Monday, November 19, 2012

The week of cooking and baking

This postcard was sent to my Great-Grandpa in 1916,
unfortunately I can't read it because it's all in German.
 
Are you busy getting ready for Thanksgiving this week?  I have my list ready of what I need to do each day to get everything done!  Today is making cranberry jello for DJ's school Thanksgiving party tomorrow and I think I might cook up some pumpkin.  AJ is wanting to make his pumpkin from the pumpkin patch into a pie so we better get it cooked up today.  Unfortunately LA is home from school with a fever today, so hopefully we don't all get sick this week- that would put a kink in our plans! 
 

 
Cooking up pumpkin isn't too hard, just takes a little time!  Of course it's much easier to buy it canned at the store, but where is the sense of accomplishment in that?? (:  Here are a couple of our favorite pumpkin recipes that use homemade pumpkin puree.  Since being gluten free is kind of difficult during the holidays, I'm including a recipe for gluten free pumpkin bars also, in case you have someone like that in your family and you don't know what to cook for them! (:
 
Pumpkin Bread
 
3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cloves
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice
3 1/3 c. flour
1 c. oil
1 c. water
2 c. pumpkin puree (or 1 can)
4 eggs
 
Mix all ingredients together with beater.  Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 for about 1 hour.
 
Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
 
1 box gluten free yellow cake mix
2 c. pumpkin puree (or 1 can)
1/2 c. softened butter
1/4 c. water
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
3 eggs
 
Mix until well combined with mixer.  Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake 20-25 min. at 350.  Let cool completely and then frost.
 
Frosting-
2 c. powdered sugar
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. butter, softened
1 T. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
 
Mix in bowl and beat till smooth.  Spread on cooled bars.


 
 

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