Bread

Cooking Without Photos – Spicy Orange Pecan Muffins

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This week we travel all the way to the west coast and Santa Ana, California. Santa Ana first started out as a parcel of land that was given to Jose Antonio Yorba. The land changed hands a few times. In 1869, William H. Spurgeon purchased the land and founded Santa Ana.

In 1871, Santa Ana’s First Baptist Church was built. During a time when the country was still in uproar, the First Baptist Church began building a community of hope. Governed by California’s own set of Jim Crow laws, folks weren’t allowed to worship together and were made to stay seperated whites and blacks.

By 1923, members of First Baptist worked with members of Santa Ana’s black community to found the Second Baptist church. Today, the Second Baptist Church is the oldest black church in Orange County

Church Historian Milana Oyunga described:

“They helped them get started with the down payment of $150, a Bible, and the first pew, which we still have on our premises. … With that initial help they had given us, they have been a friend and support to us all these years, that culminated to today.”

During the Jim Crow era, First and Second Baptist often collaborated, fundraised together, and welcomed each other’s congregations.

With attendance declining in its later years, First Baptist found refuge in the home it helped found for others, spending its last three years of operation worshiping at Second Baptist. After 148 years of serving the community, First Baptist ceased operations in 2019.

When I discovered, “Cook Book” from First Baptist Church of Santa Ana, I knew it was special. Written in 1974, this book had been around the block a few times The cover was coming off, there were notes written throughout, and pages were stained with wear. It didn’t disappoint.

Flipping thru, I found the recipe for Spiced Orange Pecan Muffins. I picked this recipe even before I found out that Santa Ana was in Orange County. It was obviously meant to be.

Couple of things:

  1. Actually just one…to me, there is enough sugar in the muffin because there is so much sweet in the topping. You may decide you like a bit more sugar in yours.

That’s really all I would change. They bake up pretty. My crew liked them and went back for more.

Cooking Without Photos – Peanut Butter Bread

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Wahoo! It’s a new year and I’ve got goals!

After a break from sharing recipes, I’m back with my regularly scheduled program. I’ve been collecting community cookbooks from all over the place with one goal in mind. This year, I’ll be sharing recipes from all 50 states!

I’ll be starting off at the top of the list with Alabama! Alabama is one of our very fave places to visit❤️

When I found this first cookbook, “Trinity’s Potpourri 1979”, I knew I had to have it for a couple of reasons.

1. It already had my name on it.

2. It was written in the best year ever!

3. “Potpourri” will for sure describe this year’s recipe sharing. A little bit of everything from coast to coast.

So let’s begin again!

The cookbook I chose this time is from the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

In 1811, Huntsville became the first incorporated town in Alabama. When Alabama became a state in 1819, Huntsville was the capital for one year until it was decided that the capital needed to be in a more centralized location.

In the beginning, cotton was very successful and was traded locally and internationally. In 1855 the railroad was established. The railroad helped keep the cotton industry growing. During the 1930s, the cotton industry started failing and focus was switched to growing watercress.

In 1940, the Army selected 35,000 acres and began building the Huntsville Arsenal. With the building of the Arsenal, Huntsville’s population began to rise and contractors could not keep up with the housing demand.

From the 1960’s up until today, NASA plays a huge roll in keeping the city populated. I’m fact, Huntsville is the most populated city in Alabama.

On to the recipe!

While flipping through “Trinity’s Potpourri”, I came across a recipe for Peanut Butter Bread. I’ve actually made this before (not this recipe) and knew I had to do it again.

Couple things:

1. This recipe said it made a regular pan and a small pan. It still took forever for the bigger one to cook. When I make this again, I’ll make two mini pans and the larger pan. I think that would be perfect!

2. It doesn’t say how long to cook the smaller pan. I’d check it at 35 minutes.

3. It also didn’t say anything about greasing the pan. I did.

Very tasty! Grab yourself a glass of milk and have a treat!

Cooking Without Photos – Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread

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Strawberry, Arkansas! Population 268❤️

Strawberry is one of the oldest settlements in Arkansas. Untouched by the railroad and unaffected by the Civil War, Strawberry began as a small community in the early 1840s and remains a quaint community today.

John Cathey settled in the area along with his son and they called it Cathey Town for a short time. Then, in 1854 John applied for a post office and renamed it Strawberry Point. Later it was shortened to Strawberry.

Time passed and blacksmith shops have turned into fishing businesses. Their population has remained low and that’s the way they like it.

On to the recipe!

While combing thru, “Cooking With Friends: Strawberry Volunteer Fire Department”, I stopped on a recipe for Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread and boy am I glad I did!!

Couple things:

  1. It’s hard to find an 8oz can of pineapple anymore. You’re just gonna have to either double this recipe or eat the rest of a 20 Oz can.
  2. When Willene Massey tells you to put 1 1/2 cups of oil in a bread recipe, do it. She knows what she’s talking about.
  3. The batter is super thick. It’s going to be okay.
  4. It says to cook it for 1 hour and 5 minutes. I didn’t believe Willene so I put mine on for 50 minutes. Turns out that you need to cook it for 1 hour and 5 minutes. If you’re like me, you won’t believe her either so just keep a watch on it.

That’s it. It’s fabulous!!

Cooking Without Photos – Festive Lemon Bread

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Hello all! I’ve been focusing on trying not to melt. It’s been sooooo stinkin’ hot here. I haven’t even turned the oven on in 4 days. My family was starting to revolt so I figured I’d make more than one thing since the oven was on anyway. So, we had dinner and I made some dessert too. Score!

This week we travel to good ol’ Dickinson, North Dakota. Have I ever been there? Nope. I picked up this cookbook in Conway, AR at a thrift store. Whooop! Maybe someday I’ll get out west. There’s a lot out that way that I’d like to see. It’s just that..well, the beach isn’t that way…unless I drive super far!

I digress, Dickinson, ND. Dickinson was founded by a New Yorker named W. S. Dickinson in 1881. In just one short year, there were 100 buildings in Dickinson. Growth was helped out immensely by the railroad.

I had no idea, but a HUGE population of folks from the Ukraine settled there. They even have a Ukrainian Cultural Institute there. I’d love to see that!

On the total opposite end of the tourist spectrum is the Dickinson Dinosaur Museum. I know a little boy that would probably trade some Pokémon cards to get into that museum.

Now I read down the list of notable people from Dickinson and I only recognized one name and it was the actor who played Emmett Cullen from the Twilight movies 😬. Maybe some of you sports freaks will find their list more interesting.

On to the recipe!

This is a pretty big cookbook. I didn’t get too far at all thru, “ A Harvest Of Recipes: St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church Dickinson, North Dakota” and stumbled across Festive Lemon Bread. Puddin in bread?! Let’s do it!

Couple things:

  1. Salad oil = Vegetable oil
  2. I thought 1/4 cup of poppy seeds was too much. Turns out that it was a fine amount.

Perfect! Y’all enjoy!!

Cooking Without Photos – Broccoli Cornbread

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We take a short trip to Bee Branch, Arkansas this week.

Did you know Bee Branch got their name because there was a beehive in a tree near the post office? This info came from Wikipedia so I’m not actually sure if it’s true😆. One thing is for sure, small town livin’ is still prime and knowing your neighbor is king.

This week’s selection comes from the book, “Favorite Recipes Of Bluegrass Friends And Fans Of Cadron Creek Bluegrass Park: Bee Branch, Arkansas”. I looked high and low for information regarding the next bluegrass festival with no luck. Like most bluegrass festivals around the state, it seems like this one has folded and it makes me sad.

While reading the book, I remembered my own grandparents traveling to different festivals. Seems like it was fairly often that they were heading out to hear their favorite banjo player. I can’t tell you the last time I heard about a festival happening. Maybe I’m just out of the loop or maybe they are few and far between.😢

I chose Broccoli Cornbread this week. I’ve had it multiple times before thanks to a coworker. I thought it was too good of a bread not to share it. This one is a little different from the one I’ve had. Seems like there should be more liquid or some sour cream or something. Tasty nonetheless. I’ll also add that I’m NOT a fan of Jiffy cornbread and I still love this. Hope you enjoy!

Cooking Without Photos Week 1 – McDonald Biscuits

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Wahoo! We made it to 2023!!!

This year I decided to take my community cookbooks and put them to work. I love picking up community/church cookbooks from all over. We’ll go on vacation and I’m gathering spiral bound pieces of history. Fundraisers come around and I’ve gotta have some local flavor. There are so many recipes in these books that have been forgotten over the years.

So my goal for the year is to cook one recipe per week from a different community cookbook, share the recipe with you and take a photo of what it’s supposed to look like. I’ll also share the cookbook I took it from and a little about the community that put the cookbook together. Voila! Cooking Without Photos has been born! Here it goes!

Cooking Without Photos Week 1
I’m starting 2023 off with my home of Harmony, AR. These days Harmony is a sleepy community on Hwy 10 with not even one store (although Williams Junction should be opening back up this year).

At one time, Harmony had its own grist mill, saw mill, a cotton gin, school and post office. Several of the founding families are still keeping the community alive today. My family has been in the area for several generations, but some have lived there from the very beginning.

One of the first structures built in the area was a church. Harmony Baptist Church started out as a log cabin in 1872 and then rebuilt into the brick building that stands there today.

This week my recipe comes from, “Feeding The Flock: Harmony Baptist Church and Friends”.
I’d never heard of “McDonald” biscuits before. Three ingredients and that’s it🤷🏻‍♀️ When I read the recipe, all I could think of was, this must be one of those recipes you make when you just don’t have a lot of anything. I gave ‘er a whirl.

Y’all, these are the fluffiest biscuits I’ve ever tasted! Not a biscuit you could easily put a piece of sausage on, because they are just puffs of cotton! For sure a biscuit you could pinch up for gravy.

Suggestion: I made them twice trying to make them better. Make sure you mix the sour cream and bisquick together before adding in the sprite. You’ll need less than 1/4 cup. Like literally a splash and you should be able to cut the biscuits out. I put too much both times so I spooned them out. 😆 practice! I’ll for sure make them again and I don’t even like bisquick.

Too much Sprite.


The recipe doesn’t say anything about spraying the pan. I tested one spot not sprayed and they stuck like crazy. Spray dat pan! Also not listed, they need to cook about 12-15 minutes.

Still too much Sprite, but we’re getting there!
Whew! Much better and this was with about 3 tablespoons of Sprite.

Hope you like them as much as we did❤️❤️❤️