Thanksgiving seemed to come early this year. I bought fresh cranberries to make my traditional cranberry pumpkin bread, but I didn’t get to it before Thanksgiving. So, I made it yesterday. The Libby’s recipe is below!
I guess I call it “my” bread because I’ve been making it for years. But in all honesty, I took it off the back of a can of Libby’s pumpkin more than two decades ago. It’s probably safe to call it “mine.” But, I really try not to claim recipes unless I created them. Particularly since the peanut brittle incident.
I make peanut brittle every Christmas. I got the recipe about twenty years ago from a dear friend, Kelly, when our family lived in Wyoming. Then we moved to Canada and Kelly moved to Houston. Over time and among new friends the recipe became “mine.” Everyone loved it and I often gave it as gifts to friends at Christmas.
Years later, when we moved from Canada to Houston, Kelly and I picked up our friendship. Well, when two Canadian friends came to visit me in my new home Kelly joined us for an evening out. Over dinner we began to talk about food. One of my Canadian friends, Glennie, asked Kelly if she had ever had “Kathy’s famous peanut brittle.” Before I could even speak Kelly quietly said, “I believe that would be my peanut brittle.”
I never claimed that the recipe was mine. I just never gave the credit to Kelly. I liked the praises I received when I made the candy. So even though I didn’t blatantly and intentionally lie, I never corrected the assumption. Then came that fateful day when my omission caught up with me.
I know this particular situation is silly and pretty harmless. But it did remind me that we always reap what we sow. All sin has consequences. Sometimes it just may take a little while to catch up with us.
Here’s Libby’s recipe for the Pumpkin-Cranberry Bread. Enjoy it!
Cranberry Pumpkin Bread
- 2 slightly beaten eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup oil
- 1 cup Libby’s Solid Pack Pumpkin
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped fresh cranberries
Combine eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin; mix well. Combine flour, pie spice, soda, and salt in another large bowl; make well in the center of the dry mixture. Pour pumpkin mixture into well; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in cranberries. Spoon batter into two greased and floured 8 x 3 ¾ x 2 ½ inch aluminum loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
What’s your favorite fall or Christmas recipe?
Dear Kathy, We are always missing our “Canadian-American” Howard family. I am still making “Kathy’s famous peanut brittle” and it is a much loved recipe for my family and friends. Whenever I make it, I am flooded with fond memories of you. It is not where the recipe originated from, but from whom places it the recipients head and heart. So my friend, I highly recommend “Kathy’s famous peanut brittle” recipe to all. Much love and Blessings to you. Love Glennie
Hi Glennie! Oh, I miss you and your sweet family my friend! I wish you all the most joyous of Christmases!
Kathy, I too have enjoyed your famous peanut brittle. Have made it for my mom for years. We all love it and youand your family. Canadian memories!
Such A blessing you have been to me.
Becky
Dear Kathy, We are always missing our “Canadian-American” Howard family. I am still making “Kathy’s famous peanut brittle” and it is a much loved recipe for my family and friend. Whenever I make it, I am flooded with fond memories of you. It is not where the recipe originated from, but from whom places it the recipients head and heart. So my friend, I highly recommend “Kathy’s famous peanut brittle” recipe to all. Much love and Blessings to you. Love Glennie
Now that’s funny! 😉
Can I use cranberry sauce in the can for this bread?
Carole from florida
Hi Carole, thanks for coming by! That would definitely be easier than chopping the fresh cranberries, but it would not be the same. I’m not sure what it would do to the consistency of the bread either. The chopped, fresh cranberries give the bread a taste of tartness and lovely flecks of red throughout the bread.
Well, I love “your” cranberry bread and am thrilled to have the recipe. It’s a sweet memory of you!
How did I miss the peanut brittle???
You never ate any of the peanut brittle?? I think I brought it to the Ya-Ya Christmas party last year…