Spiced Pumpkin Bread with Rum Baked Apples!

I always bake pumpkin bread  in the fall and I make a loaf for my son that doesn't like chocolate.  Inevitably. something chocolate shows up at dessert on Thanksgiving. This year we are having a small group. I think, so I wanted to change a few of the side dishes  I found this recipe for a Spiced Pumpkin Bread with Baked Apples in one of my Cooking Light cookbooks.  I had never made this recipe before, but  it only had 2/3 c. oil for two loves of bread.  I then changed the oil to 1/3 c. and added 1/3 cup of applesauce I got from my Jars of Love.  Also, I added 1 c. total of craisins.  This bread is so moist and flavorful and full of craisins.  Then when you make the Rum Baked Apples and put them on top of a warm piece of the Spiced Pumpkin bread, it's pure heaven. This would make a beautiful presentation on a Thanksgiving dessert table.

Spiced Pumpkin Bread Adapted from Cooking Light

 Yield:  2 loaves,

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2/3 cup canola oil, I used 1/3 cup applesauce, 1/3 cup canola oil
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
1/2 cup craisins or raisins, I added 1 c. craisins
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 7 ingredients (through nutmeg) in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine canola oil, applesauce, eggs, and pumpkin in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk until smooth. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Fold in craisins.

Spoon batter into 2 (9 x 5-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool loaves in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool loaves completely.

I only made half of the Rum Baked Apples, and there were still a lot left.  These Rum Baked Apples would be good over pancake, waffles, oatmeal or vanilla ice cream.  I might bake  my sweet potatoes with the Rum Baked Apples in a casserole.  I usually make the Candied Sweet potatoes with the marshmallows, but not that many people eat them, so I'm changing things up a bit..    I'm also using a re-made recipe for Green Bean Casserole, no cans only fresh ingredients.( a later post).  You have to be careful when you change tried and true  recipes too much, or some family members might protest! 

 Rum Baked Apples Adapted from Cooking Light

 Ingredients

• 2  cups craisins
• 1 1/4  cups  coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1  cup  packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup dark rum
• 2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 6  Gala Apples, cored and chopped (about 3 pounds)

Directions

Place all ingredients in an ovenproof dish and bake in 350 degree oven for 20-25 min, until apples are tender.