Relieving Stress with Pumpkin Bread
One of my favorite things to do when I am stressed is bake. It tends to calm my soul. Focusing on something other than reality for a short time is what I need to remain sane. Baking provides that escape. My current recipe for stress relief is pumpkin bread. Pumpkin is one of my favorite fall flavors, and today, I’m going to share with you my Aunt’s Perfect Pumpkin Bread.
Adding ingredients to a bowl and smelling the delicious scents wafting through the house is relaxing to me. Lately, I have had a lot on my mind: military life, kids, and money, to name a few. My family has been enjoying quite a few goodies!
What sets this recipe apart from other breads is that it does not use canned pumpkin. All real pumpkin in this recipe.
Yes, it is more work, but trust me when I saw it is worth it. You will not be disappointed!
This recipe is such a huge hit with my family that I usually triple it and freeze loaves to take out for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It holds up perfectly and you will never be able to tell that it was frozen.
Perfect Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients
1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 cup melted shortening (Crisco)
1 cup mashed pumpkin (medium sized baking pumpkin)
1 egg beaten
1/3 cup water
1. Take your baking pumpkin and open the top like you would if you were carving a pumpkin. Scoop out all of the seeds and insides. Cut pumpkin into large verticle slices and remove outside skin. Cut pumpkin into cubes. Add to a large pot and cover with water. Over medium heat boil pumpkin until it is tender. You will be able to spear it with a fork. Drain. Mash the pumpkin with a potato masher or with a fork.
2. Pre heat oven to 350
3. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking soda and spices. Stir well. Add egg, water and mashed pumpkin. Mix well. Add melted shortening last and gently fold into mix.
4. Spray large loaf pan and add batter. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Bread will be done when a tooth pick is inserted into the center of the bread and comes out clean when removed.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do!
