Yummy Pumpkin Muffins

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to bake! My husband and I went to the Bass Pro Shop a few weeks ago and while he was ogling all of the fishing and camping supplies I was (of course) looking at the food. Amid all of the beef jerky and mango chutney I found a jar of pumpkin butter (with a recipe for pumpkin pie on the back). Yum!

Pumpkin pie is a favorite of the redheads but I wanted something that I could easily pack in their lunch for school so I came up with this recipe:

Pumpkin Muffins

3 c. flour (I used 2 c. white and 1 c. whole wheat)

2 tbsp. ground flax seed

2. tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 c. dried cranberries (M loves cranberries so we always have them on hand)

mix together dry ingredients

1 jar pumpkin butter (it already has all the spices and sugar added)

1/2 c. canola oil (next time I am going to cut the oil in half and use apple sauce but I used what I had today)

2 eggs (or egg substitute)

1/2-3/4 c. almond milk (not really sure how much I used just added until I got the consistency I wanted)

mix until well combined and scoop into greased muffin tins

At this stage I sprinkled organic chai seeds and sugar granules on top

Bake at 350 for about 22 minutes

They turned out perfectly delicious! I can't wait until the boys come home, it will be a great afternoon snack.

What do you like to bake this time of year?

Bread

About a week ago I ordered a bread starter from here. It came in this past Friday and I was so excited to see what I could do with it! Saturday night I fed and watered it according to the instructions and by Sunday afternoon (after a few more feedings) it was ready to go. I combined it with ingredients for a Rustic Sourdough bread (it sounds good doesn't it) and put it in my bread maker and hit the dough option with visions of yummy, crusty, bread that I can serve with pasta, at a dinner party with all my friends over, and everyone would gush: You made this? Yes, I did.

Well about an hour later I went back to look at it. And it looked just the same! Not a round ball of kneaded dough, just a heaping pile of flour! So I got the whole thing out of the bread maker and tried to save most of the chalky sludge oozing down the side. I kneaded it by hand for ten minutes. I was looking for the dough to become kinda shiny like the directions say, but it never did.

After letting it rise for a few hours (also according to directions) and baking it in a preheated oven for required amount of time. This is what I got (see above photo). No, it isn't a doorstop or some kind of medieval weapon, it is my supposed to be light, fluffy melt in your mouth loaf of bread. So what went wrong my bread making friends? Did I knead it too long? Let it rise for too long or not long enough?

I am going to make another loaf next weekend. I am nothing if not persistent. And I could really use some advice and or suggestions.