(no subject)

[weaktwos]

The pie is in the oven! I repeat, the pie is in the oven!

Now to read. Perhaps I shall order a pizza and engage in more frivolity. Reading for starters. But first, I must clean up the next round of mess I just made.

Comments

[darness.livejournal.com]

You seem to have a knack for culinary things - so, by chance, do you know how to make pumpkin bread as well? I had some last weekend and it was quite lovely. Thought I might try my hand at it but have no idea where to begin.

I do, however, have a pumpkin. That's a start, right?

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

By chance do you have copy of the Joy of Cooking? If not, it's a great reference. The softcover should not cost too much at all. But, until you get that, or if you do not have it, here's what it says:

To cook pumpkin so you can get the pumkinny goodness from it:
-wash and cut it in half crosswise
-remove seeds, strings, place in a pan shell side up
-bake it in a an oven for 1 hour or more, depending on size, until it is tender and begins to fall apart.
-scrape the pulp from the shell and put it through a ricer or strainer or blender.

Okay, after that, the pumpkin quickbread recipe:

-preheat oven to 350
-sift together:
1.75 cups all purpose flour
.25 teaspoon double-acting baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
.5 teaspoon cinnamon
.25 teaspoon ground cloves

-In a large bowl, beat until light and fluffy:
1.33 cups sugar
.33 cup soft shortening
2 eggs

Aww heck, if you have a bottle of cabernet sauv open, take a sip now!
Onward,

Add and beat in 1 cup of your cooked pumpkin mixture to the eggy-sugary-shortening goodness

Add the sifted dry ingredients in 3 additions alternately with .33 cup of milk or water (mix in .5 teaspoon of vanilla with this)

Apparently you treat this batter like you should treat your manservants. Do not overbeat (why am I adding this commentary? Because I AM the one with an open bottle of Cabernet)

-Fold in:
.5 cup coursely chopped nuts
.33 cup raisins or chopped dates (if you're into that sort of thing. I like my pumpkin bread sans fruit)

Pour batter into a greased pan (a bread-loafy pan, I would assume. I'm thinking at this point a stereotypical bachelor male might use a shallow cake pan. Calamity ensues.) and bake about 1 hour until bread tests done.

Oh, it says see page 602 for how to test the done-ness of the bread. Take this opportunity to have another sip of wine. I am.

Okay, to test for doneness, notice if the loaf has shrunk from the sides of the pan. Or test by tapping the bottom of the pan to release the loaf and then tapping the bottom of the loaf; if a hollow sound emerges the bread is done. Otherwise, return the loaf to the pan and bake a few minutes longer.

Remember, don't tap your loaf when you're angry, otherwise, you shall destroy the poor little thing.

I hope this helps! Enjoy!

[darness.livejournal.com]

Wow, I can do that! Thank you so much :) I'll letcha know how it turns out...

Yay.