"Character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the next."
- - Ezra Taft Benson
October 15, 2013
Italian Quick Bread
by Joni Hilton

Quick breads are so dreamy, are they not?  They're always moist (or should be), and make wonderful gifts, as well.  They're perfect for impatient people who don't want to wait for dough to rise, then rise again.  I made this one up for an olive contest, and though it didn't win, you're going to love it.  It's literally bursting with those yummy Italian flavors everyone adores.  Unless you hate olives, in which case you can give BOTH loaves away.  Your friends will love you for it.

5 cups flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
One-fourth teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 cup FINELY grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 (12.5 oz) bottle green Spanish olives, with juice
1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
4 eggs
One-half cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup pine nuts

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, garlic powder, basil, oregano, fennel seeds, and cheeses.

  2. Using kitchen shears, coarsely cut olives in the jar. In another mixing bowl, combine olives (with juice), yogurt, eggs, oil, honey, and nuts. Add to dry mixture but do not overbeat. Pour into 2 greased 9x5-inch loaf pans and bake for 70 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then invert onto cooling rack.

Makes 2 loaves.


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About Joni Hilton

Joni is an award-winning playwright, the author of 20 books, holds a master of fine arts degree in professional writing from USC, and is frequently published in major magazines. Tune in to her radio advice show at AM1380, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, on saturday mornings.

A former TV talk show host in Los Angeles, she is also a TV spokeswoman across the U.S. for various corporations, and highly in demand as a public speaker.

Hilton writes for Music and The Spoken Word for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and is a columnist for Meridian Magazine.

Hilton's books can be found at Goodreads, CreateSpace, Amazon, Deseret Book, and at MormonAuthors. Reviews are also available at these same sites.

She is founder and former CEO of Holy Cow, an organic line of cleaning products, the winner of dozens of cooking contests, and a former model and Miss California. She is married to TV personality Bob Hilton, and they are the parents of four children.

Feel free to follow Joni at Twitter and on Facebook. Her website is at http://cookingwithjoni.blogspot.com/.

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