crafting with J & J

Won't you join the fun?

xoxo