Daily observations of my simple life.

Pumpkin Bread:

There has been a request for my pumpkin bread recipe. Before I give it I want to make some explaination of my taste. Some people may not like my recipe because it is not sweet and salty in the usual way. I have always been a whole wheat healthy type cook so my recipe is based on those kinds of ingredients. My recipe is not one of those perfect recipes in the since it has a real standard recipe base.

This is how I make it.

In a large bowl I put two 1 cup scoops of wholewheat flour, 1/2 cup of oatmeal, 1/4 cup of soy flour, 1/4 cup of wheat germ, one 1 cup scoop of powdered milk, 1&1/2 TBS of baking powder and 1 tsp of baking soda. Stir this all up good. Then add 1 handful each of dried cherries, dried cranberries, white raisens, and chopped apricots. Then add 1/2  - 1 cup of coursely chopped walnuts. Stir these all up so it's well mixed.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a quart measuring cup put 1/2 of a 29 0z can of pumpkin, 4 eggs, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 TBS of molasses, and water. I think about 1 cup. Beat well so it is well mixed and then stir into the dry mix. I adjust the water as needed after the flour is all mixed in good. The dough should be just slightly drier than muffin mix. Oil with olive oil , and flour lightly a large loaf pan. Dump the mix in , smooth out the top and push into corners and bake for at least an hour. Make sure it's done clear through and remove from pan while still warm. Cut down sides and gently lift loaf so it comes free and then turn upside down and jiggle gently. Let cool and then enjoy toasted with cream cheese or buttered with jelly or whatever pleases you.

I usually go to Trader Joes about twice a year and stock up on nuts and dried fruits.  I also get their mosturizing lotion. It's a take off of a very expensive herbal lotion but much less expensive. These shopping ventures cost me about $75. - $100. and keeps me well supplied with these staples. I try to buy pumpkin when it's on sale. I'm hoping to grow my own this year.

A loaf lasts me about a week as I usually have a nice slice once a day and once in a while I'll have two slices a day.  I don't use much other kind of bread. I read a book last year about the healthiest foods and pumpkin was on the list.

I also love steamed sweet potato. I just slice a long slim sweet potato in about one inch slices with the skin on. I have an insert that I put in my pan. I put water in the bottom of the pan and the insert with holes in it on top. Put your sweet potato slices in, cover and turn on the heat. Steam till they're tender. Once steamed it is easy to remove the skin. I love these hot or cold for a sweet treat.  I never buy sugar. My sweets are fruits, and sweet potato, a little molasses.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 15:57 | link | comments (2)

Comments:

#1  08 February 2006 - 18:25

 

That sounds yummy, thanks for sharing that recipe, can't wait to try it! Sue

junebug

#2  09 February 2006 - 02:24

 

That does sound delicious, never would have thought of adding all the dried fruit.

rustymadgal

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