Sometimes I'm a little too optimistic about the things I plan to cook. In December I bought six bags of cranberries which I promptly froze, sure that I'd find a way to cook them. And there they resided until last week when I decided it was time to do something with them. I also had several cans of pumpkin puree, so cranberry pumpkin bread seemed the logical choice. It didn't turn out the way I planned. First, just before I put the pan of batter in the oven, I discovered the baking powder, salt and spices sitting on the counter. I scraped the batter out of the pan, added the missing ingredients, put it back into the loaf pan, and placed it in the oven. An hour later, when I removed the pan from the oven, I dropped it, face down onto the open oven door. I inspected it, saw that it was a little banged up looking, but still perfectly serviceable, and set it on a rack to cool. When I checked on it later, I noticed that one side had bite marks on it. Since I knew it wasn't me, I looked at Upsie and she averted her eyes. I trimmed that side away and told Upsie we wouldn't mention any of this to Bob. Despite all its adventures, the bread was delicious.
Since the recipe only used one cup of cranberries, I still have a lot of them left, along with the pumpkin puree. So, today I made pumpkin cranberry muffins--and included all the ingredients, didn't drop it on the floor, and made sure Upsie was tucked away in another room. The recipe made very nice muffins, and as I looked at their bright color I was reminded of the incredibly talented Callipygia's recent post about the merits of orange food. It's a color that certainly gets your attention and reminds you of warmer times ahead.
I think I forgot the baking powder and spices the first time because the beautiful colors of the pumpkin and cranberries are so distracting.
No dropping, no cat attacks. The muffin are slightly sweet with a moist crumb. It may seem like the batter has a lot of sugar, but this recipe contained much less than many recipes which can call for as much as two cups.
I froze most of them, to discourage mindless snacking. That actually works.
Most of the time.
Cranberry-Pumpkin Bread (Epicurious)
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup picked-over fresh or frozen cranberries (Do not thaw the cranberries if they are frozen)
Preheat oven to 350° F. and butter a loaf pan, 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 3/4 inches. Or use muffin pans, buttering the cups or using cupcake paper liners..
In a large bowl beat together pumpkin, sugar, water, eggs, and oil. Sift in flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and spices and stir just until batter is smooth. Stir in cranberries and spoon batter into loaf pan, spreading evenly. Or fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake bread in middle of oven 1 hour and 15 minutes (for the loaf), 25-30 minutes (for the muffins) or until a tester comes out clean, and cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes. Turn bread out onto rack and cool completely.
Makes 1 loaf or 18 muffins
The muffins are glorious looking. I am so jealous. I was intending to freeze 12 pounds of cranberries but when I went back for them they had no more. I would so love some to make my cranberry coffee cake with.
Sweet little Upsie off in another room and can't even smell the muffins! Poor thing.
Posted by: Tanna | February 06, 2007 at 05:26 AM
Oh, Upsie! That is hilarious. I can just picture the "mysterious" bite marks!
Beautiful bread - you're right, the colors are amazing.
Posted by: anne | February 06, 2007 at 06:01 AM
This sums up the fall season in one yummy package!
Posted by: Jeff | February 06, 2007 at 06:14 AM
Actually, cats love pumpkin. Our vet told me to feed some puree (just pumpkin, no spices) once a week to help with hairballs because it's super high in fiber. Kitty absolutely loves it when it's pumpkin time!
The bread looks great, I can't wait to try it out.
Posted by: layla42 | February 06, 2007 at 06:30 AM
Can you blame Upsie? These look too tempting.
Posted by: s'kat | February 06, 2007 at 07:10 AM
These look great. Too bad I didn't get in on the cranberries when there was time. I was one of those that froze a bunch year before last and they didn't end up getting used. This year I'm going to have to get them AND use them.
Posted by: Alisha | February 06, 2007 at 07:16 AM
Oh Sher, your post makes me chuckle!!! Yes, Callipygia's post and her illustration come to my mind in the second I saw your gorgeous muffins!!! That bite mark is probably from me =)
Posted by: gattina | February 06, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Ha! What they don't know won't hurt them...
I have a bunch of cranberries pack away too that I thought I would do more with. I think I'm going to make some sorbet.
Posted by: Brilynn | February 06, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Upsie...that's hilarious. The muffins look fantastic. Very pretty. And I love the part about seeing the spices and leavenings on the cabinet. That is so something I would do. Oh wait. Have done. Remember my flat disc Paula Deen sweet potato biscuits? Yeah, well at least you saw the leavenings and got them added in...
Posted by: Glenna | February 06, 2007 at 03:39 PM
Sher, thanks for thinking of my post- I was indeed feasting on the color of your muffins, beautiful with puckery jewels inside.
Posted by: Callipygia | February 06, 2007 at 04:21 PM
The cranberries look like beautiful little hearts in the middle of those pumpkins!!!
Posted by: Ivonne | February 06, 2007 at 05:26 PM
Those look healthy and delicious. There are so many combinations you can make with pumpkin that it is amazing! I never thought of this! YUM!
Posted by: Jennifer | February 06, 2007 at 05:36 PM
Loved this post Sher! Great muffins. I'll tuck this recipe in my file. Give Upsie a pat from me please.
Posted by: Christine | February 07, 2007 at 07:25 PM
Tanna,
Thank you! Last year I didn't get cranberries and was very annoyed at how they seem to vanish from the stores after the holidays. Next year I'm going to buy even more to freeze.
Anne,
Thank you! Poor Upsie is on a diet, so I can understand how she decided to jump up on the counter and have herself some cranberry bread. :):)
Jeff,
Thank you. You're right!
Layla42,
Thank you. They do seem to be attracted to some types of veggies or plants, don't they? And that makes sense about the pumpkin! Thanks for stopping by.
s'kat,
Thank you! Yes, I forgive her for that! I once had a cat jump on top of a pizza--now that was a little hard to forgive!
Alisha,
Thank you. Yes, I've been in exactly the same situation. So,I'm going to make sure I use all of these up!
Gattina,
Thank you! So it was you who made the bite marks!!!! :):)
Brilynn,
Oh sorbet would be fabulous!!!! I hope you do that and post about it! That would be lovely to see.
Glenna,
Yeah, but your sweet potato biscuits looked fabulous! I still want them.
Callipygia,
Thank you. I love your description--"puckery jewels". Perfect.
Ivonne,
Thank you! What a lovely way to think of it! I really like that!
Jennifer,
Thank you! Yes,I'm discovering the many ways to use pumpkin. And it's so good for us too.
Christine,
Thank you! Upsie says hi!
Posted by: sher | February 08, 2007 at 01:31 AM
I had no idea cats liked pumpkin bread. that's hilarious!
Posted by: ann | February 08, 2007 at 05:20 AM
OMG- these look delicious. And I love pumpkin and cranberries separately. Together, they look divine. And as usual, your food photography is stunning. I'm definitely going to give this recipe a try.
Posted by: kristi | February 08, 2007 at 04:31 PM
sher
such yummy muffins how i wish i could eat that .
do you bake a lot?
bye
Posted by: mahek | February 10, 2007 at 02:39 AM