Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread

I. love. this. recipe.  

I got a new book recently, that I also bought for my sister, called Vegan Yum Yum. This is an amazing cookbook! The author, Lauren Ulm, has a blog called Vegan Yum Yum, in which she posts vegan recipes to suit her pallet and the pallet of other Vegans.  I try to eat vegan sometimes, but it is a hard task to do, and I commend those who are able to live a vegan lifestyle.  I am more of a vegetarian when it comes to food.  I will use the butter because Earth Balance isn't something I normally stock in my fridge. I usually buy the bulk butter from Costco, because, let's face it, it's cheaper! 

Anyway,  I want to share a recipe called Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread, from Lauren Ulm's new cookbook. This recipe is tasty and a great bread to have around when a snack is needed or bread for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  

I wanted to bake something for my mom while I was on vacation in Florida.  I'm always baking at home, and my mom never gets to taste anything I bake, so I wanted her to taste a recipe. I decided to go for this recipe because it is my mom's favorite type of bread. She usually buys the raisin bread from the local Natural Foods store.  Now that she has this recipe, I think she will be making her own!

Alterations from original recipes:

1. I used Organic All-Purpose flour instead of bread flour.  I honestly tried to look for bread flour in 3 different stores. But, as luck would have it, I did not find any.  I even looked in a Natural Foods store! But they only carried German bread mix. 

2. I put an egg-wash on top of my bread. The original recipe calls for sprinkled water on top, because eggs aren't vegan friendly, but I know from previous baking experience, that egg-washes give the baked goods a nice golden brown top.

I won't give away the recipe in this blog, however, because I want you all to go out and buy the Vegan Yum Yum book! I will ask the owner of the book if I may post the recipe here later on though.  If she agrees, then I will post it.  For now, here are some of my pictures that I took of the bread. Enjoy!

-Joanna