Cherries

just wet; there will be lumps. Gently fold in cherries. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake 55 min. or until toothpick comes out clean. Mix glaze and drizzle over the bread. Allow approximately 30 minutes for glaze to dry.

As always, you have options with this. The first time I try a new recipe, I follow the recipe exactly. I make notes and generally try variations or add my own special touches the next time I make it. This way, I can include various options and ideas for how to customize it to your own taste.

However, this time was a little different. While mixing my ingredients, I discovered a lack of almond extract just as I reached that point of no return. You know what I mean, when you don’t have time to go get some without wasting the ingredients already mixed. So, I used some butter flavoring and it was delicious. As prepared as I thought I was, I had also failed to make sure I had heavy cream in the fridge. Canned condensed milk to the rescue.

The final result was a hearty, delicious bread which was suitable for breakfast, a quick snack, or easily portable desert in a lunchbox. The delicate pink color is perfect for any type of fancy gather-

By Kandy Derden

ing. What better way to celebrate the arrival of spring? I can just imagine enjoying a couple of slices of cherry bread at a sidewalk café during a cherry blossom festival.

While writing the above three paragraphs, I began to wonder what it would be like if I used a can of pie filling instead a jar of candied cherries. I thought about it for a few days and just couldn’t get it out of my mind. So, this morning I got up early and tried it again. I still didn’t have any almond extract or cream so the same substitutions were used again along with the pie filling replacement. Naturally, there was no need to put flour on the cherries.

The votes are in and so is the pie filling version of this bread. Compared to the first version, the only negative is the lack of pink color. This is easily fixable with a few drops of red food coloring. All other responses agreed this adaptation to be much more moist. One of my taste testers commented she thought it would taste good with chopped pecans or almonds in it. Either way, it is delicious with a glass of cold milk.

Go ahead. Whip up a batch. Add your own personal touches and share it with all your friends. Don’t worry. Tell them all about it. After all, this is not a secret.