James beard's persimmon bread

4 Loaves

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
3½ cup Sifted all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Baking soda
1 teaspoon Ground mace
2 cups To 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup Butter, melted
4 larges Eggs, lightly beaten
⅔ cup Cognac or bourbon
*REMY MARTIN Suzy's choice
2 cups Persimmon puree (the pulp
Of about 4md. persimmons - not necessary to peel
2 cups Coarsely chopped walnuts optional
2 cups Raisins -optional

Directions

Source: Beard on Bread 1973

Sift all five dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Then make a well in the center and add the melted butter, egg, Cognac, persimmon puree, and if you like, the nuts and raisins. Mix the dough until it is quite smooth. smooth. Butter and flour four molds*, fill them about three-fourths full,, and bake for 1 hr. at 350° F. Cool the loaves in the molds and turn out on a rack.

NOTE: Wrap in foil after cooling if you wish to keep them. They will keep nicely from 1 to 2 weeks.

Persimmons grow in many countries of the world, but often, as in France, they are left hanging on the trees. In this country (USA) we have learned to appreciate their superb deep-orange color, their shape, and their delicate flavor, and they are becoming increasingly popular. In earlier times they were allowed to ripen on the trees until dead ripe before being eaten raw or used for puddings, cookies, and breads. Nowadays they show up in our markets in a firm state and must be left at room temperature for several days or a week to ripen until they are almost mushy.

This old recipe, sent to me by a dear friend from the Middle West, makes a bread that is almost cakelike in texture. Spread with good fresh butter, it is very pleasant to eat along with a cup of tea or to use for a cream-cheese Sandwich. It is unusual, rich, and thoroughly delicious.

*Traditionally this bread is baked in four 1-pound buttered and floured coffee cans, but you can use 3- to 4-cup charlotte molds (my preference, (JB) round Pyrex dishes, or round stainless steel bowls.

James Beard

Makes: [4 round leaves]

*I use Remy Martin and coffee cans as molds for gift giving holiday time. This is a fabulous recipe! Suzy

From the recipe files of suzy@gannett

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