Authentic Pumpkin Bread

[donna]

The blockade hit the south hard. Wheat prices rose so much and people hoarded flour.

Southerners had to show their ingenuity by using substitute for wheat. They relied a lot on cornmeal. But they grew tired and wanted to make bread a different way. One way was using pumpkin to make bread. This recipe for pumpkin bread is from 1863 in "The Confederate Receipt Book".

"Boil a good pumpkin in water till it is quite thick and pass it through a sieve and mix flour so as to make a good dough. This makes an excellent bread."

Recreated recipe:

1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup cornmeal
2 cups bread flour
1 package yeast
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon salt.

In bowl mix dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients. Knead on floured surface. Place in greased bowl and cover and set in warm place for 30 minutes. Grease your bread pan and form into loaf. Let it rise in warm spot for hour. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

 

[donna]

Love pumpkin bread. Try this old recipe.

 

[donna]

Another bread recipe for National Bread Day. This is one to make for Thanksgiving.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Another tasty treat!

 

[KianGaf]

I love pumpkin seeds so I must try more recipes with the main part of the pumpkin.

 

[MRB1863]

Sounds great! Let's eat!!

 

[Old Soldier]

Better than hard tack.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

Unusual to see a vegan recipe. Might need to try this.
Alright, on my way. Sadly, I leapt to canned pumpkin, yet had a real one, as I, like usual, can't read recipes . If it turns out ok, I'll post back. If not, I'll slink off in shame.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

Okay, so if I hadn't eaten for a few days, this would be a boon. It would fill the gaping yawn of your stomach. I do like plain food, am not the type to gussy a meal up with sauces. If it's edible, I don't bother with the extras unless right there. I'm not going to hunt down sauce, nor feel deprived if there's no ketchup for fries, say.

This, however, really could benefit from, say, a gallon of maple syrup drowning it to the extent that the bread becomes negligible, forgotten, even vanished. It could also function as a door stopper if left out a few days. It could be placed in the field out back & attract a raccoon, so you'd have a shot at a real meal. Last, it's a handy brick to toss at approaching Rebels. Or Yankees. Your pick.

I implore anyone braving this to add vanilla extract. Just.... go wild. Add dark chocolate drops. Add the family silver to hide it. Pass dispatches rolled up inside it. Add arsenic then serve to the opposing army. Bat your eyes at the wrong color uniform showing up at your parlor. Serve while gushing about its merits. Dig a hole out back shortly thereafter. Careful about your well. Long Live The Union! Godspeed.

*BREAD FLOUR. Try it with the right flour. I bet it turns out better. I used simple flour.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Down here, pumpkin bread might as well be called pumpkin cake.

So moist, sweet & delicious !

And the icing/frosting only adds to this Autumn favorite.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

Down here, pumpkin bread might as well be called pumpkin cake.

So moist, sweet & delicious !

And the icing/frosting only adds to this Autumn favorite.

Frosting! That's an excellent idea. Phew. Thick, thick vanilla frosting would do the trick.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Frosting! That's an excellent idea. Phew. Thick, thick vanilla frosting would do the trick.

Indeed.

I was given a small loaf Friday ... I had eaten all of it by this morning.

The lady that bakes the loaves for our neighborhood, always finishes this treat with vanilla frosting.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

Indeed.

I was given a small loaf Friday ... I had eaten all of it by this morning.

The lady that bakes the loaves for our neighborhood, always finishes this treat with vanilla frosting.

I may have gone wrong by not using bread flour & fresh pumpkin. Yeah, there's a local baker here in Utah who makes carrot cake with vanilla frosting. Uses carrots. Best cake ever!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I may have gone wrong by not using bread flour & fresh pumpkin. Yeah, there's a local Baker here in Utah who makes pumpkin cake with vanilla frosting. Uses carrots. Best cake ever!

Yeah it is very similar to carrot cake ... and also some versions of zucchini bread.

Sorry I can't help ya with the bread flour or fresh pumpkin.
I'm pretty good with smoking meat, but a baker I'm not.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

Yeah it is very similar to carrot cake ... and also some versions of zucchini bread.

Sorry I can't help ya with the bread flour or fresh pumpkin.
I'm pretty good with smoking meat, but a baker I'm not.

Jeez, I'm getting old . I meant to write "carrot cake," not "pumpkin cake." Clearly I have pumpkin on the brain.

 

[donna]

My Granny and Aunt had recipe for Pumpkin Cake.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup nuts
1 cup pumpkin

Mix all ingredients and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees in loaf pan or double recipe and put in tube pan and bake 1 hour and 20 minutes.

It was so tasty and moist. Of course many fine ingredients that were short finding during Civil War.