Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wednesdays with Wanda

Today I wanted to share with you one of my mom’s favorite recipes.

Poppy Seed Bread

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She used to make this a lot in the fall and give it away as little gifts to people. She taught me how to make it, and I have been making it every year since!

This recipe makes 5 to 6 mini-loafs, the perfect size for sharing with others.

So I decided to make 4 batches and share them with the precious ladies I work with. I teach music two days a week at a Mom’s Day Out Program at an area church. It is the most wonderful place to work!

The ladies I work with are amazing. I was flooded with love and prayers when Mom first became sick. Many of them helped take care of my boys, so I could help take care of Mom and go to her many doctor’s visits.

And when Mom passed away, I cannot tell you how much these ladies blessed me. Many of them came to Mom’s visitation and funeral, they took turns making my family dinner for two weeks, they collected money to give me a gift card, they gave me a beautiful decorative frame for my home, and they prayed and prayed for me.

I felt their love in every hug and every tear as they comforted me.

I wanted to do something for them to show them how much they meant to me, so I made them each a loaf of Mom’s poppy seed bread.

Here is the recipe:

Poppy Seed Bread

3 cups flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1 1/2 t. salt

2 1/4 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups oil

1 1/2 T. poppy seeds

2 t. butter flavoring

2 t. vanilla

Mix together the above ingredients and beat for two minutes.

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Fill 5 or 6 mini-loaf pans 2/3 to 3/4 full.

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Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

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Glaze:

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

1 1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 t. butter flavoring

Mix in a glass measuring cup. Pour over hot bread when removed from the oven. Let stand for 30 minutes.

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Now, when Mom would make these, she would remove them from the pan, wrap them in plastic wrap, and tie them up with jute string.

She would usually attach something cute to it, like a tag with a scripture on it that she had made on her computer, or a small type of flower or leaf. She was great at “embellishing” a gift.

My attempt wasn’t quite as cute as what she usually did, but I thought it turned out nicely.

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I just tied a fall leaf to each loaf with a card that said “Bless You”.

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And my prayer is that God would bless my sweet friends for all the ways they have blessed me!

Mom and I talked about this recipe a few weeks before she passed away. She said that one time she made some of these and took them to work. (She was a secretary at a church.) And when a needy person would come to the church for help, she would give them a loaf of poppy seed bread to take home with them.

She thought is was such a simple way to show someone you loved them.

Can you think of some people this week that you could show God’s love to?

A teacher?

An elderly person?

A friend at work?

A neighbor?

Your Mom?

One batch of poppy seed bread would cover all of these people!

Make some poppy seed bread and take it to them with your own little note attached.

I know you will be blessed as much as they will!

**************************************

Recipe for Living

I shall pass this way but once.

Any good thing that I can do,

Any kindness I can show,

Let me do it now.

Let me not defer it or neglect it.

For I shall not pass this way again.

(This is a poem that Mom kept on our refrigerator when I was growing up. She also cross-stitched it and hung it on the wall in a frame. I memorized it as a child, not knowing fully what it meant. But I do now! We only get one life on this earth…let’s make the most of each moment!)

Thank you, Mom, for always teaching me (and showing me) it is better to give than to receive.

God bless you all!




(This is a weekly post that I am doing to honor my wonderful mother, Wanda, who passed away on September 22, 2009. It is a place for me to share precious memories of her…for myself, for you, and most importantly, for my children.)

29 comments:

  1. Wow! That looks yummy! And I love how pretty it looks piled up in the basket! Thanks for the recipe, as soon as I get myself to town and get some OJ, I'm going to make this to bless some neighbors!

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  2. Looks scrumptious! My mother in law makes poppyseed bread as well, and I haven't had it in oh-so-long. I'll give your wonderful mama's recipe a try this week and make plenty for giving away :o) I love your Wednesday posts.

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  3. My mom passed away 2 years ago October 9th. When I read this, I cried. I have already written it down and will either cross stitch or paint it to be put on the wall for me to read every single day. I have been reading your blog and just sat and cried when I read that your sweet momma had gone to Heaven. I know what you feel, not having your momma. Its been 2 years and I still cry so so often. It will never be the same.
    God bless you and thank you for that wonderful poem
    deezie
    deeziesunshine@aol.com

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  4. Thanks for a good recipe and idea to "get out of ourselves".

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  5. Yum! Poppy Seed Bread is something I have not had in quite a while. I love it especially topped with the orange glaze. I love how you packaged the individual loaves. What a sweet way to say thank you. Thank you for the poem and the recipe.

    ~ Tracy

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  6. That recipe looks delicious!!!! I'll have to try it soon.. And I love the way you packaged them up!! Very cute!!

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  7. She will be proud...you are a good girl.

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  8. The bread looks absolutely delicious. I will definitely make some. This is another loving memory of your mom and such a wonderful lesson for all of us. She is still showing her thoughtfulness to others. Hugs, Marty

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  9. Traci
    This recipe looks so yummy!
    Thank You for sharing a bit of your mom each week with us!
    Can I ask you, what is butter flavoring? I am not really a baker but I want to be one~
    TX

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing this. I plan to make this for my co-workers.

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  11. This bread sounds delicious! I will have to bake some for some of my friends and family. I know that your mom was very proud of you. Her love keeps shining thru you.

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

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  12. I love it! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful mother and a wonderful recipe! I can't wait to try it!

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  13. Hold those recipes from your mom near and dear, having lost my mom when I was young I never had the chance to hang onto those precious things. The recipe looks yumm!

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  14. Traci, the bread looks yummy (although I'm trying South Beach this week). It will have to wait for me. Your mother's recipe is the one that caught my eye. I think your mother was a lady who really had it together. Sounds like you're following in her footsteps!

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  15. OK I'm now craving it and going to go get the ingredients today so I can make it!! I love that bread!! Love You!

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  16. This looks delicious! The kids and I are going to make them tonight! We lost my husbands mother 3 years ago and miss her every day! Your mom sounds like she was a remarkable woman!

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  17. Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe!

    Your Mom truly is an example....to ALL of us!!

    Blessings to you sweet friend. <3

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  18. Hi sweet Traci! Oh, you're making me love your dear Mother more and more! What a precious thing to do, make this wonderful bread and then give it away. I think I'll print out your recipe and do the same thing!
    Dear Traci, you have your mother's sweet heart!
    Love ya Dear One,
    Shelia ;)

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  19. It seems to me that your mother's love is still being shown to others by you!

    Leann

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  20. thank you Traci, I will make this with my sous chef (my 4 year old son) and we'll give them as thank yous to his teachers and friends.

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  21. As you know, Traci, I just found you about a week ago and I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to hearing about your mom today. I imagine she is smiling down on you as you share your precious memories with so many people. You both are blessed to have had each other!

    The poppy seed bread looks scrumptious and the decor, even cuter. I don't have any mini-bread pans, but I'll either go buy them or make poppy seed muffins with your recipe. I love the thought of passing on the blessing from you and your mom!

    Thanks for sharing.

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  22. What a wonderful idea! They look delicious and adorable! No doubt those ladies were blessed by your gesture of thankfulness. Definitely going to try these. Thank you for sharing...

    Blessings,
    Tracy

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  23. I am so moved by how you lovingly keep your mother's beautiful spirit alive. Thank you for sharing her recipe, but mostly thank you for sharing her love.

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  24. Thank you for your comment about my kitchen post. I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. I lost my father 2 years ago, and sometimes it still hurts as if it just happened yesterday. You sound like you have a very strong support system in place, which is so important. How wonderful that she left you this special recipes to share, and also make in honor/memory of her. Your "wrapping looks, great, and I love the touch you added with the leaf. I plan on making this this holiday season (it looks so moist!), so I'll let you know when I do. Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Another beautiful Wednesdays With Wanda post. I love poppy seed bread! You could send me a loaf and I'll let you know how good it is.

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  26. oooh, great recipe, I'll be trying...

    sarah

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  27. Yummy
    I'll have to try your mom's recipe when I finally get back to Florida.
    Cheri

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  28. Every week I am blown away by what a wonderful woman your Mother was! She is an inspiration to me, even now.

    The bread looks yummy! We will have to try it and take some to my Sweet Girl's teachers.

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  29. Hi Traci,
    I have been enjoying your blog for a while now and I just wanted to thank you for sharing your mom's recipe. My hubby and I went to a bed & breakfast for the first time this past weekend to celebrate our 10th anniversary and we had a loaf as part of our breakfast. I had never had it before and it was so good! I smiled when I saw your post today! I made 6 loaves and it was delicious! My mom is having a friend stay with her this weekend so I was able to share a couple of loaves with her to share with her friend!

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I am so glad to hear from you! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment. Blessings!

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