No matter how I feel, baking bread always makes me feel good.  Getting my hands into the mix and feeling the dough has such a relaxing affect on me.  I love to smell the bread as it bakes.  It fills the house with love and caring.  When I was growing up, my family owned Benny’s Grill and Lounge in Buffalo, New York. Grandma and Auntie Arlene spent there time working in the kitchen preparing delectable mortals of homemade foods for our patrons to enjoy.  The kitchen filled with the delicious smells of breads baking in the ovens,  freshly cut French fries frying on the grill, and homemade Czarnina simmering on top of the stove.  My grandma made the best Czarnina in Buffalo!  Patrons came from all over the city just to eat Grandma’s duck soup. She sold it by the bowl with or in a quart mason jar for those who wanted to take out.  Shen would wrap the jar is newspaper to keep it warm and put it Ina brown paper bag. Grandma said it was so good because she bought her duck’s blood fresh from the Broadway Market.  Who could argue with that?

I suppose this is where I got my love of cooking and good foods.  One of my favorite recipes is for Cranberry Nut Bread.  While I lived in New England, I lived next to a cranberry bog and had access to fresh cranberries.  This recipe is virtually foolproof.  Enjoy!

Cranberry Nut Bread

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 3/4 orange juice
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter
• 1 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Add all dry ingredients Ina medium size bowl. Mix in egg, orange juice, and butter.  Mix thoroughly. Fold in cranberries and nuts.  Put dough into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Cool.