With Christmas baking over, I took an inventory of what I had left over that would be thrown out if I didn’t use it soon.  I had 4 apples, about a can of pears in syrup, some cashews, and some craisins.  Craisins are sweetened,  dried cranberries.  I came up with this recipe that I call “Crapple Bread”.  A new recipe for the New Year!

• 1 cup of white sugar
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup of oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon artificial butter flavoring 

Mix above ingredients in a large bowl.  The mixture will be thick. 

In a different bowl, sift together:

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 tsp McCormick Apple Pie Spice
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix as well as you can.  This will be very dry.

Combine the chopped apples and pears (reserving the juice to add later) together.  The apples and pears should be cut chopped into small pieces.  Add the fruit to the batter.  The batter will still be dry and hard to manage.  Add the pear juice, a little at a time and mix well.  Add a cup of Craisins, or regular raisins, and a cup of chopped cashews, or any other nuts you have on hand.  Mix well, adding the pear juice as needed. 

Divide the mixture into 2 bread pans which have been lightly oiled and floured.

Bake in 325 degree oven for 60 to 70 minutes.  (Insert a toothpick in the middle of the loaf to check to see if they are done.  If it comes out clean, the loaves are done.)

Let cool for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pans.