Pumpkin Bread

Technically, this should probably be called pumpkin cake, due to the amount of sugar involved. Also, I usually make muffins, not loaves, with the recipe. I have no idea where it came from - my mom probably.

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp allspice

3 cups sugar

1 cup oil

4 eggs

3 cups pumpkin

2/3 cup hot water

Bake at 350 for an hour, or until toothpick comes out clean. You need less time for smaller muffins and loaves. This freezes well.

Pumpkin Pie

This is my grandmother's recipe for pumpkin pie. Sadly, Grammy passed away many years ago. However, this means that she does not know that my pie crust skills degenerated to a point where I am no longer willing to even try (and premade pie crust is an abomination that I will not allow in my house) so I make...pumpkin custard! Which is basically pumpkin pie without the crust. It gets a tad soggy at the bottom, but that's not a big deal. Unless I'm going to eat it right away, I bake it in foil pans b/c they can go straight into the freezer.

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 cups pumpkin

1/2 tsp cloves

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

2 tblsp butter

3 cups milk

Melt butter in milk and scald (i.e. you don't want to boil it but wait for the little bubbles on the side)

While it's cooking, beat the eggs and sugar, add the pumpkin and spices, and then pour in the milk mixture.

If you do have a crust, it's a good idea to put foil around the edges. To freeze with a crust, just stick it in the freezer and then wrap it in foil. It lasts about two months that way.

Oh, and bake at 450 for 40-60 minutes. I usually turn the temp down a little for smaller pies.

Macaroni and Cheese

This is adapted from the Eating Better cookbooks which do have the occasional non-healthy meal which does not taste like it was made of cardboard (I'm looking at YOU whole wheat noodles).

2 cups macaroni (I can never remember if you're supposed to boil covered or uncovered so I tend to do it differently every time)

Sauce

• 3 tblsp butter
• 4 1/2 tblsp flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups grated cheese

There's an actual way you cook white sauce, but I've forgotten and it's too much work anyways. I melt the butter, mix the flour in a little at a time, then the milk, stirring so it stays smooth, then add the cheese and stir until it melts.

Mix with noodles and bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.

My mom always put bread crumbs on top and I tried that this time, but there must be some trick to it that I don't remember - probably a lot more melted butter in the crumbs.