Last of the Pumpkins

I've had the last two little Spooky pumpkins from last year sitting on my counter since I harvested them last fall.  They are finally starting to turn because there was a spot on the top of one of them and I knew it was time to either freeze them or turn them into something tasty.

It's a miserable, rainy day so guess which one I picked?

I've been working on perfecting my pumpkin bread recipe (originally posted here) and I'm now including apple juice, apple sauce and brown sugar to make it a little more healthy, as well as a smidge of vanilla.  This kicker makes it oh so yummy!  This recipe gets even better as the bread sits, so I recommend you make it at least one day ahead.

Cranky Puppy Farm's Punkin' Bread

Incredients

(makes three 7" x 3" loafs)

15 ounces fresh pumpkin puree (1 can if you don't have fresh!)

4 eggs

1/2 cup apple sauce

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup apple juice (can sub water)

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour three 7" x 3" loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl (and I do mean large!), mix together the pumpkin, eggs, oil, applesauce, apple juice, vanilla, and sugar until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
4. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended.
5. Pour into the prepared pans and bake for about 50 minutes.  Loaves are done when a toothpick placed in the center comes out clean.

One to eat now, one to eat later, and one for the guys and gals at work.

I saved some of the seeds from the pumpkins and will plant more later this Spring.  They're drying right now on some paper towels on the kitchen counter.  Now where did I put my glass of milk???

This post is linked to the Ole Saturday Homesteading Trading Post and Make It Yourself Monday.  Click to find out what other folks are doing this weekend!