Friday, April 24, 2009

Pumpkin Bars

I had one little 'ol package of frozen pumpkin that I baked and pureed last fall. I was a little intimidated as I have never processed pumpkin before, but it was very easy. Since it was my first time, I only made a couple pie pumpkins in case I messed it up. This fall I will definitely be doing many more.


I followed a recipe out of my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. They smelled awesome while baking. I know that cream cheese is the best frosting to use but we have limited fridge space at work so trying to put my jelly roll pan may be disastrous as people have set their lunch boxes on other pans of treats.


Pumpkin Bars (from BH&G)

2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt *I forgot since it isn't the ingredient section-in the written text. Oh Oh
4 beaten eggs
1 16 oz can pumpkin *not pie mix kind* and I used my frozen pumpkin
1-1/2 cup sugar
1 cup cooking oil *I used canola


Stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, soda and salt. Combine eggs, pumpkin, sugar and oil; beat until combined. Slowly stir dry ingredients; beat until well combined. Spread in an ungreased 15x10x1 jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.


I am going to sprinkle mine with powdered sugar once they have cooled. I'd post a picture but will do it right before we leave for work.

It is really warm here today-over 80. We are suppose to get rain the next few days which we really need. I'm excited to start working in the garden. I think that since I have the new smaller area to tend to, I know it won't be as overwhelming as the last 4 years when I was doing 15 x25. Too many weeds and hard packed dirt. I have started some things in the house to transplant once it is warm enough, and other things will be planted directly in the ground.

On my list:

Tomatoes
Peppers - green and jalapeno
Onions
Zucchini
Peas
Green beans
Lettuce - 2 kinds
Herbs -cilantro, parsley, coriander and chives
Radishes

The hubs is going to try his hand at sweet corn again. We tried twice with the whole "you need X amount of rows to cross pollinate" stuff and it never worked. He is going to be in charge this time! I also am planting some sunflowers for the birds. I will share photos as the garden grows and include the recipes I use with the fresh produce.

Have a great day everyone!!

Update: the bars went over well at work tonight. I did dust them with the powdered sugar, but they were still warm so it turned into a wet, glazy type topping. They gobbled them all up. I'm thinking maybe some nuts next time and a frosting for sure, but will need to experiment with one that doesn't need refrigeration.

12 comments:

Bob said...

Mmmm, pumpkin bars. I need to make pumpkin puree, I've never done it. Next fall. I want a garden wicked bad, I'm so jealous of all the gardening everyone is talking about!

vanillasugarblog said...

girl put some frosting or glaze on them bars! they need to be kicked up a notch woman! LOL

noble pig said...

Love the pumkin and am insanely jealous of your garden. You'd think with the 90 acres I have in oregon I'd plant a garden.

Heather said...

mmmm. i love pumpkin!

Donna-FFW said...

The pumpkin bars sound lovely.. I hope you will post about pumpkin puree this fall. Ive never made it. No cucumbers in your garden.. do you grow herbs also? I love to garden, this year with the impending move dont think Ill be able to do my garden. I will most miss my tomatoes and herbs:)

ARUNA said...

wow Pumpkin bars, never tried anything with Pumpkin, but this looks gorgeous!

tamilyn said...

Oh, yep, cukes-how could I forget? My Hermit Crab's favorite veggie!

Ginger said...

tamilyn

I love pumpkin but only seem to have it around the holidays?? We are having a big family picnic later today (finally warm in Cincinnati, Ohio) and I am adding these to the dessert tray. Heading to the store right now. I will have to settle for the canned pumpkin... Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I'm always baking pumpkin and saving the flesh to incorporate it into whatever cooking! LOVE pumpkin!

test it comm said...

Those pumpkin bars sound good. I think I still have some pumpkin puree in the freezer as well.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

The pumpkin bars sound great! You'll really have fun this fall with the pumpkin...it's so veritile. I would definitelty have to frost those bars with some cream cheese icing!

Wandering Coyote said...

Mmmm...these look excellent. Another MUST BOOKMARK recipe!