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A Cinnamon Raisin Bread Trap

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    When I was in high school I was very shy about asking girls for a date. But there was a girl that I was very interested in. So for days I tried to build up the courage to ask her out. I knew where she would be every morning before classes, so after rehearsing my lines and trying to boost my self confidence, I approached her. I was confident that with my rehearsal, and hiding my fear of rejection and delivering my finely honed line, I would get that date! She said "NO". If I had an ego to damage it would have been crushed. I retreated to my class room, tail between my legs wondering what went wrong? Why didn't she have the same attraction for me? I didn't ask her out again while I was in school.
     Fast forward a couple of years. This girl "happened" to drive by my house and saw me throwing a football around with my brother. She stopped, we talked and before long she had agreed to meet me (or did I agree to meet her) at the high school football game for a date. This date went well and another was set. This time I was to pick her up at home and meet her family. She met me soon after I was in the door with a loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Bread. The "Trap" was well baited. She was fresh off a win at the Ohio State Fair with her bread. As the saying goes, I took the bait, hook, line and sinker! She had me! But still,while we were dating, I would periodically receive a loaf. This might have been a training technique. Rewarding good behavior to reinforce the desired result?
      We were married not to long after she graduated and that is when I found out she could bake but was not as comfortable cooking. She came from a large family and I believe that Mom kept everyone out of the kitchen while she was fixing dinner, so that it was delivered on time. But after dinner had been completed she would help them with their baking.
      Fortunately Donna and I got a Better Homes and Garden Cookbook for a wedding present. That first week we sat down and picked out a few meals we would try. Some of those meals we still make regularly to this day. She has developed into a fine cook and cookbooks have became regular references for both of us. A couple of years later she bought the cookbook seen here. Farm Journal's "Best-Ever" Recipes. The 1977 edition. This has been one of her favorites over the years and I am very careful with it. We have tried many of the recipes from this cookbook and have not been disappointed. But I did sneak it out of the house and while at Ty's last week, I prepared a dinner for them from it. I made the "Four Hour Beef Stew", "Biscuits" and "Grandma's Soft Sugar Cookies". The cookies are my all time favorite cookie. The stew and biscuits also were tasty. The cookbook did not disappoint.
     But with all these memories, I have been wondering ? I don't believe I have had a Cinnamon Raisin Bread from Donna since before we were married ?  Care to guest blog Donna ?

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