Pumpkin Bread

Can you believe that the first full week of October is nearly over?  High school football is already in week seven?  Halloween is 3 weeks away and Thanksgiving is just under 6…sorry if I just gave you a heart attack, but fall just seems to be flying by and before we know it, we are going to be knee deep in that white fluffy stuff, singing Jingle Bells.   Ugh!

By my calculations, autumn seems to be the most popular season.  ( my calculations were totally scientific in nature, therefore legit)  What do you love about fall?  Or do you call it autumn?

I love it because…

1. The oranges, reds, and yellows that blanket the landscape

2. Crisp fall air

3. Soups

4.  Apples and Pumpkins

5.  Playoff baseball

6.  Hoodies

7.  Cardigans

8.  Lazy football Saturdays

9.  Rainy days ( I LOVE overcast/rainy days)

10. Bonfires

 

 

It’s also baking season.  OK, so it’s baking season year round, but this time of year I don’t mind the oven being on and actually welcome the bit of warmth is provides.  So, if you can imagine…I bake more.  Yes, that may be hard to believe, but it’s true.  The consumption of butter, sugar, and flour definitely increases from September to April…The duration of time spent in sweaters, hoodies, and yoga pants also increases…coincidence?  Nah.  It’s just cold outside.

 

 

Pumpkin bread is a must during this time of year.  It’s everywhere.  Pumpkin baked goods in general are everywhere.  Pumpkin donuts ( or is it doughnuts?  hmmm…), pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin lattes (yum!), pumpkin muffins…see, everywhere and in everything.  But this gal is not complaining.  Nopers.  I love pumpkin.  Oh! I forgot pumpkin pie…so, pumpkin pie.  I feel like Bubba Gump…

A pecan, brown sugar streusel runs through the center … a mapely pecany stream, eh more like a river.

You will need a fork to eat this.  And maybe a pat of butter…

And a glass of milk or warm apple cider.

And eat it, wearing a cardigan, with a crisp fall breeze floating through your windows, while playoff baseball is playing on the radio.  Ok, fine…watch it on TV, but baseball on the radio…well, its better.

 

 

Pumpkin Bread

Adapted From Honey and Jam

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1 + 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 + 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Ginger
• 1/4 tsp All Spice
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree
• 3/4  Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 3 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
• 3/4 Cup Whole Milk
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Filling/Topping

• 1/2 Cup White Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Pecans, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp Butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Butter bottom and sides of loaf pan, set aside.  (Parchment paper cut to fit the bottom of the pan eases removal of loaf when its cooled.)

In a medium bowl, sift together whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, all spice, and salt.  Set aside.

With an electric mixer or stand mixer (paddle attachment), beat together pumpkin puree and 3/4 Cup light brown sugar until combined.  Add eggs, one at a time, butter, and vanilla.  Scrape down the sides and bottom.  Beat until well mixed.

Add the flour mixture, alternating with milk. (flour, milk, flour, milk)  Mix just until combined, do not over mix.

In a small bowl, mix together all filling/topping ingredients with a fork.  Reserve 1/4 Cup of mixture.

Pour 1/2 of batter into prepared loaf pan.  Sprinkle filling mixture over batter, evenly.  Pour remaining batter over filling.  Sprinkle reserved filling mixture over the top of the batter and place in preheated oven. ( I topped with a few more whole pecan halves for the heck of it…)  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out kinda clean.  ( It will not ever be completely clean because of the filling, so be careful not to overbake!)

Remove from oven and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove loaf from pan and then let cool completely.

Enjoy!