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Thursday, October 14, 2010

Pumpkiny Things... Pumpkin Apple Nut Bread and Pumpkin Banana Smoothies

I always get a little giddy when pumpkin time arrives.  Not that glorious canned pumpkin isn't available year-round, it's just that there's something in the air and the earth that screams squash once the air is cool and crisp and the leaves start changing colors and falling from the trees.  I even have an accidental pumpkin plant this year!  "Accidental" because it stems from last years pumpkin display ...and my laziness.  Do you ever do that?  Lay out a harvest or Autumn display in your yard somewhere.  Pumpkins, squash, gourds, Indian corn, dried corn stalks, mums...maybe a broom or a witch or a scarecrow...'tis the season, you know?  Well, I try to leave it up as long as possible.  This usually means until it starts to snow.  I've brought in any "reuseable" decorations, but left the "natural" ones outside.  They get covered in snow.  I usually have the drive to hang the corn in a small stump w/ branches that we have in the yard for the squirrels...and other random animals.  Occasionally I'll even get the rotting squash into the compost bin.  But not often.  The jack-o-lanterns all end up with day-glow speckled insides and eventually get lost under the snow with a few of the smaller squash.  They then make their own separate compost pile.  Which, come the following summer, will occasionally sprout a no-effort squash plant. Nice.
Pumpkin Apple Nut Bread
from the kitchen of girlichef
yield: 1 loaf

 ½ c. sugar
 ½ c. marigold honey (or regular)
 ½ c. oil
1 c. cooked pumpkin purée (or canned)
2 large eggs
1/3 c. water
 1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. ap flour
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground allspice
good grating fresh nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground cloves
½ c. dried apples, chopped
¼ c. walnuts, chopped
¼ c. pecans

Preheat oven to 300° F.  In a large bowl, mix together sugar, honey, oil, pumpkin, eggs and water.  In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients, tossing the fruit and nuts well so they get coated with flour.  Mix dry ingredients gently into wet ingredients until just combined.  Spray a bundt pan or small-ish loaf pan with pan spray and pour in batter.  Bake for one hour, or until bread passes the toothpick test.
This bread is very moist and very easy to eat!  I like it best a little bit warm, but it's great at room temperature, too.  Share with drop-in guests...
Sometimes, when you're using canned pumpkin purĂ©e, you have a little bit left in the bottom of the can after using what you need in a recipe.  My favorite thing to do with that last bit of pumpkin is to throw it into a blender with some other good stuff and make a powerhouse smoothie for breakfast!


Pumpkin-Banana Smoothie
from the kitchen of girlichef
yield: ~2 large glasses

½ c. cooked pumpkin purĂ©e
½ c. yogurt (heaping)
1 large frozen banana
1¾ c. whole milk
honey, to taste
1 Tbs. Pumpkin Seeds + extra
1 tsp. wheat germ
1 tsp. ground flax seed
freshly grated nutmeg

Place everything in the blender and blend until smooth.  Pour into a glass and garnish w/ some extra pumpkin seeds and grated nutmeg.

It's about time for me to start my potential lazy garden for next year.  Hmmm...what would I like to be surprised with....

*This post is linked to:
BYOB Thisweekscravings

Would you like to comment?

  1. Hayırlı gĂŒnler, ellerinize, emeğinize sağlık. Çok leziz ve iƟtah açıcı görĂŒnĂŒyor. MĂŒsadenizle bir dilim ekmek aldım.

    Saygılar.

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  2. It's that time of year when pumpkin braed is a "must have" for our Fall munching! That looks very moist..yummy :-0

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  3. Oh, I love these recipes!! It's the beginning of the best season ever!

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  4. OH that's too funny. Personally, I bought some really cool varieties of pumpkins to decorate with last year and then intentionally smashed them out by our well...hoping for a happy "accident". This year I actually got one, in the form of a gorgeous HUGE pumpkin vine chock full of blossums. Until, that it, the hubs stepped on it when he was in the yard one day, and killed it.
    Hmmm maybe next year....

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  5. wow bread looks so moist and yumm.....the shake is a must try, never thought of this combo....yummy yummy..

    Lavanya

    www.lavsblog.com

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  6. I have half a can of pumpkin in the fridge. This would be the perfect solution.

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  7. Could fresh diced apple be used in place of dried? The pumpkin smoothie sounds good1

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  8. I agree, there's something magical in the air during this time of year! The bread looks delicious and with a dollop of Greek yogurt I bet it's a fantastic breakfast! (The smoothie looks great too -- such a pretty shade of orange!)

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  9. Wow! That looks simply irresistible, even the bee loves it.

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  10. Pumpkins equals autumn. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin smoothie - I want it all, Heather. And I love when spring volunteers grow from autumn decoration.

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  11. Oh my goodness, that bread looks so good and moist!!! I love your little visitor who came in for a nibble too, must be that good.

    Thanks for sharing the tip on what to do with leftover pumpkin in the can as well. YUM!

    Jenifer

    Jaime and Jen Dish

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  12. I get a bit excited too whenever I see pumpkins go on sale!

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  13. That is the pumpkin bread to which all pumpkin breads aspire. Pumpkin bread has always been one of my favorite fall treats. Looks deliciously moist, Heather!

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  14. ESto se ve tremendo. Realmente maravilloso.

    Saludos

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  15. Pumpkin also makes me giddy!!! Every week I make something pumpkin and it is just as good as the week before! Like the apple addition in this recipe - looks good!

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  16. We were blessed with about 20 pumpkins plus some mysterious long white squash in our garden this year, all from last year's compost.

    I love the smoothie idea! But of course! I think my kids might go for it with the banana mixed in.

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  17. I would love your pumpkin bread with just a little bit of cream cheese spread on it. Mmmmmm...... And I love your smoothie idea! I drink them all the time but have never even considered pumpkin. Until now. Thanks!

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  18. Lovely pumpkin loaf! I love that you had a volunteer plant and that you made a smoothie with the leftovers too. ☺

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  19. Yea, it is the everything-pumpkin season! But I just hate to cut them.

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  20. I voted for you. Good luck! This bread is loaded with aromas and flavors.

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  21. first up...voted for ya--hope you move on. i love pumpkin season...our sugar pumpkin crop was a bit low this year=--i pulled 5 so far and it looks like we might get another 2-3 fully ripened by thanksgiving. our first snow usually doesn't come until then (finger's crossed). the smoothie recipe looks so delicious..i will have to try it out soon.

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  22. healthy smoothie delicious combination for bread

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  23. I was in the mood for pumpkin the second that we passed labor day! I love your idea of just letting the leftover harvest display turn to compost in the yard...and the sound of a no-effort squash plant!

    This bread and this smoothie both sound like things I want to wake up to. Tomorrow.

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  24. Thank goodness I'm not the only one who uses their own pumpkins in cooking - fantastic recipes!

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  25. I love pumpkin "anything", especially the quick breads. I haven't tried it in a smoothie, but I just got through eating pumpking yogurt.

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  26. oh wow I would love a slice of that bread - with the smoothie YUMMY

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  27. I really think I need some of your pumpkin apple nut bread for my bedtime snack tonight- it looks fabulous!
    I always end up with snow covered pumpkins too, but usually the critters take care of them for me. Deer and squirrels (and chickens too) love them. :)

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  28. LMAO-I do the same thing with my fall display. My husband will get after me to take it down after Halloween and I'll start carrying on about leaving it up for Tgiving. Although, you must have magic pumpkin seeds in yours because mine never grow anything;-)

    As for the pumpkin goodies...the bread looks fantastic, but I would seriously maul someone over for that pumpkin-banana smoothie right now- WOW!

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  29. I have ten cans of pumpkin in my pantry. Ten! And I'm actually drinking a pumpkin banana smoothie right now! Great minds think alike :-) Thanks for sharing two great pumpkin recipes. Have a great Friday, love!

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  30. I'm so in love with pumpkins that every year I save one, uncarved, and decorate it for xmas, and we put presents around the xmas pumpkin, no joke. Then we smash it on new year's for good luck, cause nothing says luck like a pile of withered squash and seeds :)

    I never would have thought of putting pumpkin in a smoothie. Sounds delish!

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  31. Both the loaf and the smoothie look delicious and I love the pumpkin seed garnish. ;-)

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  32. Totally love the look of the pumpkin loaf - think I'll bookmark for next autumn since we don't get canned pumpkin in New Zealand.
    Sue :-)

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  33. I too love all things poumpkin...Your two recipes look delicious and healthy too!

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  34. Hi just calling by Via Friday Blog hops. Already following but great to catch up and see what's happening. Hope you are having a end of the week. Sarah.www.jamarahcraftycreations.blogpsot.com

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  35. Both your bread and smoothie looks delicious :)

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  36. love love pumpkin season....i love this wonderful bread perfect for fall and a cool smoothie..love the pepitas

    sweetlife

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  37. both look incredibly delicious, however that smoothie has got to take the lead, what an amazing idea! Yum!

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  38. I never saw pumpkin look so good- kind of moist and sexy! ha ha

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  39. What a fabulous pumpkin bread! Thanks for sharing on my blog hop; I'm all ready to go with your button on my post today for Tuesday's Hearth and Soul (Oct. 19th) just waiting for it to open up. Have a great day Heather!

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  40. I don't know how I missed this post - but I am glad I found it now - that apple pumpkin nutty-licious bread looks amazing! And the pumpkin - well I think they taste best when they come from the compost pile!

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  41. :::stomach growling:::

    These both look amazing!

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  42. Okay, I HAVE to make this bread. YUM YUM.... thanks for linking up (I sent you an email too with a question)

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  43. Looks so tasty ~ and I NEVER thought to add pumpkin to a smoothie.

    Have to comment on your "leave a comment" rules.... hilarious. I especially love the 'smarmy a*#hole...' Classic!!

    Thanks for linking to This Week's Cravings - hope to see you next week!

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