Best Ever Pumpkin Bread

Hello again,

I have failed to keep up with any holiday postings seeing as we were busy with the holidays...such is the way.  Well, who says we cannot enjoy pumpkin treats beyond the fall holiday season?!?!  Not me!  I love all things pumpkin and this bread is our absolute favorite pumpkin treat.  In all fairness this can be called a cake, but either way it is delicious!  I do not alter very much from the original recipe which can be found on the Taste of Home website here.  I usually cut one egg from the recipe and use 1 cup of canola oil and instant pudding can be substituted; other than that there are no alterations to this recipe as it is perfect.

This year we hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for our family and as a little gift to all of our guests we made mini loaves for them to take home.  Super easy gift to share with family and friends around the holidays.  The tags that I used were a fabulous free download that I found on Pinterest here.

Baking Times vary on what size pan you choose to use.  I usually opt to bake it in a bundt cake pan as it is so pretty and easier...only one pan needed.

Bundt cake pan  325 degrees for 80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Mini loaf pans 325 degrees for 30 minutes

Hope your family enjoys this pumpkin treat as much as we do.  Thanks for stopping by. -Robyn

Best Ever Bread Maker Herb Pizza Dough

Wow...where had the time gone?  It seems as if summer was just here and the kids were just getting ready to go back to school.  Halloween has come and gone and now we are getting ready for Thanksgiving.  With the holidays quickly approaching I am always looking for fast and easy recipes that everyone in our house will enjoy.  If asked what my favorite kitchen items are I would first say my crock pot....there truly is not a better time saver.  Second, I would say my bread maker.  Yes, you read that right....I absolutely love my bread maker.  I cannot tell you how easy it is to make homemade pizza dough in the bread maker.  It works much like the crock pot...you place your ingredients in and push a button and and 90 minutes later you have homemade pizza dough.  Cannot get any easier than that.  I have an Oster bread maker and use the 2 pound recipes listed in the recipe book that came with bread maker.  I have made a few changes to the recipe and what I have come up with is a family favorite that I hope your family will enjoy as well.

Bread Maker Pizza Dough

(All ingredients must be at room temperature)

• 1 1/4 cup warm water (I use warm tap water)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (can substitute canola oil)
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon Italian herbs dried 
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Combine all ingredients in the bread maker pan.  Wet ingredients must go in first to avoid yeast touching any liquid, this is very important.
Select the Dough Setting on your bread maker and press the Start button.  This setting is an hour and a half for my bread maker.  Once the dough is done you take it out and roll it out on a floured surface to your desired size pan.

We use a 15"x12" jelly roll pan, which I line with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray and sprinkle with some corn meal.

Once you have your pizza dough in the pan, top with pizza sauce and your family's favorite pizza toppings.  Top with 2-3 cups of mozzarella cheese and some dried Italian herbs.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly.  Enjoy!

We have made many variations of this pizza recipe...

• Sausage and Cheese
• Pepperoni & Cheese
• Taco Pizza 
• Spinach & Mushroom & Sausage Pizza
• BBQ Chicken Pizza

Hope your family enjoys this as much as ours!  Thanks so much for stopping by!