Old-Fashioned Raisin Bread

It is hard to believe that at one time—in a world where raisins had to be seeded with your fingers before eating—raisins were so rare that they were not used in baking at all, but served as a dessert delicacy by themselves. They were plumped in brandy and wrapped in lemon leaves like a little gift. Today, California raisin production allows us to use raisins liberally and, along with cinnamon bread, raisin bread is one of the most common sweet breads made by home bakers. It is as good for p