Barbara-Jo's New And Improved SCHNITZBROT

Well, since everything that gets posted to the internet remains there forever, I figured this is also the easiest way to pass on my new and improved SCHNITZBROT recipe so my kids will have it when I am no longer around to share it with them.

As you can see from the photo where a slice is cut and photographed on it's side, it is full of dried fruit. My 'ex', who lives in Germany, informed me that the correct Swabian spelling is Schnitzbrot, not Schnittsbrot, which is how it sounds. But that is getting off the topic of how to make it.

This year I changed the recipe since I was not pleased with how it had been turning out in previous years and I must say, this is the BEST Schnitzbrot I EVER made! So here we go on how to make it:

First of all, NO candied fruit goes into this! Most of the dried fruit comes from the health food store but a few things are from Publix. The dried fruits I used this year and will always use in the future are apricots, cranberries, figs, pineapple, mango and papaya. This gives it a typical tropical flavor which I think is great for Florida! (In Germany they use dry pears, apples, plums, raisins)

All the fruit is cut into SMALL pieces - an example of how small I mean is that I take each dried fig, cut off the stem and then cut the fig into 10 pieces. That is small! Once cut into small pieces, I have about 3-4 cups worth of each fruit.

Next all the fruit goes into a crockpot and gets covered with rum (the cheapest you can get). Turn on low and let it slowly come to a full boil. Then turn the heat off and let it slowly cool. Leave the fruit in the crockpot for 24-48 hours. You will be amazed how the size of each piece has increased!

When you are ready to bake take 4 packages of dry yeast and mix with a half cup of warm (110 degrees) water and let the yeast expand for about 10 minutes.

Now put the entire mass of fruit and whatever rum is still in liquid form into a VERY large bowl and add 4 heaping cups of BREAD flour, the yeast mixture you just made, 1 Tablespoon of baking powder and 4 eggs. Also add 2 Tablespoons of cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground cloves, 1 teaspoon cardamom, an entire spice glass full of either orangepeel or lemonpeel, 300 grams (or close to it, depending on the amount in the bag) of sliced almonds and the same amount of either walnut pieces or pecan pieces.  Mix this by hand (no electric mixer can get through this thick mass) and add just enough water that all the flour can be mixed into the mass. It takes some serious mixing to get the flour mixed without adding too much water!

This amount will yield 6 loaves of fruitbread. Form each loaf and place on a cookie sheet that has been coated with canola spray oil. Place the cookie sheets near the oven for about an hour so the yeast can rise a little (it won't rise like bread, the mass is just too heavy for that).

Bake for one hour at 315 degrees Farenheit. Do NOT put one of the cookie sheets on the lowest shelf or you will burn the bottoms of your loaves!

Let cool about a half hour before cutting into them. These can be frozen or stored in the fridge for weeks. On the counter they will last about a week if not eatten before then.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY FELLOW ACTIVE RAINERS! MAY 2011 TURN OUT TO BE BETTER THAN 2010 FOR OUR NATION'S ECONOMY!

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

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Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA Charles Rutenberg Realty Serving the Greater Palm Harbor Florida Area, including Crystal Beach, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs Florida Waterfront condos & homes relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing Your Real Estate Specialist 727-512-0910 visit my website to see all my current listings www.barbarajo.com connect with me online

If you are thinking of purchasing in the Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs area or along our pristine Gulf Beaches, give me a call! With years of experience in the local real estate market, I am here to assist you in making one of the most important purchases of your life! Give me a call today! Find out for yourself why living along the Gulf Coast is indeed living in Paradise!