Long Distance Pumpkin Bread
On my mom keeping me sane and inspired despite our distance.
I’m writing this on Monday, November 14th at 7:35pm, and I’ve already turned into a pumpkin. This is because my Mondays are the average Joe’s Saturdays, and I’ve just completed five days of waking up at 4:45am, working a shift, and then attending to horse duties. It’s more so transitioning to this schedule (rather than the schedule’s content) that I attribute the brunt of my exhaustion. Feeling this way, blogging wasn’t so attractive this week, but who can resist cooking and baking when food inspiration is sent directly your way!
Since I’ve begun blogging, my mom and I have been connecting more and more over our food passions- and it’s really the best :) Today, I received a number of texts detailing her culinary pursuits at hand- pumpkin bread and apple bundt cakes. Follow her baking chronicles through the following images:
Not having had pumpkin bread in a long time, I really couldn’t resist following in her footsteps. Today I was feeling a bit lethargic, so a baking project seemed like the perfect treat- i.e. a peaceful project to take on in the comfort of my own space.
I had half of a leftover delicata squash and a can of pumpkin puree, so I got busy with this recipe by Vegan Richa. I always cut the sweetener in my baking projects, but for this recipe that might not be necessary. That being said, the slight lack of sweetness that resulted from halving the sugar has resulted in my pursuit of homemade apple butter. I’ve enjoyed this recipe because it’s encouraged to use the entire apple (waste diversion!) to benefit from the “extra flavor in the peels and pectin-rich cores”. Side note, did you know that nearly 40% of food is America is wasted- and that food waste contributes to over 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions? I LOVE discovering any creative means to use what is typically wasted, and whatever I do waste I joyfully compost, knowing I can feed the soil, microbes, plants, etc. which feed me. Hurray for the reciprocity of eating.
While on the subject of reciprocity, I think it’s sweet that my mom wanted to show her wonderful and sweet friend Rick some appreciation through a baking project. And what resulted is even more goodies that I’m sure she will share with others (my mom and stepdad run an airbnb and she loves sharing baked goods with the guests). Her love-imbued baking pursuits have me inspired, and now I’m excited to share pumpkin bread and muffins with the couple hosting me, my new co-workers, and myself😋. Thanks mom!
