Pumpkin~Cinnamon Streusel Bread

One of my favorite quotes is by M.F.K. Fisher (1908-1992), a food writer (27books) and founder of the Napa Valley Wine Library--"The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight."  Well, after baking pumpkin bread this morning in my kitchen, I can attest this is true.

Continuing with the pumpkin theme to honor Kelly for the month and again, answering a request from a dear friend, I have come up with this recipe that is perfect for the season.  For me, it's a wonderful change from the usual banana bread that I have baked so often, but it also brings back a memory in Kelly's kitchen before Ari was born.  I was in Kentucky to help Kelly set up the nursery, but she was also thinking about having something ready for when friends stopped by to see him.  We baked pumpkin bread and muffins in addition to some entrees and my pizza sauce to freeze for the occasion.
I remember the only place I could find canned pumpkin in Lexington in late April, was at the Whole Foods, but Kelly was pretty determined that's what she wanted.

During this visit, I also helped Kelly create her gardens in the front of her house; Matt and I did the ground breaking and adding the mulch, but it was Kelly's ideas of what she wanted in flowers.  I did convince her that perennials were the way to go, especially with a little one on the way and her time would be sparing for gardening :)  When she came home from the hospital last May, the garden was in full bloom and I can remember a smile on her face seeing it for the last time.  I think of this each time I see the the plaque in my studio that Kelly gave me when my second book was published with a line by my favorite poet and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson--"The Earth Laughs in Flowers."  And I smile.

Pumpkin~Cinnamon Streusel Bread
Streusel:
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 T unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
In a medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cut the butter into small cubes and use a pastry knife to cut into the sugar mixture.  Set aside.

Bread:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup + 1T granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. cardamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
1 tsp. Vanilla extract (or use 1 vanilla bean, scraping out the seeds)
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk (I had 1/3 cup of evaporated milk leftover from the pie, so I used that and added enough milk to bring it up to the correct measure)
2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour (or use can substitute their Gluten-free flour)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups toasted walnuts* rough chopped

*You can omit or use pecans.  Also, you may substitute raisins or dried cranberries--I would suggest reconstituting them in very hot water for 15 minutes to soften, then, drain.

Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Spray a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan or use a mini loaf pan, as I did this morning, with a non-stick baking spray.
Place walnuts (or pecans) on a baking sheet and toast for 7 minutes.  Remove and allow to cool before chopping.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar thoroughly.  Add the spices and vanilla extract (or seeds of a bean) and beat again.  I like adding my spices with the butter/sugar mixture to start releasing some of their essence.  Add the eggs, pumpkin puree, sour cream and milk and mix again, scraping the sides of the bowl, then, mixing again.

The mixture should be smooth and mix completely.  Remove from the stand and use, either a spatula or dough whisk, to add the dry ingredients--flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Lastly, stir in the chopped walnuts.

If you're baking in a loaf pan, spoon half of the batter into it, add the cinnamon streusel on top, then finish with the remaining batter.

Use an off-set spatula to spread out the batter

Spoon cinnamon streusel

Spread remaining batter over streusel filling, making sure you cover the edges completely

Bake mini loaves-30 minutes; regular loaf pan-45-55 minutes.  Use a toothpick or wooden skewer to check for doneness.

Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer loaves (or loaf) to a baking rack, lined with parchment or wax paper and cool completely before slicing.

I like this new mini loaf pan by Sur La Table.  The finish is so easy to clean up and baked goods just slide out.  Also, it makes the perfect size to give these golden loaves as gifts--which is also the theme of the month.  Vicki of "Stickhorsecowgirls" was the winner of the Vera Bradley card holder, but there will be other little gifts this month, not to mention the Witch Bag that will be given away on November 1st.
Enjoy!

A Peachy~Keen Banana Tea Bread & Remembering

 

This week, I found myself with leftover peach-pie filling I had made to fill some pocket pies I had made earlier.

 On top of that, my hubby informed me that there were two bananas that had, in his opinion, "gone bad."  However, anyone who bakes, knows bananas are at their peak at this point to make bread, muffins, or even pudding and I heard my mother's voice, "waste not, want not," so I couldn't throw either of these leftovers out and decided to come up with a lovely tea bread.

Ten years ago, on this date, I was still in Connecticut when the Towers were destroyed, the Pentagon hit, and Flight 93 was crashed by terrorists.  I remember the day so vividly because usually I would have been at my friend, Gwen's house to stamp and make paper flowers, but I had a class scheduled later and didn't want to be away from the house all day.  Also, my husband had just left for Seattle on September 8th from JFK to start a new job and I was alone.  I never have television on, but for some reason, I turned on Good Morning America to have some "noise" on in the background while I made up, yes...banana bread from "gone bad" bananas my hubby had left me with.  After the first Tower was hit, I called my husband, who was about to go to the gym (it was 6:05 a.m. PST) and then, I telephoned my daughter, Erin, also on the West Coast in Pasadena, California.  She was working offsite with her job there, but would have normally been in downtown New York.  We had two people from our town of Ridgefield that were killed, but we also had a friend, whose sister worked in the second Tower, that made it out, although he didn't know that for several days.  Kelly had a friend, who had just graduated from Colorado State and was there for a job interview and a fellow employee of Erin's, fiance was killed.

I find it coincidental that I am baking banana bread again on this day, but maybe not.   Maybe, it's helping me remember all the people who were tragically lost and their families that were left behind.  Do you remember what you were doing when the Towers were destroyed? 

Peachy-keen Banana Tea Bread
1 cup peach puree
I peeled, pitted and chopped 2 medium peaches.  Place peaches in a small sauce pan with 1/4 cup granulated sugar + 1 tsp. cornstarch, stir well.  Cover the pan, and cook over low heat until peaches release their juices--about 7-10 minutes.  Uncover and cook until mixture thickens.  When cooled, puree the mixture.
Alternatively, you can use:
4 - 2.5 oz. jars of strained Peach baby food

Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Spray two 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" loaf pans with a non-stick baking spray.

1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 bananas, peeled and mashed
2 3/4 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1 cup Peach puree
2/3 cup chopped dried cherries


In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter, shortening and sugars together.  Add the eggs, one at a time, and fully incorporate, scraping down the sides of the bowl in between additions.  Add the mashed bananas and flavorings and mix on medium.  The mixture, at this point will look somewhat "curdled"--don't be alarmed.


Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt are incorporated.  DON'T OVER MIX!  Fold in the peach puree and the chopped dried cherries.  

Spoon into the prepared pans.

Bake in the preheated oven, 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick, pierced in the middle, comes out cleanly.  Makes two loaves--one to keep and one to give to a friend : )

Baking for me is about memories, happy or sad, but passing on a legacy to younger generations who will have a personal account of this time in history.  I wish my Dad, who retired from the Navy and fought in World War II and Korea, had still been alive to help me understand this.  It was something us "Baby Boomers" had never experienced and I felt helpless on that day--September 11, 2001.  Today, will be a quiet day of remembrance as I cherish the freedom we enjoy and wish for Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men everywhere.  Enjoy!