Autumn baking

Because baking is the perfect cure for what ails you (unless your ailment includes wheat intolerance or a low sugar diet).

So maybe I should say baking, the perfect cure for me.

Especially baking with such an adorable "helper"

I tried out these "Insanely Good Pumpkin-Chocolate Muffins" from Sundry Buzz.

I would classify them as "Perfectly Passable Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins that Maybe Would be Better if They Were Just Pumpkin Muffins" I don't think I'm sold on the "chocolate with pumpkin" concept any more than Biscuit is sold on the "touching pumpkin guts" concept.

But I've eaten at least 6 so they aren't exactly bad.

This is actually the first time I've made a pumpkin food from a pumpkin (and not from the can of Libby's puree). I must say, peeling a pumpkin is a pain. Much like peeling a butternut squash.  And speaking of butternut squash, dad, here's the link to the recipe I promised so you can use up that butternut squash I gave you. It's delicious, trust me. Trader Joe's sells tahini fresh by the hummus in the fridge section. Don't skip the cilantro even though mom doesn't like it.

Once I had my pumpkin in little cubes I added a little olive oil and roasted it at 425 degrees until tender (about 25 min).  Then I pureed it in the cuisinart.
By this point Biscuit had long tired of "helping" by washing the seeds and pretending they were bubbles.  She was off to play Play Doh with dad.

Back to the muffins: I modified the recipe somewhat. I added 1.5 cups of fresh pumpkin puree (the recipe was a touch confusing on this point)
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I also substituted apple sauce for almost all the oil and did 1 cup of whole wheat flour and the rest white. I had to add a bit of extra flour at the end as the batter was runny.

Into the muffin cups and into the oven. The recipe actually made 18+ muffins for me and they were a bit underbaked despite a few extra minutes in the oven.

Done just in time to meet some friends for scrapbooking. They said they liked the muffins :)

And I have to agree with Alicia. It is fun to take photos while you cook.

Comments

[alli]

Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins bring back memories of camping over Thanksgiving a few years ago. We would "roast" them over the morning fire to melt the chocolate. So yummy!

I made some for my son's third birthday breakfast.

I usually make pumpkin pie bread,which I should do soon.

[halfoz]

Thanks Mrs H. I am off to Trader Joes for some other stuff this am