It's the Great Pumpkin (Bread), Charlie Brown

     
         I have to say that the Kitchen Aid mixer is probably my second favorite electronic appliance in the house. The first is a littttttle more private and personal. (I'm talking about my hair straightener, of course). I'm almost convinced that this electric mixer performs more miracles than Jesus did. If I didn't have this appliance, I know for a fact that I would be stuck eating cereal and toast for the rest of my life. Even though I wasn't using the mixer to cook a lavish meal, it did help me immensely while making this bread. The dough for this recipe is pretty thick, so if I had to stir this bad boy by hand I may have developed carpal tunnel syndrome. A plus about this crazy amount of batter is that it makes two pans. That is just begging for you to be selfish when eating this. If you're like me, you can just forgo any lie you tell yourself and simply save the two pans for your own enjoyment. On the other hand, you can make us all look bad and pull a "Mother Theresa" and give the loaves to your coworkers, neighbors, (or if yours doesn't turn out as planned) your ex-best-friend who still has your really cute tube top.
       So this recipe is super easy, as usual. The only thing I didn't have in my house was a can of pumpkin, which I wound up purchasing for 0.50 cents at my local grocery store. Funny thing about this pumpkin is that only a few cans had this discounted price. The expiration date was 10/25/2015 and no dents or marks were evident, so naturally I was leery about buying it because there had to be something wrong, right? As soon as I opened the can I discovered its unfortunate flaw; the lid was all messed up. I couldn't get it to open correctly and I felt frustrated. Before I knew it I was hacking up the can like Peter and crew hacked up the fax machine in Office Space. This cured my anger and unopened-can-dilemma, but I practically circumcised my finger in the process. (My bris will be on Sunday). Although I was pretty peeved about my finger, one bite of this pumpkin bread and I soon forgot I even had a thumb.You have to make this bread, like now.

"Chocolate Chip Walnut Pumpkin Bread"

Ingredients: 

• 4 c. all purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 c. sugar
• 3/4 c. unsalted butter
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 c. water
• 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 c. plus 2 tbls. semisweet chocolate chips 
• 1/2 c. walnuts (or pecans) optional
• 2 tsp. sugar (for topping)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of two 8x4 in. baking pans. 
2. In medium bowl, stir flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside. 
3. In a large bowl, mix softened butter and sugar (NOT the extra 2 tsp. that are reserved for topping) until creamy. When fully creamed, mix in eggs one at a time. 
4. Beat in water and pumpkin on low speed. 
5. Add flour/spices mixture and stir for about 1-2 min on low speed, or until moistened. 
6. Stir in cup of chocolate chips and walnuts. Spread mixture between two pans evenly. 
7. Top bread with extra chocolate chips and sugar. Be sure evenly divided between the two pans.
8. Cook for about 1 hr. 5 min - 1 hr. 15 min. or until toothpick inserted in middle of loaf comes out clean. 
9. Let cool for about another hour. Store in airtight container. 

      

         Of course this recipe can be altered any way you like. If you don't like nuts (weird) or chocolate (weirder) feel free to make this bread without those two! I do understand that it's summer, but this pumpkin bread is still an amazing treat for any season. However, thanks to the gloriously unpredictable weather in Chicago, I didn't feel as odd baking this fall favorite since it is about 50 degrees and rainy. I'll be sure to eat some today while bundled up in my jacket, but I can assure you that tomorrow I will be enjoying a slice in my bathing suit while sunbathing on North Ave. beach.

        Thank you to the world famous Betty Crocker Site for letting me copy this recipe. You're an inspiration for budding bakers and obese children everywhere!

         Number of Pinterest recipes conquered: 7
         I declare this recipe a: dessert that makes me think that it's healthy because of the word "pumpkin"