Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Bread

Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Bread

This extremely dense and moist pumpkin bread is a delicious way to start your day and also makes a tasty snack. It will keep very well for up to a week if wrapped in plastic and stored in an airtight container.

• ¾ cup plain canned pumpkin   

• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup tahini   

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon canola oil   

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 3 large eggs, beaten   

• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon liquid stevia extract   

• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ cup almond meal   

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup arrowroot powder   

• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9 x 4-inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, tahini, stevia, and canola oil until well blended. Add eggs and beat with a hand mixer on low setting until eggs are well incorporated. Set aside.

In a separate large bowl, combine almond meal, arrowroot, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir with a whisk or wooden spoon until thoroughly blended. Add in walnuts and again mix well.

Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, using hand mixer on low speed to incorporate all of the dry ingredients. Be sure to scrape any dry ingredients from the side of the bowl while mixing.

Continue to mix until all dry ingredients are incorporated, then pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake on the center rack of the oven for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool in the loaf pan for 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve as is or toast slices in a regular or toaster oven, and spread with whipped cream cheese.

Makes about 10 servings.

Dog treats - apple carrot bits

apple carrot bits

These apple carrot bits are a perfect size for a smaller dog or for use as training treats.

Ingredients
1 cup Apple Sauce (sugar free)
1/2 cup grated Carrot (approximately one medium carrot)
1 3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 cup Oats
1/4 cup Wheat Germ

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
2. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
3. Knead dough into ball and roll onto a floured surface 1/4 inch thick and take a straight edge and score the dough horizontally and then vertically to make a grid (I used a pizza cutter). Be careful not to score the dough to completely cut through.
4. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Cool and break into pieces, then refrigerate.