Pumpkin Bread

'Tis the season to bake all things pumpkin!

I love the smell when baking pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, and ginger together.  

So welcoming. So fall. So comforting.

This is a one bowl recipe that can be made into muffins or bread. 

You should make this this fall.

Pumpkin Bread

adapted from kitchenstewardship.com

3/4 c sugar

2 eggs

1 c pumpkin

1 T molasses

1/2 c coconut oil, melted

1/4 c cold water

1 2/3c flour

1/4 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1/2 t cloves

1/2 t ginger

1 t cinnamon

start by mixing all of the wet ingredients together until all incorporated

then add all the dry ingredients and mix together

put in a greased loaf pan or muffin tin

bake at 325 degrees

loaf = 45-50 minutes

muffins = 20ish minutes

I haven't made them as muffins yet so I'm guessing on the time. just keep an eye on them and check with a toothpick.

Apple Pickin' and Train Ride

Apple picking at Pleasant Valley Apple Orchard

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Train ride on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway

Smoked Chicken with White BBQ Sauce

I'd never heard of white BBQ sauce.
Have you?
This chicken is smoked on the grill over indirect heat with a pan of soaked wood chips.
The flavor is amazing!
best. chicken. ever.
And of course it's from America's Test Kitchen, so you know it's gonna be good, c'mon!

Alabama BBQ Chicken
Cook's Country - America's Test Kitchen

White BBQ Sauce

• 3/4 c mayo
• 2 T vinegar
• 2 t sugar
• 1/2 t horseradish *(I went w/o the horseradish and it was still good)
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Chicken

• 1 t salt
• 1 t pepper
• 1/2 t cayenne pepper
• 2 whole chickens (3 1/2- to 4-pound), patted dry and split
• 2 c hickory wood chips
• Vegetable oil for grill grate

Instructions

• 1. For the sauce: Mix all ingredients in blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Refrigerate sauce in airtight container for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• 2. For the chicken: Mix salt, black pepper, and cayenne in small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over chicken.
• 3. Soak wood chips in bowl of water to cover for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, open bottom grill vents completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (about 90 coals) and burn until charcoal is covered with fine gray ash. Place 13 by 9-inch disposable aluminum roasting pan in center of grill. Pour half of coals into pile on each side of grill, leaving pan in center. Scatter wood chips evenly over coals and set cooking grate in place. Cover, with lid vents positioned over center of grill and opened halfway. Let grill heat for 5 minutes.
• 4. Dip wad of paper towels in oil and oil grate, holding paper towels with long-handled tongs. Place chicken skin side down on center of grill. Cover (with half-opened lid vents over chicken).
• 5. Grill chickens until skin is well browned, 35 to 45 minutes. Flip chickens skin side up and grill, covered, until breast meat registers 165 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes longer.
• 6. Transfer chickens to cutting board, brush with 2 tablespoons sauce, tent with foil, and let rest 10 minutes. Remove foil and brush chicken with 1 tablespoon sauce. Carve and serve, passing remaining sauce at table.