Baking Office Treats for Valentine’s Day: Strawberry-Walnut Bread

Pamela Lutrell looks at HEB Valentine's treaets

Happy Valentine’s Day, Everyone!!  Recipe Time!   I actually think this week Is more difficult than Christmas because of the amount of sweet temptations all around us.   I decided for today’s office party rather than grab a box of bakery cupcakes, donuts or heart- shaped cookies, that I would make Strawberry-Walnut bread which is delicious…especially when served with Strawberry Cream Cheese.

Pamela Lutrell's Strawberry Walnut Bread

STRAWBERRY-WALNUT BREAD

 

1 cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ tsp lemon extract

4 eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 cup strawberry jam

½ cup dairy sour cream

1 cup broken walnuts  (I like to roast these to enrich the flavor)

Pamela Lutrell shows roasted walnuts

In a small bowl: Mix the jam and sour cream until well blended.  In another small bowl: Sift or stir together flour, salt, cream of tartar, and soda.

Pamela Lutrell with strawberry jam mixture

In the large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar, vanilla, and lemon extract well.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until fluffy.  Then alternate the flour mixture and jam mixture until all is beaten well together.

Pamela Lutrell bakes strawberry bread

Stir in the nuts.  Divide into two large loaf pans or five mini-loaf pans that have been prepared with flour and butter or the baking spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes.

Pamela Lutrell gets bread ready for oven

It is so good and always hard not to eat until I get it to where it is going!  In honor of cooking for Valentine’s Day, I have prepared a cooking slideshow just for you!  Enjoy the week and the day…just plan to hit the treadmill hard next week!

Pamela Lutrell basics one of her favorites

This is a favorite…I have been making it for years and I am sure I have featured this before.  With the red strawberries, it is a great Valentine’s brunch, treat, or breakfast delish-ish-ness that will make you a superstar.

Valentine’s Day Evening

Pamela Lutrell on Valentine's Day Plans

Does anyone have big, romantic plans for tonight?  We do not like to pay the higher prices or fight the crowds at the restaurants this evening, so we have planned a quiet evening at home with a bottle of wine.  A friend gave us a bottle of a 2016 California wine called Joel Gott.  It is a Cabernet Sauvignon…so after four years, it should be time to open it up!I . I will pick up the makings of a charcuterie tray and we will  enjoy this with a movie.  I would much rather be home than fighting a crowd.

Pamela Lutrell on Valentine's Day wine

Now that I am in a cooking mood…I have done a cooking/household slideshow for you today with a few spring, Easter decorations.  What do you like to cook for Valentine’s Day…do you have a favorite or does your significant other have a favorite!!  Please share, and as always…..

KEEP SMILING! 

Remember…tomorrow is Would You Wear It…see you then! 

By Pamela Lutrell

11 Comments

  1. My goodness, that bread sounds delicious! I’m sure that will disappear faster than the donuts! I’m staying in tonight too, probably under a blanket with a good book as the temperature will be in single digits! Even though I’m not working regularly, I still look forward to Fridays. I guess it sounds odd, but I’ve never gotten into the valentine’s thing. One stands out, when a guy in college had flowers delivered to my house, but beyond that it’s not a day that I celebrate. The wine looks good. Joel Gott always seems to have winners, and aging will definitely enhance it!

  2. The bread does look yummy! Enjoy your evening in…it’s the best idea as the restaurants will most likely be packed. Valentine’s Day on a Friday will guarantee that.

  3. It all looks yummy to me. Holidays are ‘dangerous’ for me, as there are so many temptations everywhere you go. I’ve even told the checkers at the grocery store to slap my hand if I reach for one of the many tempting treats displayed at the checkout counter. Addiction to sugar – one bite is too many and 10 are not enough. Every holiday seems to focus on sweet treats.

  4. Open the bottle an hour or so before drinking to let it breathe. It should be lovely. Happy Valentine’s Day!

  5. Happy Valentine’s Day to you Pam, and all the ladies here! Your plans sound lovely. We actually are going out tonight, but have invited my folks to join us. Dad picked his favorite Rodeo Steakhouse, and by the name you can probably tell it’s pretty down-home (they encourage throwing the shells from their complimentary bucket ‘o peanuts on the floor!). Mom and Dad have been retired 20 years now, but moved into an assisted living cottage near us just two years ago. We are so grateful to be able to share so much time together now, and especially holidays.

  6. Oh your bread sounds really yummy! I’m baking too. Banana chocolate chip/walnut bread. It’s really an experiment for me asI am using a Gluten Free flour mix and gf chocolate chips. It’s in the oven and hope it’s good enough to serve with a scoop of gf gelato. Since my diagnosis if Celiac disease the only sweet I have had is gelato or a really terrible gf cookie. I tossed the rest of them out. I’m going to try your recipe soon. With gluten free flour.

  7. Your recipe is very timely as I plan on making roasted chicken breasts with strawberry-balsamic glaze. This bread will fit in very nicely with the strawberry theme! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    My husband and I avoid restaurants on weekends and holidays, so today would be a definite no-go!!

    Enjoy your evening and Happy Valentines Day to all!

  8. That bread sounds delicious. We will go for an early dinner tonight & avoid the crowds.
    Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! Be loving & kind to all, especially yourself!

  9. I love the idea of strawberry bread, but I can’t eat walnuts. Can I leave them out without hurting the consistency?

  10. We’re in tonight too! My husband brought me gorgeous roses and took me out for lunch. Staying in tonight will be a simple supper and favorite TV shows

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