Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

Still have canned pumpkin in the pantry? So do I. In addition to that I had some cranberries in the fridge that I have been staring at for a few days and unopened pecans in the freezer. I was thinking of making muffins but then I saw one lonely apple that needed to be used soon, I decided to make a loaf of Pumpkin Cranberry Everything Bread. Ok, it doesn’t have everything but it had enough different ingredients to make me question how it would turn out. But holy Pumpkin Bread Batman, it turned out to be some of the tastiest bread I have ever made. It wasn’t dense or overwhelming. The pumpkin flavor combined with the tartness of the cranberries and the texture of the pecans made me smile as I enjoyed every bite. It is definitely a must-bake for Fall!!! I might add a little pumpkin pie spice and more cinnamon next time for an extra Mmmmmmm…

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 can pumpkin puree (just about 1 cup)

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup (just shy of 1/4 cup)

1/4 cup water (just shy of 1/4 cup)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans (just leave them out if you don’t/can’t eat nuts!)

1/2 heaping cup of fresh cranberries

1/2 granny smith apple, peeled and chopped into small pieces (optional)

What to do…

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rub a little coconut oil into a loaf pan (mine is 9x4x3) or spray with cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3. In a medium bowl whisk together the pumpkin puree, coconut oil, maple syrup and water until combined.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. I used a spatula to mix it all together and ensure I got all the flour from the bottom of the bowl. The dough will become more pliable as you mix it, but it definitely starts out a little crumbly.

5. Fold in the cranberries, chopped pecans and apple. Place the dough into the loaf pan. I sprinkled a little sugar (turbinado) on top and added a few whole pecans to dress it up. Bake for 60 minutes but start checking it at 45 minutes, adding 5 minutes at a time until an inserted toothpick/cake tester comes out clean.

6. Let the bread rest in the pan but on a cooling rack for about 20 minutes and then take it out and let cool the rest of the way on the rack.

Wedding Details

One wedding a year is enough for me. But I have a friend that attended {or was in!} at least 5 weddings this Summer/Early Fall. Too much. But when she enlisted me to help her with a couple projects for the last one of the season, I readily agreed. Until she told me what she had to make. Reserved signs for seating and an “Advice Box” for the reception. Although the Bride-To-Be had sent her photos of what she wanted the items to look like, I was a little nervous that we were in over our heads. But we set out for a local craft store and got moving. We were quite pleased with the finished products {and proud of ourselves I might add!}. And so was the bride. Phew.

the” before” picture. cardstock, a plain black photo box, wide white satin ribbon, crystal letters, double-stick tape…

the Advice Box. We wrapped the ribbon carefully around the box, and along the side of the top. The crystal-y embellishments of the bride and groom’s initials added a nice touch, and we attached a little saying requesting the guests leave the new couple marriage ‘advice.’ It made me want to embellish photo boxes for other things! Like one for Fall/Halloween, photos that haven’t made it into an album yet, odds and ends that don’t quite belong in the junk drawer…

Reserved seating. we printed out ‘Reserved’ with a graphic on shiny, silvery cardstock (although you can’t tell from the picture!). We placed ribbon on a larger piece of black textured cardstock and then attached the printed piece of cardstock over the ribbon. The ribbon allowed the signs to easily be placed on whatever chairs needed reserving.

I’m slighly bewildered as to why I didn’t take better photos of our finished products. But I can only hope the professional photographer at the wedding took some photos of the decorations and that I’ll be able to see how they turned out at the actual event! Regardless, I enjoyed tapping into my creativity with a friend. Projects like this always inspire me to drag out my craft box and complete some of the projects that have not yet made it out of my head…

New Look, Same Sweatpants and Superfoods!

I’m excited for the new look of Sweatpants and Superfoods. I worked with a designer for the past week or so as he helped me tremendously in changing everything over and getting things to look the way I wanted. It definitely reflects my taste but remains simple and user-friendly. I’ll continue to make small changes as I go and have some ideas in mind. I hope everyone likes it and enjoys it as much as I do. I’ll continue to share important health knowledge, recipes, and my journey through life and motherhood via photography! I’m glad you’re still here and I very much appreciate all the growing support. Readers appear every day and I’m so grateful for the positive responses I have had thus far.

Thank you!