So they all puree Part II

daphne on October 10, 2008

Did I mention in that previous post how totally lucky I am to have parents that not only keep my children from falling out of trees better than I do, but also do all the leg work so that I can create squash-based masterpieces?

Lest my parents think me ungrateful, I took that squash and bam! turned it into soup. With the weather outside finally turning frightful, this butternut squash soup is certainly worth a try. I mean, how bad can anything be if it’s topped in cheddar cheese and buttery apples? And do not fret if you’ve no butternuts. I still haven’t a clue what squash I inhereted, and it all worked out just fine.

Also, thanks to Amy at Five Flower Mom for mentioning that the pureed squash would make a fine impersonator in pumpkin muffins. Pumpkin muffins are a favorite around here (not in the least because ours come loaded down with dark chocolate chips) and the kiddies are always happy to roll up their sleeves and help mix it up.

With snow predicted for tomorrow, an empty calendar at long last, and my high school reunion behind me, I’m settling in for a nice long weekend of baking, and eating.

I wish you the same.

Pumpkin Muffins with Dark Chocolate Chips

daphne on October 10, 2008

These muffins are delicious, a perfect snack for the lunch box or after school. I’ve modified it many times, and no matter what, they always come out tasty. And the chips? Everyone knows that dark chocolate is good for you, so relax, indulge!

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar (or 1c brown and 1c white sugar or even less white is fine)
2 cups pureed pumpkin
1/2 cup canola oil (use applesauce instead; or try 1/4 c oil + 1/4 ground flax seed meal–very healthy and keeps the muffins super moist.)
1/2 cup fat-free vanilla pudding –(or skip pudding and add flax to keep moist)
4 large egg-whites (or 3 whole eggs=more hefty)
3 cups all purpose flour (I do 1 c brown and 2 c white)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dark choc chips (nuts if not for school, oats work too)
Cooking Spray

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Lighly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, level with a knife. Combine flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in choc chips.

3. Spoon batter into 2 (8×4 -inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

4. Or–spoon half into 24 mini-muffins and bake for about 25 minutes. We do 24 mini-muffins which are perfect kid snack size, and one loaf.

Cool 10 minutes in pans on a wire rack, and remove from pans.