Pumpkin Bread with Walnuts and Chocolate Chips

I LOVE Autumn for so many reasons but the main one is that it cools down enough to begin baking again!  I’ve been trying to find creative ways to use apples, pumpkin and hard squash without all those excess carbs.  I have managed to cut them way down, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables which has helped me to lose a few pounds even after I stopped dieting on purpose.

Once you alter your diet to a more healthy one, you shouldn’t miss the junk food and I can say when you allow your palate to get used to clean, fresh, good organic sustenance you won’t enjoy garbage anymore.  We were never meant to eat the kinds of man made chemicals that most of the large corporations add to their mock foods to give them a longer shelf life.  I think their foods are going to last longer than us!

Enjoy the following recipe I have doctored from other recipes to have less fat, sugar, sodium and even cholesterol since I reduced the eggs from 3 to only 2 for most of my breads.

 Chocolate Chip & Walnut Pumpkin Bread

3/4 C brown sugar

1/2 C sugar

2 C fresh pumpkin puree (or 15 oz canned pumpkin puree)

3/4 C oil

1/4 C plain nonfat yogurt

1/2 C pumpkin spice flavor creamer

2or3 eggs

 

2 1/2 C Flour (your choice)

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

dash cloves

dash cardamom

1 C chocolate chips

1 C chopped walnuts

Pretty simple if you are familiar with baking.  Combine all the dry ingredients & set aside to add to the wet once they are all combined.  Then fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, place in a greased Bundt pan or divide for a couple of loaves if you prefer.  Bake at 350° for 45-55 min.  Try not to over bake.

You can also use this batter for muffins
I also love this recipe for Pumpkin soup. I hope to get more creative this year.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Treasure

Po’ Girl’s Pudding Treasures!

Quick and delicious these cookies are hard to resist and just too easy to make!

pogirlspudtreasure

Mix all ingredients together dry to wet. Completely incorporate all and drop in teaspoon size balls, flatten and bake at 350 for approximately 8-10 minutes.  Use any flavor instant pudding of your choice.  You don’t really need the chips at all.  Makes a very tender and delicious cookie.

Chinese Eight-Treasure Rice Pudding.