Recipe(tried): The Friday Funnie & English Muffin Bread

So--

I was getting ready to go march across the St. Ambrose University stage to get my M.B.A. diploma, hugging everybody in sight and very jazzed and happy. And I told my darling daughter, "You know, once every 24 years I do something absolutely marvelous. 24 years ago I had a perfect, miracle baby girl, you. Now today I am getting my M.B.A. I can hardly wait another 24 years to see what I do then."

Sarah said, "What would you like to do?"

I winked and said, "I'll be 72. I would like to cure cellulite. If I did that, they'd put up a statue in New York City."

Sarah winked backed, "Yes, a very svelte statue."

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English Muffin Bread

From The Weller Haus Bed & Breakfast, in Bellevue, Kentucky
(as related at bbonline.com)

5 to six cups flour
1/2 cup seedless raisins
2 packs of dry yeast
1 TBL. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups milk
1/2 cup water
handful of pecan pieces
cornmeal

In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of the flour, raisins, salt, cinnamon, baking soda. Combine milk and water in pan and heat till liquids are very warm (120-130 degrees F. - Not too hot, or you'll kill the yeast action.) Add to dry ingrediencts and beat well. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter.

Spoon into two 9X5X3 inch loaf pans, which have been greased and then coated in cornmeal. Sprinkle tops of loaves with additional cornmeal.

Cover; let rise in warm place, free from drafts, for 45 minutes.

Bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until borwn and hollow sounding. Remove from pans immediately and cool. Wonderful. Also makes very good toast.

For ABM: Halve the recipe, using 2-1/2 cups flour.

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My current contract ended with Rockwell just as I graduated, so I took advantage of the time off to visit my best friend in Minnesota. They just moved back to the Midwest from New Hampshire, and they have a huge, brick Victorian farm house. Ann and I had an absolute blast. We went to the most excellent Minnesota Zoo. Her doll of a husband Richard gave me advise on my five-year-old tires. Her gorgeous seven-year-old Sara Ann explained the finer points of current Saturday morning cartoons to me. And their Sheltie Bailey, let me scritch her tummie all I wanted. I told Ann that she's the only friend I have that could fill a nine room house with her own, already owned furniture. She has impecable taste and I just can't wait to see what she does with her "place in the country."