Meals as a Mrs. ~ Soft Vanilla Milk Bakery Loaf

 Yesterday into today we had 11 to 14" of snow fall on us in Steubenville. 11 years ago to the day, Adam and I had excitedly stood in the street under the snowflakes and stars to snap this photo within the first few weeks of his big move to Ohio. The caption I gave it on social media is also shared:

For those who have been inquiring, Adam is holding his own against snowy Steubenville. 

Here are images that I took yesterday as our snow bunny enjoyed being outside in the backyard.

It's been on my heart for a while to go back to posting the Meals as a Mrs. blog postings that I used to do in the first couple years of our marriage. I don't know how consistent I'll be but here is a first attempt for 2026. 

Last night, I saw a friend post this recipe online and when I woke up with my stomach rumbling this morning, I thought, why not try my hand at this bread? Lately, I've been using my Dutch Oven to make a crusty loaf but I was intrigued by the descriptive title of this particular bread and wanted to try this one. See below for image and recipe that were shared online:

Soft Vanilla Milk Bakery Loaf

This loaf finishes the season perfectly. Simple, soft, and comforting, it slices beautifully and stays moist for days, making it ideal for post-Valentine calm days.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/3 cup oil

• 1 1/4 cups milk

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of salt

Methods:

Preheat oven to 350 F and grease loaf pan.

Whisk eggs and sugar until pale.

Add oil, milk, and vanilla.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.

Fold dry ingredients into batter gently.

Pour into pan and smooth top.

Bake 45 minutes until golden.

Rest before slicing.

Nutrition: 255 kcal | 8 g fat | 39 g carbs | 5 g protein

The house smelled divine as the bread baked for the last 45 - 50 minutes. The recipe called for the bread to bake for 45 minutes but I added an additional three to five minutes to help with the slight browning on the top of the loaf. The bread was scrumptious! The top had a bit of a caramelized top to it and the slice I enjoyed for breakfast tasted more like a cross between pound cake (but not as heavy or dense) and a donut! I would call this donut bread as it was a sweet bread that had more of cake-like consistency to it in sliced form. Adam and I agreed it would be good as a breakfast sandwich but I think I like it just plain as is, too!

This is one of my favorite parts of baking...the transformative element of making something with your hands and then waiting to see what the outcome will be. Isn't marriage like that? A man and a woman come together from their distinct separate lives and join their lives together to create a new life and family as husband and wife. No two families are alike. Each family has its own unique elements and gifts to give both to the members of the family and outside the family. 

Engaging in baking and taking part in the pleasure of creating something from nothing this morning makes me think of how God breathed life into each one of us when we were formed and created. He knows the number of our days, how many strands of hair we have on our heads, the desires of our hearts, and has a plan for each one of us long before we were even created and known by others within this world. While we're a work in progress every single day in learning more about ourselves, in considering how to take care of ourselves, and are becoming more and more self-aware with the passage of time, including knowledge of and coping with our wounds and hurts, God knows it all already and everything has a purpose. 

What is something you can do to increase joy in your life today? There is much in the world that can bring us down (and keep us there), but we were not made to despair and are a people of hope. 

How can we increase joy, no matter how small the event or task may be, in our lives? 

For me at this moment, it is snuggling with a pup, as I dive back into grading/working from home on this snow day after taking a grading break to enjoy a slice of and to savor the warmth and sweetness of this simple but sweet bread.

"Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. An no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that." - St. Francis de Sales

What an inspiring quote from the saint whose feast day we recently celebrated that contains a reminder for us to remember about each of us AND about our spouses! St. Francis de Sales is known for gentleness and love - may we all be a bit more gentle and loving toward ourselves as well as our spouses within our marriages.