Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbls. plus 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
2 cups pumpkin
3 large eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup apple sauce
½ cup orange juice
1 or 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

Combine flour, pie spice, baking soda and salt; set aside.  In mixing bowl blend sugar, eggs, oil, apple sauce, orange juice, and pumpkin; mix well.  Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, stir just until moistened.  Fold in cranberries.  Spoon batter into two 9 x 5 greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until done.  Remove from pans to cool.

Note:  this recipe originally called for 1 cup of chopped cranberries, but I like to use  two cups.  Also, walnuts would be a good addition to this recipe.

All American Rueben Spread Appetizer

This is a fantastic appetizer to bring to a potluck gathering, whether it is New Years, Superbowl, or a beach party.  When you take this to a gathering, bring along the recipe, because you will be asked for it!

ALL AMERICAN RUEBEN SPREAD

2 cups dairy sour cream

1 cup Mayonnaise (not salad dressing)

2 cups (8 oz.) shredded American or Swiss Cheese

8 oz. can sauerkraut, drained

8 oz. deli corned beef, diced

¼ cup diced green onion

2 teaspoons caraway seeds

1-lb round unsliced pumpernickel, rye, or sourdough bread for bread bowl

1-lb pumpernickel, rye or sourdough bread, cubed, for dipping

In large bowl stir together all ingredients except bread. Chill 2 hours or longer to blend flavors. Cut thin lengthwise slice off top of one loaf of bread. Hollow out center of bread leaving 1 inch shell. Fill with chilled spread. Cut inner shell and remaining bread into cubes for dipping, serve along side bread bowl.

Homemade Granola Recipe

4 cups regular oatmeal  (not quick oats)
1 cup rolled wheat (or substitute oatmeal)
1 cup instant dry milk
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup peanuts
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup wheat germ

½ cup oil
½ cup applesauce
1 cup honey
¼ cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla

2 cups raisins,  craisins, or dried blueberries
1 cup sweetened carob chips (optional)

Mix first seven dry ingredients in large roasting pan.  In a saucepan mix oil, applesauce, honey, brown sugar, applesauce, and vanilla; heat until mixture is warmed and runny, then pour over first mixture in roasting pan, and stir until well mixed.  Bake at 250 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes (or more), until desired brownness, stirring every 15 minutes.  (45 minutes will be light brown and softer, 60 minutes will be brown and crispier.)  Let cool, stirring every 10 minutes three times.  When completely cool add dried fruit and/or carob chips.

Use with milk for a cereal, or use as a topping on yogurt or ice cream.

Homemade Fruit Freezes

Make your own delicious, nutritious, summertime freezies; both kids and adults love these!

½ cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (not diluted)
2 ½ c. crushed pineapple with juice (20 oz. can)
1 – 10 oz. pkg. frozen strawberries
5 mashed bananas

Dissolve sugar in boiling water. Add other ingredients, then blend in two batches in blender. Pour into small 3 oz. Dixie cups, freeze partially, then add popsicle sticks and finish freezing until completely firm. Peel off Dixie cup before eating. Makes about 24 treats.

Substitute other berries or frozen juice to invent new flavors!