Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Pumpkin Head, Pumpkin Bread

I’ve been waiting patiently (or, not-so-patiently) the entire month of September for pumpkin to arrive in Morgantown grocery stores.


Living pumpkin-less for the better part of this month, I’ve resorted to ogling the tempting images of mouth-watering pumpkin treats posted by fellow food bloggers--pumpkin breakfast oats, pumpkin chocolate energy bars, pumpkin cookies...and the list goes on.


But alas! Sunday, in a last-ditch effort to complete my pumpkin hunt at the 4th grocery store of the weekend, we found a small, picked over shelf of Libby’s pumpkin. A tiny, pitiful sign accompanied the shelf, noting “Pumpkin: Limited Quantity.” No kidding.


Needless to say we purchased 4 of the jumbo cans. I left two on the shelf for the next desperate baker to snatch up.


I wasted no time putting my pumpkin to good use. First on the recipe list? Healthy, hearty, and oh-so-nutty pumpkin bread.


My favorite almost-fat-free pumpkin bread recipe comes from Susan at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen. While the bread would be virtually fat-free, I prefer to add a heavy dose of chopped walnuts to the batter, eliminating the “fat free” part, but (in my opinion), enhancing the healthiness factor with those awesome omega-3s. As a side note, I also reduced the sugar in Susan's recipe by 1/2 cup.


Thus, the Great Pumpkin Crave of September 2010 has calmed; the appetite has been satisfied.


And with an added piece of pumpkin goodness to my morning eats, it looks like my breakfast just got a little bigger :)


Pumpkin Bread (the healthy version)

(adapted from Susan's recipe for Oil-Free Pumpkin Bread at Fat Free Vegan Kitchen)


This is a tasty, low-fat recipe that satisfies my pumpkin craving at breakfast like no other.


Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar (Susan's recipe calls for 1 -1/2 cups, if you prefer a sweeter bread)
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Egg substitute equivalent to 2 eggs (I just used 2 eggs!)
  • 1 - 2/3 cups flour (I used a mixture of whole wheat flour with unbleached all-purpose flour)
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 3/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • sprinkling of pumpkin pie spice
  • some orange zest (I didn't measure! Just mixed a little zest from a fresh orange right in!)
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup dried cranberries

Directions:


1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.


2) Beat the first 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients (except the walnuts and cranberries). Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Fold in walnuts, cranberries, and orange zest.


3) Bake for 60 - 70 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean (mine loaf was finished in 65 minutes).


14 comments:

  1. Your recipes are so incredibly inspiring! Makes me want to just get in the kitchen and cook! How do you have the time???

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  2. i got to hit barnes and noble stores and check those books out!!

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  3. YAY! So glad you finally found canned pumpkin. Love this recipe! :D

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  4. I seem to be the only one who hasn't located the pumpkin! As soon as I do... pumpkin bread will be made.

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  5. Oh I want a piece of that bread right now!

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  6. Hi! just found your site and I'm loving it! Very cute name :)

    This recipes looks great! I'm totally in a pumpkin mood!!

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  7. i had the same problem! fortunately i found some on tues... kroger had their brand & libby's--and a lot of it! i did have to go to about 5 stores to find some though... this bread looks great!

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  8. Don't hate me, but I've never had a hard time locating pumpkin! *ducks* I've been thinking about pumpkin bread lately...have you ever made Joy's (also vegan) recipe? My family loved it last year! This recipe also looks great. Thanks! :)

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  9. Ahh another pumpkin recipe! I have been seeing them everywhere, and STILL have not baked anything of my own! I wish I would reach through my computer and grab a slice lol, that is how bad I want something pumpkin! I really want to make pumkin scones...mmmm....

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  10. Wow, I must say that looks pretty delicious!!!!

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  11. This recipe looks amazing! Now if only Libby's would come back to my grocery store...

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