Sunday, October 23, 2011

Pumpkin Ginger Bread



The pumpkin patch early this morning.




Crew harvesting grapes in the vineyard.




Pumpkin Ginger Bread


From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Despite my best efforts to avoid the crowds, the scene at the pumpkin patch was right out of Armageddon. Inbound traffic was fierce and folks who made it into the lot were jousting for parking spots. It was just after nine in the morning and I had foolishly thought the early hour would protect me from the crowds I knew would gather later in the day. The original plan was to buy a sugar pumpkin for baking, but the scene at points of entry and exit weakened my resolve and plan B immediately went into effect. Plan B involved making a u-turn, the type that makes grown men blanch, and heading to the supermarket to buy the pumpkin puree that I had foresworn because it's outrageously expensive this year. Once the pumpkin was squared away, I headed to a local winery to pick up a special order we had made for friends who love Oregon pinot noir. I had just pulled through the gates when I heard a pop that sounded suspiciously like a gun. The sound repeated again and again and then a parade of cars of various types and vintage pulled into the winery and parked by the side of the rode. Men and women emerged from the vehicles in clown-car fashion and headed into the vineyards with buckets in their hands. The grapes have been slow to ripen this year and the crews are only now able to harvest them. They are trying to stay a step ahead of the birds who are having a field day in the vineyards. The guns I heard are air rifles designed to scatter the birds and keep them from the grapes while the crews go about their work. I had hoped to share more pictures with you because it is fascinating to see the speed with which these folks work. However, the camera was obviously making some of them uncomfortable, so I decided to put it away and just watch what they were doing. This was not the place to even intimate "la migra." I spent more time there than I had intended and that meant I had swap out the recipe I planned to share with you today. I'm featuring a quick bread that I like to make at this time of year. It's a pumpkin bread that's flavored with ginger and orange zest and it's remarkably easy to assemble. I think those of you who try it will really be pleased. Here's the recipe.

Pumpkin Ginger Bread
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1-1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted + butter for pans
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), + flour for pans
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (1-3/4 cups)
3 large eggs


Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch (6-cup) loaf pans; set aside.
2) In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ginger, orange zest and salt.
3) In a medium bowl, whisk together sugars, pumpkin, melted butter, and eggs; add flour mixture, and stir until just combined.
4) Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaves comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; invert pans and transfer loaves to a wire rack to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves.








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39 comments :

Anonymous said...

Pumpkin gingerbread ..yummy recipe.Have to try this oen..love both main ingredients

Pondside said...

Mmmm that sounds good! We like all things pumpkin in our house.

Rosetta said...

Molto buono, lo proverò.
Ciao

Alessandra said...

I would like to see a pumpkin harvest, but yes, the crowd could put me off... but I am also scared of doing u turns :-).

The recipe looks very inviting, I would love a slice with some butter right now :-)

Ciao
Alessandra

That Girl said...

We're heading to the pumpkin patch Monday. I'm hoping it's not as much as a zoo as the one by you!

Astra Libris said...

I'm super excited about the ginger in this pumpkin bread! Lovely!

Penny said...

Sounds wonderful. I am getting ready to make a second loaf of pumpkin chutney bread. I love Fall food. Enjoyed your pictures.

Rita said...

That pumpkin loaf looks wonderful.

Lynn said...

This sounds great Mary and very seasonal! Gotta chuckle at the scene at the nursery, I would have left too:@)

Martha said...

sounds delicious! I like the orange zest in there. I'll have to try that sometime.

Lenia said...

Great pictures and wonderful bread!xxx

pam said...

I'm going to be getting some pumpkin puree from the store today (I don't even attempt to make my own), so this bread is going on the list!

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

What gorgeous photo's this one just makes me want to get the bowl out and start baking this!

Sue/the view from great island said...

What a day! I'm so glad you opted for the pumpkin bread, it's one of my favorites.

Debi said...

Its just too much not to get out and enjoy all these things. I would have loved to have seen the grape harvest; what a treat. Very interesting the ginger in this bread. This is one to try. Happy fall days. Debi

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

The harvest is late this year, but if the frost holds out it will make for a good year for wine. As for pumpkin bread I was in the States this weekend, at WalMart and picked up more than my share of canned pumpkin:D

Angie's Recipes said...

Warm and tasty. This is a perfect autumn bread.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous looking bread. It sounds wonderful!!

Rebecca said...

Your pumpkin ginger bread looks a lot lighter/fluffier than most! YUM! I'm hoping to make it to the pumpkin patch this year before it is too late :) Thanks for sharing your pics - they are great!

MissCakeBaker said...

A great halloween recipe - looks delicious!

lena said...

just a couple of days back, i saw a friend posted a photo in facebook visiting a farm and was picking out the pumpkins, they are really really huge! Is that a very popular trend that everyone will go to the farm to pick during harvest? I would love the ginger scent in this pumpkin bread.

Cindy said...

Lol, I enjoyed your post...hope you picked up an extra bottle for yourself at the winery to just sit and enjoy :D.....off to make pumpkin bread!!

Charmaine Anderson said...

How many eggs?

Barbara F. said...

Mary, I love gingerbread and pumpkin bread, combined together it has to be fabulicious!! And with orange zest, extra yummy. xo

Chiara said...

sounds delicious ! have a good day...

Ginny Hartzler said...

It is so pretty! But what is a sugar pumpkin, I have never heard of it. I thought there was only one kind of pumpkin?

Shug said...

Looks heavenly...a must try for me, especially since I love all kinds of breads, including pumpkin bread...don't you just love baking this time of the year..so much to harvest and so many things to make..BTW...I love those apples!
Hugs,
shug

tender b. said...

Love the winery shot. In the past I was very against ginger in a sweet treat but I am slowly coming around.

Vicki Bensinger said...

I like that your pumpkin. Read has orange zest in it. That's just enough to bring out the flavor of the pumpkin with a hint of fresh citrus.

I also made a pumpkin cake tonight that I'm still working on this evening that I will post Monday or Tuesday. Thanks for sharing the yummy breakfast treat.

Joanne said...

Sounds like you had an awesome but busy weekend! This ginger bread is great though...I'm up for adding pumpkin into anything!

Jeff @ Cheese-Burger.net said...

This is going to be great for Halloween. Although it's not like other recipes that makes food look Halooweeny, I actually like it that way. Food that looks horrific just ruins your appetite.

The Blonde Duck said...

I want to go to a pumpkin festival!

June said...

Mary, you're making me homesick for Oregon again! Speaking of home, I hope you're there. I'm worried about you with the quake in Turkey. Please say you're OK!

Unknown said...

Mary, you are amazing with all your recipes. This one is no exception and so seasonal which I particularly appreciate :).

Monet said...

I can never get too much pumpkin. And now, I want to visit a pumpkin patch (with less crowds, of course!) Thank you for sharing, dear friend. I'm so glad that I'm able to type again. Your blog makes me hungry (and of course, it makes me smile!). Much love and warm wishes from Austin.

the wandering fork said...

I am TOTALLY making this for a birthday here at work, for a girl that can't eat chocolate! Thanks for posting it! :)

Cassie | Bake Your Day said...

Mary, I think I might make this tonight. I have been craving gingerbread. This is perfect!

France@beyondthepeel said...

I've never been a big fan of pumpkin until a few years ago when I tried my mother in laws pumpkin bread. It was really nice and not to strong in flavor. It looks very much like yours. It turned out so a beautiful color!

Beverly said...

I promised my husband I would make pumpkin bread this weekend. I will definitely try your recipe.

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