Cherry-Vanilla Bread

1½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 large egg, lightly beaten

½ cup 1 percent (or higher) milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup dried cherries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter an 8- or 9-inch loaf pan well and set aside.

Combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a bowl. Stir well. In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the butter, egg, milk, vanilla and cherries together. Add the combined wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just moist throughout. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or just until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool further. Slice and serve, or wrap tightly in foil until ready to serve.

Start to finish: about 45 minutes, mostly unattended baking time

Makes 10 servings, 1 slice each

Approximate values per serving: 197 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated), 31 mg cholesterol, 3 g protein, 35 g carbohydrates, 1 g dietary fiber, 165 mg sodium.

Alicia Ross