pumpkin – Whole Heartily

Homemade Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Welcome back friends!

Who wants some fresh, oven baked pumpkin bread to enjoy on one (or more) of these beautiful autumn mornings? Maybe at a table with some coffee or tea and a good book?

I know I do, so let’s bake some!

PUMPKIN BREAD

2 cups of all-purpose flour
1⁄2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon of ground cloves
1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1⁄2 teaspoon of salt
3⁄4 cup of unsalted butter, softened
2 cups of sugar
2 large of eggs
1 15-oz can of pumpkin puree
Powdered sugar (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Set an oven rack to the middle position and pre-heat it to 325F.
Grease two 8 x 4-inch loaf pans with butter, then dust with flour.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Whisk until well combined, then set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until just blended. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and continue to beat until very light and fluffy, then incorporate the pumpkin.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and mix on a low speed until well combined.
Divide the batter evenly into the two prepared pans, and bake for 65 – 75 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the loaves cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Place powdered sugar into a sifter and lightly dust the top of each loaf.
Enjoy!

Homemade Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Recipe

Welcome back friends!

Who wants some fresh, oven-baked, cinnamon and sugar coated pumpkin doughnuts to enjoy on one (or more) of these beautiful Autumn mornings? Maybe at a table with some coffee or tea and a good book?

I know I do, so let’s bake some!

PUMPKIN DOUGHNUTS

2 cups of all purpose flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups of sugar
4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/3 cup of vegetable oil

TOPPING

3/4 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted

INSTRUCTIONS

Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl.
Beat the pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla and vegetable oil together in a large bowl.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and beat until well combined.
Fill 3, six cup nonstick doughnut pans with batter so each mold is almost full, then smooth the tops with a small spoon.
Bake the doughnuts for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean, then remove them from the oven and invert them onto a cooling rack.
While the doughnuts are baking and/or cooling, stir the sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl and melt the topping butter in another bowl.
Once the doughnuts have cooled to a comfortable handling temperature, brush both sides of each one with butter and then dip each side in the cinnamon and sugar to coat.
Enjoy!

Skillet Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe

I love snacking on roasted pumpkin seeds! So delicious, easy to prepare and eat, and with numerous health benefits, who could say no? Traditionally I make large batches every year after we carve our Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns and we snack on them for weeks!

I do not use oil in this recipe.

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Pumpkin seeds
Salt
Seasoned salt (optional)
Water

INSTRUCTIONS

As you carve your pumpkins, keep all the seeds in a bowl. I find it easier to separate the seeds and pulp into two separate bowls as I go, rather than sort that mess out later.
Place the seeds into a colander and rinse them under cold water, stirring with your hands to make sure they are all rinsed thoroughly.
Place the seeds in a medium saucepan, then add 4 to 6 cups of water and about 1 tablespoon of salt for each half cup of seeds.
Bring the saltwater and seeds to a boil for 10 minutes, then remove them from the heat and strain.
Spread the seeds out on a baking sheet or two and allow them to completely dry (this may take up to a week).
Once the seeds are completely dry, prepare a small bowl with salt water. This is to crystalize on the outer shell, so dissolve as much salt as you want for a saltier outer shell, or less if you feel the brine was enough.
Place the seeds into a skillet and roast on medium to low heat, stirring continuously for an even cook.
When they nearly roasted to your liking, dip your fingers into the salt water and splash it as evenly as possible over the roasted seeds, then continue to stir until the water has evaporated.
Remove the seeds from the heat and allow them to cool.
Enjoy!

Our New Halloween Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

My family and I grew up watching the Charlie Brown/Peanuts holiday specials around this time every year with our parents; they all have a special place in my heart, but none more than It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Halloween tradition:

The night before Halloween (or a few nights before), we will carve our pumpkins and light them for the first time. After, we’ll sip on cold or warm apple cider (depending on the weather) and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

It’s simple, yet fun and heartfelt like any family tradition should be! Create happy feelings and the happy memories will follow! Feel free to use this idea for your own family tradition, or take it and change it to make it your own!