Theory: 1 + 5 = 0

Proof:

take 1 mini-loaf of this pumpkin bread
add 5 hungry children
you will have 0 crumbs

Pete is willing to risk another broken arm to get to the pumpkin bread.

This is good stuff.

How much can he shove into his mouth? All of it!

Now if that recipe scares you (a whole cup of oil…3 cups of sugar!!), I have been experimenting with healthier substitutions.

The first thing I did was use 2 cups of whole wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups of regular flour. There was very little difference in the taste.

Next I reduced the amount of sugar to 2 1/2 cups, cut the amount of oil to 1/2 cup, and used 1/2 cup applesauce. Compared to the original, there is a taste difference, but the kids haven’t noticed it, and it doesn’t bother me.

Bill, who looked at me like I was a lunatic for even attempting to alter the original recipe…I mean, why oh why would I take a perfectly yummy recipe and ruin it by making it healthier, said that the altered recipe was acceptable for daily consumption, it wasn’t the same devour-the-whole-loaf-and-beg-for-more kind of recipe. This is the recipe I make in mass quantities at Christmas time and have him give out to co-workers. He’s very popular when he makes those rounds, and doesn’t want to lose that momentary pied-piper-esque power.

So take his biased opinion for what it’s worth.

If you just compare the sugar, oil and flour, the alterations reduce the overall calories by nearly 25%, the fat content by 48%, and the carbs by over 11%. And the flour alteration gives you more than 3 1/2 times the fiber. Since I use this recipe to make mini-muffins as a snack for the kids, these substitutions make a delicious dessert a healthier snack.