I am really very happy to announce that my blog baby has turned 2 today. I started it as fun thing to do and as a web record of my recipe collection. It got me lot of friends and readers and also has helped me to improve a lot in cooking as well as in my writing skills. Still I have miles to go. I think my blog baby will accompany me through that journey. Many hearty thanks to all who took their valuable time to comment, read and give opinion. I am looking forward to this continued support in future too.
I won’t keep anything in draft, because I won’t get any time to write and keep it there. So whatever I publish is written on that day or the day before. There is my little princess who always keeps me busy, she wants to do cooking, take picture and even do the taste testing. She is my best critic, if the food doesn’t have the taste she expect she won’t take a single bite indicating that it is not worth to post it.
One more happy news, my little princess is going to be big sister, I am expecting my second bundle of Joy. I think both princess and he will make my hands full. I hope I can continue to blog even though with a reduced number of post.
To celebrate blog baby’s birthday I made this pumpkin cranberry bread. When I first saw this recipe in King Arthur flour blog, I wanted to try it immediately, asked my hubby, he told me yes you can. In the original recipe they used canned pumpkin. Both me and hubby thought, we can use fresh pumpkin instead of the canned one. So for one Sunday grocery shopping I bought a 2 pound pumpkin. After looking at various methods of homemade pumpkin puree making I decide to use the pressure cooker, it made the job easy. From 2 pounds of pumpkin I was able to get two cups of pumpkin puree. As homemade puree contains more water than the canned one, I skipped the addition of water as mentioned in the original recipe. Instead of chocolate chips I used cranberries and made two batches. The first batch with 1 cup of sugar, and the next one with reduced sugar of ¾ cup. I spiced up with cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger, allspice and vanilla extract. Both the breads came out soft, moist and delicious. Now pumpkin bread has also got the place next to banana bread in our kitchen. I am going to try them more often. Here goes the recipe
What you need
Recipe adapted from here
Recipe adapted from here
For homemade pumpkin puree
Pumpkin: 2 pounds
Water: ½ cup
Pumpkin bread
Pumpkin puree: 1 cup
All purpose flour: 1 ½ cup
Sugar: ¾ cup + 2 tablespoon
Light Olive oil: ⅓ cup
Egg: 2 no
Nutmeg: ½ teaspoon
Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon
Ground ginger: ½ teaspoon
All spice: ¼ teaspoon
Vanilla extract: ½ teaspoon
Baking powder: ¼ teaspoon
Baking soda: 1 teaspoon
Salt: ¾ teaspoon
Cranberries: ½ cup
How I made
For pumpkin puree
Remove the skin and cut into big chunks of pumpkin and pressure cook them with ½ cup water for 15 minutes. Once they are cool enough to touch, using a blender or food processor make fine puree. If you want to remove the extra moisture you can strain the puree using a cheese cloth. I didn’t do this step.
For pumpkin cranberry bread
Preheat oven 350 degree Fahrenheit. Butter the bottom of an 8 ½ by 4 ½ by 2 ½-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pan.
In a large bowl sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ground ginger, all spice, nutmeg, and salt and keep aside.
In a medium bowl beat egg with sugar and add oil and vanilla extract, to this add pumpkin puree and mix everything to get incorporated well.
Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix everything well.
Finally fold in cranberries coated with little flour ( I forgot to do coating with flour, that will help uniform spreading ).
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smoothen the tops with a spatula. Bake for 50 minutes or until skewer comes out clean.
Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes and remove it and cool in the wire rack for another 1 hour.
Cut into slices and enjoy.
Preparation time: 55 minutes
Serving: 1 loaf
Verdict: Yummy. Keeper recipe
Will you make it again: I will
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Swati Sapna says
Congratulations on the good news Swathi!! And congratulations on the blogoversary too 🙂 This does call for double celebrations... here's wishing you a lifetime of happiness in your home and hearth!
I personally love pumpkin cakes... Cranberries are a great addition. Here's my version - http://theweekendepicurean.blogspot.com/2010/08/baking-diaries.html
JishasKitchen says
hey swathy... double congrats....so happy for you....cake looks wonderful and yummy, waiting for more and more delicious recipes from you...
Joanne says
Congratulations, Swathi! I am SO happy for you!
This pumpkin bread looks delicious. Super moist!
Rosita Vargas says
Luce esponjoso y dorado me encanta,una verdadera delicia,abrazos grandes hugs,hugs.
Rebecca from Chow and Chatter says
looks so good and love your blog swathi 🙂
Reeni says
Happy Blogiversary Swathi! And congrats again on your little bundle of joy! I bet your daughter is excited. Your bread looks delicious - especially with your homemade pumpkin puree!
Jay says
nice combination of delicious flavors dear..;)Tasty Appetite
जाट देवता (संदीप पवाँर) says
जरुर बनवा कर देखेंगे, तभी तो पता चलेगा।
Peggy says
Congrats on all of the wonderful news! Such an exciting time in your life, I'm sure =)
Uma says
Happy Birthday to your blog. Bread looks so tempting and delicious.
Uma@Trendy Relish
Treat and Trick says
Congratulations on your 2nd blog birthday and a new baby! This is a perfect and yummy bread to celebrate this happy occasion...
http://treatntrick.blogspot.com
Uma says
Congrats Swathi. The loaf is so moist and pulling me in to make this. I am sure going to try.
Abhilash Pillai says
Hey swathi... Congrats! for the baby. I read this on facebook and thought it would be only due to your blogs anniversary. The recipe is simple and worth trying. I am now prepared to try baked ones 😉
Torviewtoronto says
this looks yummy wonderfully done
Tina (PinayInTexas) says
Congratulations on your blog's 2nd anniversary, Swathi! You've come a long way, and I must say that you're doing really good! More power to you and your blog!
Best wishes to your pregnancy too!
Sobha Shyam says
Congrats on the blog birthday..bread looks awesome..
Sensible Vegetarian says
Congrats Swathi on your mile stone and wishes for many more to come. The pumpkin and cranberry is a such a lovely combo and you surely baked an awesome bread.
Swathi says
Thanks you guys.
Miriam says
Yummy! Happy Halloween :),
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Suja says
Double congrats dear,great news..
perfect way to celebrate..yummy
divya says
Wow looks yummy and delicious .... Very tempting clicks ....
G.Pavani says
congrats dear on blog 2nd birthday.cake looks soft n delicious..
Rachana says
Congratulations! Wishing you loads of success.
The bread looks yumm.
Sharmilee! :) says
Perfect texture and yummy looking bread
Prathibha says
congrats dear..nice post n nice bread
Kalyani's Platter says
Please accept the awards from my blog on nov 1st post ...... thanks
Hamaree Rasoi says
Congrats on your blog's 2nd Anniversary. Bread looks so delicious.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
Vatsala. says
Congrats, wish you many more blogging years. Bread looks yummy.
♥peachkins♥ says
Those are lots of good news. Congratulations to your blog and wishing you more blogging years to come and Congrats also that you have another bundle of joy!
Kaveri says
A very happy birthday to your beautiful blog...Pumpkin bread looks very delicious...so nicely baked
Pushpa says
Congratulations Swathi.Pumpkin bread looks moist and delicious.
Tina says
Double congraaats dear..Bread looks delicious...
Ramya says
Happy birthday to ur lovely blog:-) and a big congrats for the good news:-)
The pumpkin bread looks soo fluffy, will make a wonderful breakfast:-)
tadkapasta says
Congratulations! What great news and a lovely bread to celebrate..
Kalyani's Platter says
Congrats on 2 nd annversary and the good news ... Wow looks yummy and delicious ....
Kurryleaves says
congrats dear1!!!pumpkin bread looks perfect...bookmarked this one....thanks for sharing
Sunshine And Smile says
Congratulation on completing 2 years 🙂 This is a great bread and perfect for the occasion !
laurie says
what a wonderful spicey Fall sweet bread,, lovely, thankyou for sharing this wonderful recipe
MyKitchen Flavors-BonAppetit!. says
Congratulations on your 2nd blog anniversary!.So moist,Spongy and Yum Yum cake Dear.Luv it
Ameya says
Yummy sweetbread-I love cranberries!!
Swathi says
Renata, Kiran thanks
Kiran, you are right, it is typo. I used only 2 eggs. Now I correct it. Thanks once again for pointing out.
Kiran says
Hi Swathi,
Congratulations! for your 2nd blog anniversary and also for the baby on the way.Pumpkin-Cranberry bread looks so delicious.Got to try it.Just a question- did you use 3 eggs or 2,picture shows 2 but in the ingredients you mentioned 3.Please let me know.
Renata says
The bread looks wonderful, so moist and delicious! Congratulations on your second blog anniversary and congratulations on the new baby. You will be busy, but very happy!