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Cinnamon Swirl Pear Bread


There is a story behind this moist and delicious pear bread.   More than three decades ago, I was gifted a loaf by a dear lady named Frieda.  After a long day of work, I recall how nice it was to have the fresh pear bread to enjoy with the family in the evening.  Frieda told me it was a recipe from a cookbook put out by a group of local women.  I had the cookbook at home, and made a mental note to bake the pear bread in my kitchen sometime. Time flew by and several years ago I finally got around to baking the pear bread...and I brought Frieda a loaf.  Not so long ago, I brought her another loaf…along with a bouquet of tulips.  She was diagnosed with terminal cancer two years ago and did not expect to see the flowers of spring the following year. Since then, two years have come and gone.  Frieda has enjoyed the tulips and now she is smelling the roses!  And tomorrow she will be celebrating her 90th birthday. She's still looking terrific and feeling quite well.  Her only explanation is that God still has a purpose for her on planet earth!  It seemed a good day to share this recipe.  Feel free to leave your birthday greetings to Frieda in the comment section.  I happen to know Frieda reads this blog!

Cinnamon Swirl Pear Bread 
  • 3 cups chopped peeled ripe pears (3-4 pears)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 sugar
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 9 - 10 cups flour
  • 3 tablespoons instant yeast
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  1. Combine pears, water and 1/3 cup sugar in saucepan. Simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes or until tender. Drain pears, reserving syrup. Add cold water as necessary to reserved syrup to measure 1 1/2 cups; set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine beaten eggs, butter, honey, salt, almond extract and lukewarm pears and reserved juice. 
  3. Stir instant yeast into four cups flour and add to other ingredients.  Beat well.
  4.  Continue adding flour to form a soft dough.
  5. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. 
  6.  Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours.
  7. Punch dough down; divide into three pieces.  Roll each portion into a 16-in. x 8-in. rectangle. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle each surface with 1/3 of the cinnamon mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges.
  8. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side; pinch seams to seal. 
  9. Place, seam side down, in three greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, (about one hour).
  10. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 minutes longer or until bread tests done. Remove from pans to wire rack to cool.  
Yield: 3 loaves   
 
I have one more note of interest about the origin of this recipe.  It was submitted to the original cookbook by Bev Klassen.  Who knew that one day Bev and I would both be contributors to Mennonite Girls Can Cook...and that I would be the one to share it over here?  It is a small world after all!
 

22 comments:

  1. This sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe, and happy birthday to Frieda!

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  2. What a wonderful 'love' story. Happy Birthday Frieda! God Bless!

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  3. Happy Birthday, Frieda! God has more ways planned for you to bless others!

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  4. I look forward to trying out this recipe on our 'care group'. It sounds delightful.
    Happy birthday Frieda! Your story is so encouraging, to be reminded how God knows the plans He has for each of us, how great His love is for us.
    Have a great day Frieda!

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  5. Wishing you a very blessed Happy Birthday, Frieda ... I love your story - a living example of God's grace! May He continue to bless your days!

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  6. Happy Birthday, Frieda! Many blessings to you as you enter a new decade! God is good.

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  7. I thought this bread looked familiar. Happy Birthday Frieda and may you feel God's presence in the coming year.
    Thanks, Judy for bringing this bread back to my attention. It's been years since I baked it.

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  8. Happy Birthday Frieda. I've never tasted Cinnamon Swirl Pear bread, but I was gifted a big bowl of pears that are ripening on the counter. I think I'll bake a few loaves and share a few along with this story. How wonderful that God has given you a long life to serve Him and others.

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  9. This delightful story reminds me of Ecc. 11:1: Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Happy birthday to Frieda from a fellow Canadian who lives in PA. God bless!

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  10. I can remember when we started this blog, we wanted to evoke the memories of food that was made by the special people in our lives and share the traditions of food, faith, family, friends. Feel good memories that make people feel loved. Frieda, it seems that you have done this for Judy and I am sure so many more people in your life that the Lord has brought across your path. He has blessed you with a long life of blessing others. May you feel blessed and loved on this special day. Happy Birthday Frieda. (Bev, thanks for sharing the recipe in the cookbook in the first place. See what a recipe can do......)

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  11. Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Frieda!!!

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  12. Thank you for sharing the recipe and Happy Birthday to Frieda! Every day is a blessing.

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  13. Indeed it does sound wonderful ~
    *´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Happy Birthday, Frieda! ¤¸.•*¨)

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  14. I've heard Judy share this story, but I know too that I love to look across the congregation to see if Frieda is in church. It has been a pleasure knowing Frieda and her faith that goes far beyond. You are an inspiration to many!
    Happy Birthday Frieda!

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  15. Happy Birthday Frieda!!!

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  16. Happy Birthday, Frieda! What a gift to celebrate 90 years of life with the best yet to come.

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  17. Happy Birthday Frieda! May God Bless you always.

    Best wishes,
    Aunt Bea

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  18. Happy, Happy 90th Birthday Frieda! What an awesome blessing to be celebrating 90 years!

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  19. Happy Birthday Frieda!!! You go girlfriend! Thank you both for a wonderful recipe and a beautiful story to go with it. I hope you both have a great day!

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  20. Happy Birthday to Frieda! Perhaps you could list the cookbook that this recipe came out of. would be good to know.

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  21. A must try! Yummy. Happy Birthday Frieda and I hope you are still enjoying baking!!

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  22. Praise God for the gift of Frieda! Happy birthday dear beautiful sister. I can't wait to try this bread.
    Blessings,

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