Bread Winners

Transform a quick-bread recipe into three festive flavors with the help of sweet and savory mix-ins.

•Take one quick bread and add tasty variations.

Herb Quick Bread

This herby, easy-to-make bread is a great complement to any main dish or salad. —Donna Roberts, Manhattan, KS Prep: 15 min.

Bake: 40 min. + cooling Makes: 1 loaf (16 slices) 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 Tbsp. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder 3 tsp. caraway seeds ¹₂ tsp. salt ¹₂ tsp. ground nutmeg ¹₂ tsp. dried thyme 1 large egg

1 cup fat-free milk

¹₃ cup canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large bowl, whisk together the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and oil. Add to the flour mixture; stir just until moistened.

2. Transfer to a 9x5-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-50 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.

1 slice: 147 cal., 5g fat

(1g sat. fat), 12mg chol., 160mg sod., 21g carb.

(3g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g pro.

Diabetic exchanges:

1¹₂ starch, 1 fat.

For Cheesy Garlic Herb Quick Bread,

eliminate caraway, nutmeg and thyme. Prepare batter as directed, stirring 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 2 tsp. Italian seasoning into the flour mixture. Bake as directed.

For Cranberry Orange Almond Quick Bread,

eliminate caraway, nutmeg and thyme. Prepare batter as directed, adding ³₄ tsp. each orange zest and almond extract to milk mixture and stirring 1 cup dried cranberries and

¹₂ cup toasted sliced almonds into the flour mixture. Bake as directed. Switch it up and bake this bread in two new ways. For skillet bread, prepare batter as directed. Spoon batter into a greased 8-in. cast-iron skillet; bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

For muffins, prepare batter as directed. Spoon batter into nine greased muffin cups; bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.