Strawberry Bread and a Mess...

Have you ever woken up and heard a simple word and it just set you off in the wrong direction?  Well, that happened to me today.  I knew from the second I heard it that I would be battling my brain all day.  I try not to let things get to me, but sometimes it is really hard to just move past things.  I decided to shift my brain in a different direction.

My mom asked me if I could come up with a gluten free strawberry bread recipe for her.  Since I am always the one thinking of recipes to try, it was nice to have someone ask me for something specific.  Well, this is where things continue down hill.  I had all of my notes together and I had a plan.  I pureed my strawberries and I was on my way.  I was excited!  Well, apparently I was also clumsy!  In the middle of layering my batter and strawberries, my arm knocked the strawberry puree  all over the kitchen floor and my shoes.  I don't know if you know this, but strawberry puree does not clean up easily.  I would go into more detail, but I think your imagination can figure this out.  It was all over the cabinets too!  FUN!  So, I finished cleaning up and assembling the bread, working with what I had and trying to move on.  It looked pretty and I was excited to see how it turned out.  I put it in an 8 inch bread pan because I wanted it to bake up.  Got it all in the oven with the timer set...about 15 minutes later...the most amazing summery smell was coming upstairs.  Sweet strawberry was wafting through the house.  Oh get this...now, there is a burning smell coming through the house.  CRAP!  That crazy thing is burning!!!

Oh, no, not the whole thing...just the part that is coming over the side!!!  UGH!  Ok, I got that cleaned up.  Now, I just get to smell what I can't get off the oven for the next few hours because the air conditioner is still broken and there is no air circulating through the upstairs.  So, with the windows now open and the bread out.  It looks good.

Ok, I have saved it.  I hope.  The illustrator tastes it...he spits it in the sink.  Now, don't place judgement on him for this, there have been many gluten free breads that I have spit out.  So, I taste it...cause I am a stupid and if you spit it out...I need to try it.  Well, I think it's good.  Come to find out...the illustrator is not a fan of cooked strawberries.  After 16 years, you would think I would know this.  So, I have a loaf of strawberry bread all for me.

The bread reminds me of the cobbler.  The bottom is a little stickier than I would like.  But I think I am on to something.  I just pawned a piece off on my third child (the neighbor that practically lives with us) and he loves it.  (I now like the neighbor more than my kids...sorry boys)  Ok, so I am not crazy.  Well, not for liking the bread anyway.  This stuff is good.  It has a crispy crust and a soft inside with a little bit of gooeyness (kind of like preserves built in) on the bottom.  It would be really nice with a scoop of dairy free vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of peanut butter sauce.

I think I will work on this one just a little bit.  It is not quite where I want it to be, but it is heading in the right direction.  Honestly, for being gluten free, dairy free, egg free and fat free...this stuff is amazing!  You will see it again...even better!