Pumpkin Bread...

...From the "Homestead Blessings Cookbook". I highly recommend getting this recipe book for yourself! It has lots of wholesome, wonderful recipes and tips for you and your family!

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups sifted flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 3 cups raw sugar (or if you prefer, I used regular)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (I used olive oil)
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 cups cooked pumpkin
• 1 1/2 cups pecans

Instructions:

Mix all wet ingredients together; sift in dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Fold in nuts. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Makes 2-4 loaf pans or 2 Bundt pans. Fill pans half full, because it will rise 1/3 to 1/2 again. This freezes well.

Note: "What a blessing! When changing a recipe from white flour to whole grain flour, double spices, or sometimes triple them. Whole grain baked items tend to be more bland and spices are rich in trace elements, so use them generously." From: Homestead Blessings Cookbook

Fudge truffle Cheesecake

Do you want a special dessert for Valentines Day? This would be a great choice for all the chocolate lovers out there!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together crushed vanilla wafers, confectioners' sugar, cocoa, and butter or margarine by hand. Press ingredients into a 9 inch springform pan.
3. In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate chips, making sure that they are very smooth.
4. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy with an electric mixer. Gradually beat in condensed milk until smooth. Mix in melted chocolate, eggs, and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are thoroughly blended. Pour the filling into the prepared crust.
5. Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 55 minutes. The cake will seem underbaked in the center, but will continue to cook after you remove it from the oven.

Prep time: 30 min Cook Time: 1 hr Ready In: 2 hrs