Strawberry Pecan Bread

My mom used to make this bread when I was growing up, and it has always been a favorite of mine.  It is really good with a cup of coffee, as a side with some eggs, or along side a grilled chicken salad.  To make the recipe a little healthier, I substituted 2/3 of the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour.  It makes the bread a little more dense, but by using a third all purpose flour, the bread does not come out like a brick.  I personally really like the nutty flavor that whole flour adds to baked goods like these.

This bread is completely dairy free, so is nice for those with cows milk allergies.  Another plus of this bread is that it freezes very well, so doubling the recipe and freezing a loaf for an easy accompaniment to a future breakfast or salad can be a nice gift to yourself for later.

Strawberry Pecan Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
6 Tbsp sugar sugar
1 packages frozen sliced strawberries (10 oz), thawed
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Oil and flour a bread pan with canola oil and all purpose flour.

2. Beat eggs in medium mixing bowl until fluffy; add oil, sugar and strawberries. In separate bowl, mix together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix flour mixture in with strawberry mixture. Fold in pecans.

3. Pour batter in prepared bread pan. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out of pans and continue cooling on wire rack.  Let completely cool before slicing.

What are the nutritional benefits of this bread? Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber. Whole wheat flour is less refined than all purpose flour so provides more fiber and nutrients, particularly B vitamins, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, phosphorous, zinc, copper, and iron. Pecans are a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids and phenolic antioxidants, vitamin E, B vitamins and minerals manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.