Shaker Loaf Recipes

MEAT LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan. Add the onions, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not brown. Off the heat, add the Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Allow to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck, onion mixture, bread crumbs, and eggs, and mix lightly with a fork. Don't mash or the meat loaf will be dense. Shape the mixture into a rectangular loaf on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Spread the ketchup evenly on top. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the meat loaf is cooked through. (A pan of hot water in the oven, under the meat loaf, will keep the top from cracking.) Serve hot.

SHAKER LOAF

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast over warm water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add sugar, and stir until dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• With mixer on low speed, gradually add milk, butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix in flour, about 1 cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until combined. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until soft and smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in a large, buttered bowl, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead until smooth. Shape dough into a 9-inch-long log. Place in prepared loaf pan, and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until dough has doubled in bulk, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Bake until top is golden brown and bread is cooked through, about 50 minutes. Unmold onto a wire rack; let cool.

SHAKER-STYLE WALNUT AND ROSEMARY LOAF

Steps:

• Pour milk into large bowl. Mix in sugar, butter, and salt; cool to lukewarm. Place 1/4 cup warm water in small bowl; mix in yeast. Let stand 6 minutes.
• Stir yeast mixture and 1 egg into lukewarm milk mixture. Mix in 4 cups flour. Beat with wooden spoon until mixture is smooth. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sponge stand until bubbles appear at edge, about 15 minutes.
• Mix nuts and rosemary into sponge. Mix in flour, 1/3 cupful at a time, until soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and no longer sticky, sprinkling with flour as needed, about 10 minutes. Brush clean large bowl with oil. Add dough; turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic. Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Brush two 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2-inch nonstick loaf pans with oil. Punch dough down and turn out onto work surface; shape into two 8-inch-long loaves. Place in pans. Let rise, uncovered, until almost doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Using serrated knife, make shallow cut down center of each loaf. Brush loaves with glaze. Bake until golden and crusty, about 35 minutes. Turn breads out of pans. Cool on racks.

CARROT CAKE LOAF (QUICK BREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan. See notes for muffins or mini loaves.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and carrots together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently whisk until *just* combined. Fold in the nuts/add-in. Batter will be semi-thick.
• Spread the batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55 - 65 minutes. (I like to loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent heavy browning on top.) Baking times vary so keep an eye on yours. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out *mostly* clean with zero raw batter. Remove the bread from the oven.
• Cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack before removing and frosting.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Beat in the butter until combined. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt (I usually add a little less than 1/8 teaspoon), then beat on low speed until smooth and creamy. Taste. Add more cinnamon and/or salt if desired. Frost cooled bread, slice, and serve.
• Cover and store leftover bread at room temperature for up to 3-4 days or in the refrigerator for up to about 10 days. Storing with frosting: Cover and store leftover bread in the refrigerator for up to about 1 week.

SHAKER STYLE WALNUT AND ROSEMARY LOAF

Steps:

• Pour milk into large bowl.
• Mix in sugar, butter and salt; cool to lukewarm.
• Place 1/4 cup warm water in small bowl; mix in yeast.
• Let stand 6 minutes.
• Stir yeast mixture and 1 egg into lukewarm milk mixture.
• Mix in 4 cups flour and beat with a wooden spoon until mixture is smooth.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sponge stand until bubbles appear at edge, about 15 minutes.
• Mix nuts and rosemary into sponge.
• Mix in remaining flour, 1/3 cup at a time, until soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
• Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth and no longer sticky, sprinkling with flour as needed, aqbout 10 minutes.
• Oil a large clean bowl.
• Add dough, turning to coat.
• Cover with plastic wrap.
• Let dough rise in a warm draft free area until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Grease two 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch nonstick bread pans with oil.
• Punch down dough and turn out onto work surface.
• Shape into two 8 inch long loaves.
• Place inpans.
• Let rise, uncovered, until almost double in size, about 45 minutes.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375*F.
• Using serrated knife, make a shallow cut down center of each loaf.
• Brush loaves with glaze.
• Bake until golden and crusty, about 35 minutes.
• Turn out of pans and let cool on racks.

HOME-STYLE MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix Meatloaf ingredients well. Press mixture in ungreased 8x4-inch loaf pan. Bake 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Spread 1/4 cup ketchup evenly over top. Bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of loaf reads 160°F. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.