Lately, I have been learning about the impact of kindness and grace firsthand . It's the little things. Things like the sweet lady at the organic grocery store practicing German with me, how people welcome me into their homes and let me share my silly American traditions, and when my wonderful tutor brings me a big ole' bag of fresh apples from her tree just because she's that kind.

It's easy to focus on the ugly and bad of our lives and the world, but what about noticing the sweet little gifts. A smile. Opening the door for someone. Being a listening ear to a hurting friend. The list can go on.

Lately, life has seemed slower and quieter, but it has allowed me to be extra thankful for these moments. I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and graciousness of the people in Germany. Don't get me wrong, I piss off the cashier at the grocery on the regular, because I never know the names of the bread I buy too much of (then she doesn't know what to charge me).  But overall, I've been loved on so well during my time here. Besides, I think the cashier likes our little game of let's guess which bread this is in "Germish".

Now what does all of that have to do with this delicious apple bread? Not sure. Other than the fact that my tutor so kindly brought me the biggest bag of apples ever and I needed to use them. Thankfully, food is my love language, and these apples gave me the opportunity to bake this bread and invite some friends over for an afternoon snack.

Let's be real, it was not a snack. We each ate two heaping slices.

If you're interested in the recipe, see below!

Apple Pie Bread

Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup white sugar + 1 teaspoon molasses combined
  • (unless you live outside of Germany and brown sugar is in every grocery store)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ⅔ cup white sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1¾ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• 1 ½  cups of chopped apples

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius, didn't realize how important it is to add this until I moved to Europe). Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Mix sugar + molasses (or brown sugar) with cinnamon and the chopped apples, set aside. Beat plain white sugar and butter together until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, until incorporated; add vanilla extract and stir until incorporated.

Combine flour and baking powder together; stir into creamed butter mixture.

Mix milk into batter until smooth. Pour half the batter into the loaf pan. Next add half the apples and brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apple brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Mine took about 40 minutes in my conventional oven. Enjoy with a delicious cup of joe!