Orange Pumpkin Bread

Fall is here!! 

One of my favorite tastes of fall is pumpkin.  I found a great recipe for Pumpkin Bread!!

Orange Pumpkin Bread

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1-1/2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup solid pack pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

1/3 cup orange juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg. Grease pan.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon.
3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, blend sugar, oil and eggs. Stir in pumpkin. 
4. Slowly blend the flour mixture into pumpkin mixture. While blending the mixture add juice a little at a time. 
5. Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 90 minutes. 
6. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

2-Cheese Crackers

We went into the city this weekend.  On the way home, I realized hey, we didn't have any "adult" snacks. Not that adults can't eat and enjoy goldfish or stale graham crackers.  I wanted something that I could love and the kids wouldn't keep asking, "Mom, can I have one of those?"  So I found this great recipe for Parmesan Cream Crackers.   Being a crazy cook, I adjusted it to 2-cheese crackers and here's the recipe!

2-Cheese Crackers

1 cup all-purpose flour, more as needed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup cream or half-and-half, more as needed

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly dust with flour. 

1.  Put flour, salt, cheese and butter in bowl of a food processor. Pulse until flour and butter are combined. Add about 1/4 cup cream or half-and-half and let machine run for a bit; continue to add liquid a teaspoon at a time, until mixture holds together but is not sticky. 

**Be careful.  I added too much cream and had to add more flour.**

2. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/2-inch thick or even thinner, adding flour as needed. Transfer sheet of dough to prepared baking sheet (drape it over rolling pin to make it easier). Score lightly with a sharp knife, pizza cutter or a pastry wheel. 

3.Sprinkle with salt or other topping if you like.  Sea Salt, Sesame Seeds, Caraway Seeds, whatever you'd like (I would brush with a little butter or milk first so it will stick)
**I missed this step and they really didn't need it. :-) **

4. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. 
Cool on a rack; serve warm or at room temperature or store in an airtight container for a few days.