Chocolate Chip Tea Bread

1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
1/3 cup water
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

GLAZE:
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 to 2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt

In a mixing bowl, combine applesauce, shortening, eggs, water and sugar; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Combine dry ingredients; add to applesauce mixture. Beat on low for 30 seconds. Beat on high for 2 1/2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts. Pour into a greased and floured 9x5x3-in. loaf pan.

Bake at 350F for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over bread.

Yield: 1 loaf.
Taste of Home Feb/March 97

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Chocolate Chip Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 pound unsalted butter -- cold
1 each large egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a bunt pan.

Put the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer on low speed for 15 minutes. Add the butter and mix till the butter pieces are the size of peas. You will still see loose flour. Mix in the egg. The mixture will still look dry. Rub any lumps out of the baking soda and gently mix the baking soda into the sour cream. Stir the sour cream mixture and the milk into the batter. Stir just until the batter is evenly moistened. Stir in the chocolate chips. The batter will be thick. Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan.

Bake about 40 minutes. To test for doneness, gently press your fingers on the top of the cake. The middle should feel slightly soft and the edges firm. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out with a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool on a wire baking rack, the center of the cake will sink slightly.