Recipe Wednesday! BETTER with FROSTING! Pumpkin Bread + Spiced Applesauce Muffins...

TWO uber-yummy, quintessentially FALL treats! And the piece de resistance? TOP them BOTH off with MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING! We need calories in the FALL - LOL - I even have PROOF: "Hibernating animals (those that sleep during the winter) tend to store fat before they hibernate. One of the ways they accomplish this is via an increase in the activity of enzymes (such as lipoprotein lipase, known also as LPL) that promote the storage of fat. More interesting still, LPL levels in humans also rise and fall in tandem with the seasons." (ARTICLE LINK: http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/news/cold.htm ) SO EAT UP my fellow hibernating humans!

********************************************************************************************************************************************* PUMPKIN BREAD >>>INGREDIENTS: *3 cups all-purpose flour *2 cups white sugar *2 teaspoons baking soda *2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice *1 teaspoon salt *1/2 teaspoon baking powder *2 cups pumpkin puree *2/3 cup vegetable oil *3 eggs, beaten >>>DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, pie spice, salt and baking powder. Add pumpkin, oil and eggs; mix well. Pour into loaf pans and bake for 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before removing from pans. ****************************************************************************************************************************************

SPICED APPLESAUCE MUFFINS >>>INGREDIENTS: *1 cup butter, softened *2 cups sugar *2 eggs *1 teaspoon vanilla extract *2 cups applesauce *4 cups all-purpose flour *1 teaspoon baking soda *1 teaspoon ground cinnamon *1 teaspoon ground allspice *1/4 teaspoon ground cloves *1 cup chopped walnuts, optional *Cinnamon-sugar, optional >>>DIRECTIONS: In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Stir in applesauce. Combine the flour, baking soda and spices; stir into creamed mixture. Fold in nuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar if desired, or frost! Yield: about 2 dozen. ****************************************************************************************************************************************** MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING >>>INGREDIENTS: *11 ounces cream cheese, softened *2/3 cup butter, softened *4 cups confectioners' sugar *1/4 cup maple syrup >>>DIRECTIONS: Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl until well combined; add 4 cups of confectioner's sugar and maple syrup and beat until smooth. Store in refrigerator until needed. ****************************************************************************************************************************************** "I drink maple syrup. Then I'm hyper so I just run around like crazy and work it all off." ~Rachel McAdams