pumpkin bread, pumpkin latte

it's pumpkin season

it's autumn, finally! it's october, thank goodness! it's my favorite time of year - the season of pumpkin everything! i forced myself to wait for october, but this weekend, after a visit to the mountains and the botanical gardens to take in some of the already turning leaves, dinah and i made pumpkin bread.

we've been waiting all year for this. it was even a healthy pumpkin bread! it was so moist and delicious and very sweet, even without white sugar.

honey maple pumpkin bread

3.5 c whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking soda

1.5 tsp salt

2 TBS pumpkin pie spice

1 15 oz can organic pumpkin puree

4 eggs

1/2 c melted butter

1/2 c melted coconut oil

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 c raw organic honey

1/2 c real maple syrup

2/3 c unsweetened applesauce

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

preheat oven to 350 degrees. prepare two loaf pans. mix dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. combine eggs, pumpkin puree, butter, oil, vanilla, honey, maple syrup, and applesauce. once combined add in dry ingredients. mix until combined, then add chocolate chips and gently stir in with a spoon. pour batter evenly into both loaf pans. bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. let cool before serving.

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as the aroma of baking pumpkin goodness wafted through my home, i wanted nothing more than a starbucks pumpkin latte to sip on as we waited. i know, i know, i guess i'm one of those typical white girls who loves fall. i wear yoga pants, take photos of my feet standing on leaves, and i really love pumpkin spice lattes, but i don't love all the icky stuff that goes into your typical fall latte. so, i made my own!

pumpkin spice latte

2 cups steamed milk

2 TBS organic pumpkin puree

1 TBS sugar

1 TBS vanilla extract

1 cup hot strong coffee

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

combine milk, puree, and sugar. heat until very warm, but not boiling. remove from heat add hot coffee, vanilla, and spice. makes three cups. yummm!

see? a photo of my feet...on leaves. happy fall!