It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...

This is the best pumpkin bread ever. I am thrilled with the result. It was a rainy and cold Saturday. We took the day off from running errands to unwind at home. The plan was to read, watch TV, take naps, and bake. What a great way to spend a Saturday. I bought another pie pumpkin a few days earlier and made a puree. I am pretty tired of boring pumpkin cakes/breads/muffins that taste like canned pumpkin. So I adapted an old recipe and added a Brazilian twist - coconut - you can't think of pumpkin in Brazil without coconut. The result was amazing. Two things made a huge difference - homemade pumpkin puree and whole spices ground right before using them (cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon). Since I don't have a dedicated coffee grinder for spices I used a small food processor with a little bit of sugar.

Pumpkin Coconut Bread

TOPPING:
1/2 flaked coconut

2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons chilled butter or stick margarine, cut into small pieces
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

BREAD:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup fresh pumpkin puree
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare topping, combine first 4 ingredients until crumbly. Set the mixture aside.

To prepare bread, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 7 ingredients (flour through nutmeg) in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Combine the pumpkin and next 5 ingredients (pumpkin through eggs) in a bowl; add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Pumpkin Souffle

The picture is awful but the souffle was delicious. Just like any other type of souffle you have to serve right out of the oven. I didn't use canned pumpkin and it made a world of difference. I made a big batch of pumpkin puree the day before and kept it in the fridge for several recipes.

Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Soufflés

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk, divided
2/3 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup (4 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon grated whole nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Dash of salt
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 large egg whites
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Preparation

Preheat oven to 375º.

Lightly coat 6 (8-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray, and sprinkle evenly with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.

Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Place flour in a bowl; add 1/2 cup milk, stirring well with a whisk. Set aside.

Combine 1/2 cup milk, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and cream cheese in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until cheese almost melts, stirring constantly. Stir in the flour mixture, and cook 2 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. (Cheese may not appear completely melted.) Spoon mixture into a large bowl. Add cinnamon and next 5 ingredients (cinnamon through pumpkin); beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.

Using clean beaters, beat egg whites with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Gradually add 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. Stir one-fourth of egg whites into the pumpkin mixture. Gently fold in remaining egg whites. Divide pumpkin mixture evenly among prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake at 375º for 25 minutes or until soufflés are puffy and set. Sprinkle evenly with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Pumpkin-Chocolate Streusel Bun

This recipe turned great in spite of everything. My son - who is two and a half - helped me in the kitchen and some of the ingredients ended up on my counter instead of the mixing bowl. Then the following morning, I preheated the oven and set to 20 minutes, when I would come and check what the buns looked like and adjust the temperature/timer appropriately. Since it was taking way too long and the timer wasn't going off I went back to the kitchen and my half-baked buns were cooling off on the stove top. What?! I asked my husband, why did you do that?! He said it's been 20 minutes and he thought it looked done. Oh my, I put the buns back in the oven and after another 20 minutes they came out smelling and tasting wonderful.

Pumpkin-Chocolate Streusel Buns

To make these year-round, substitute canned pumpkin puree and add an extra cup of all-purpose flour.

Buns:
1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/4 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cooking spray

4 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Glaze:
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
OR
2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

To prepare the buns, dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl; let stand for 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Add 2 cups flour, pumpkin, and next 5 ingredients (pumpkin through nutmeg); beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of the remaining 3/4 cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky).

Place the dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into the dough. If an indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)

Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Punch dough down; cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Sprinkle with brown sugar mixture. Roll up the rectangle tightly, starting with a long edge, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch seam and ends to seal. Cut roll into 12 (1-inch) slices. Place slices in a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 25 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375°. Bake the rolls at 375° for 25 - 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack.

To prepare the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and vanilla extract in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over buns. Serve warm. Optional: Instead of Sugar glaze, melt chocolate for 1 minute in the microwave and drizzle over buns.

Pumpkin Puree (Yield about 2 1/2 cups pumpkin puree)

1 (2-pound) pumpkin

Cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise, discarding seeds and membranes. Place pumpkin halves, cut sides down, in a baking dish, and add 1/4 cup water to the dish. Cover with heavy-duty plastic wrap, and vent. Microwave at high 10 minutes (or about 5 minutes per pound) until pumpkin is tender when pierced with a fork. Cool slightly, and scoop out filling.

Too good to be true

Most flavored coffees use artificial flavors. This was a great finding: Coffee with real Chirardelli Chocolate. The chocolate flavor is subtle and irresistible.

Drinking and Eating Pumpkin

Pumpkin on My Mind

Shrimp Chili Cornbread Casserole

The cold weather is here to stay. I love Fall Foods and I was craving some comfort food over the weekend. I thought of a recipe that made my mouth water when I first saw it, it can be considered a savory cobbler. I served with Couscous and white Wine. It came out of the oven nice and steamy - perfect for a cold evening. This recipe gained a spot on my "favorite recipes" binder.

Shrimp Chili Cornbread Casserole (adapted from Cooking Light)

Shrimp chili:
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium zucchini, diced (about 5 cups)
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium diced tomatoes
1 1/2 pounds small shrimp, (41-50 per pound), peeled and deveined
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Cornbread topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup nonfat, milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg

To prepare filling: Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in zucchini; cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Stir in Old Bay, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon and salt; cook for 20 seconds. Pour in tomatoes; bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat. Stir in shrimp and cilantro. Pour into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Use only half of the liquid from the chili - discard the other half. It won't evaporate much in the oven so if you use everything it will be quite soggy.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

To prepare cornbread topping: Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk milk, oil, egg and honey in a medium bowl until smooth. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Drop by heaping tablespoons over the shrimp mixture.

Bake the casserole, uncovered, until the top is browned and the filling is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.