Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread {It's Low-Fat and Amazing}

Hey, how's it going?  This is my absolute favorite pumpkin chocolate chip bread ever.  I crave this all year long and the best part is, there is only one Tablespoon of oil in the whole thing.  I originally posted this recipe back in 2012, so I figured the world needed to see it again and then you all need to make this ASAP.  The original recipe called for a chocolate drizzle, which was some melted chocolate chips drizzled over the top of the baked loaf, but it really does not need that.  This bread is already so rich and flavorful.  I like to use mini chocolate chips, because you get pockets of creamy chocolate throughout, but you can use regular chocolate chips if that is all you have.

Here is my original post from 9/30/2012:

I am pretty sure this bread is my new BFF.  I can't stop raving about it.  I love it not only because it tastes so good, but it is LOW-FAT (compared to other pumpkin breads).  I promise you would NEVER KNOW IT.  The recipe only calls for 1 TABLESPOON of oil, but it is just as moist as other pumpkin breads that call for up to 1/2 cup of oil.

Now, I am questioning all my other pumpkin bread recipes, why have I been adding so much oil if it is not even needed?  I think it is time to start experimenting!  

This bread is so good by itself that it doesn't even need the chocolate drizzle on top (and it would have even fewer calories, of course).  In fact, I ate half the loaf before I even added the drizzle.  It still tasted perfect on the 4th day when I enjoyed my last slice.

This recipe also comes from my new Favorite Family Recipes Cookbook that I told you about the other day.  They said they prefer this low-fat recipe over regular recipes and I totally understand why.

You better try this so you can rave about it too!  

Hopefully by now you have already printed out the recipe and are heading into the kitchen to whip this up!

**Update (8/22/2013) - I have made this several times and it turns out perfect every time.  I have also made this into mini muffins.  You will get 48 mini muffins - bake for 10-11 minutes.** 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread 

adapted from: Favorite Family Recipes   
(Printable Recipe) 

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 c. canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. low-fat buttermilk

1 large egg

1 Tbl. canola oil

1/2 c. mini chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and line with parchment paper.  In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; set aside.  In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, vanilla, brown sugar, buttermilk, egg and oil.  Add dry mixture to wet ingredients, stirring just until moistened; do not overmix.  Fold in chocolate chips.   Pour into pan.  Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely. 

Jenn's Notes: This bread browns pretty quickly in the oven thanks to all that brown sugar.  It will look very dark like you burnt it, but it doesn't taste burnt.  You could always tent a little foil over it the last 10 minutes of baking if you don't want it as dark.   

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Easy Teriyaki Meatballs

Ever since I tried Sweet and Sour Meatballs, I have been obsessed with meatballs.  This has now become my new go-to base recipe for meatballs and I have been trying them with all different kinds of sauces.

My latest version are these Teriyaki Meatballs.  This recipe is so so yummy.  The meatballs come together super fast and while those bake, you can prepare the sauce and cook the rice (I use Minute Rice) and broccoli.  In less than 30 minutes total, you can have this super delicious dinner on the table.  I highly recommend using a cookie scoop for the meatballs.  It is so much easier and faster than trying to roll them by hand.

The flavorful meatballs mixed with the sweet teriyaki sauce is a perfect pair.

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Stroganoff Spaghetti and Meatballs

Potstickers

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Easy Teriyaki Meatballs
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe)

2 Lbs. ground beef (85/15 works best)
2/3 c. panko bread crumbs
2 Tbl. dry minced onion
1 large egg
1/4 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Teriyaki Sauce
1 1/2 c. cold water
3/4 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 Tbl. cornstarch
1 tsp. sesame oil

For serving
chopped green onions, opt.
cooked white or brown rice
cooked broccoli florets

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan; set aside.  To a large bowl, add ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, milk, ginger, salt and pepper.  Mix with your hands until just combined.  Use a 1 1/2 Tablespoon cookie scoop and scoop meat mixture into balls and place in prepared pan.  Or, rub a little oil on your hands and then roll the meat mixture into roughly 1-inch balls.  Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.  Makes around 35 meatballs.   

To prepare the teriyaki sauce:  Pour all of the sauce ingredients into a medium saucepan.  Whisk together until no lumps remain. Heat over medium heat until it thickens, whisking occasionally.  This should only take 3-5 minutes.

When meatballs are done baking, dunk them in the teriyaki sauce and serve over cooked rice.  Garnish with chopped green onions and serve with broccoli florets on the side.  

Base meatball recipe adapted from: Our Sweet Basil Kitchen



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Fresh Garden Tomato Chili

I originally posted this recipe back in 2013.  I have been making it every year since.  I have simplified the recipe a little since then.  I originally would peel my tomatoes, but then I discovered the peel really doesn't stand out to me, so I don't do that anymore, which saves a ton of time.  I also have been throwing the tomatoes in my food processor instead of dicing them.  You can do whichever you prefer.

Here is my original post from 10/07/2013:

My mom brought me a big bag of fresh garden tomatoes the other day.  Garden tomatoes have such an amazing flavor.  A flavor unlike any store-bought tomato.

Rather than eating the usual BLT or making salsa with the tomatoes, I wanted to try something different.  I had seen a recipe for Fresh Tomato Chili awhile back and I wanted to create my own version.

I am super happy with how it turned out and the flavor is incredible.  I prefer a thick and chunky chili and so I simmered mine with the lid off and that way the liquid evaporated.  To top it all off, I added a healthy amount of shredded Cheddar, a dollop of sour cream and some chopped green onions . . .  mmm.

I will make this recipe over and over again.  If you can't get any garden tomatoes, you can always use regular store-bought tomatoes.  The flavor will be a little different, but it will still be good.  If you like a little kick to your chili, you can add some chipotle chili powder or a diced canned chipotle chili in adobo.

Serve alongside:
French Bread Rolls
Soft and Chewy French Bread
Cornmeal Buttermilk Biscuits
Chili Cheese Bake Potatoes (use leftovers)

Fresh Garden Tomato Chili
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) 

1/2 Lb. lean ground beef
1/2 Lb. ground pork or ground turkey
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 c. finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
*12 large ripe garden tomatoes (see notes down below)
1 Tbl. chili powder, or to taste
2 tsp. ground cumin, or to taste
2 tsp. garlic powder, or to taste
1 tsp. oregano, or to taste
2 bay leaves, opt.
1 Tbl. brown sugar
salt and pepper
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can chili beans, undrained

For serving:
sour cream
shredded Cheddar cheese
chopped green onions
Fritos or tortilla chips

Brown ground beef and ground pork or turkey in a large pot over medium heat.  A few minutes before it is completely cooked through, add the chopped bell pepper and onion and saute for 3-4 minutes.  Add the garlic and saute 30 more seconds.  Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes.  I like to simmer mine for at least 2 hours for better flavor.  The longer it simmers the more the liquid will evaporate.  If you like more liquid, then simmer with the lid on.  Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed.  Remove bay leaves before serving. 

Garnish with sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, chopped green onions and serve with Fritos or crushed tortilla chips.  Serves: 4-6.    

*For the tomatoes:  I like to remove the stem, cut the tomatoes in half and remove half of the seeds.  Then, I throw all of the tomatoes into my food processor and process until there are only a few chunks.  I pour the tomato puree into my chili.  The tomatoes break down when you cook them anyway, so I don't spend the extra time peeling or dicing them.

Or, if you prefer skinned and diced tomatoes, you can remove the peel, stem and seeds and dice, but this will take a lot longer. 

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Easy Chicken, Bacon and Ranch Sliders

I recently told one of my friends about the amazing Rhodes Warm-N-Serv Rolls and her family has been enjoying them ever since.  The other night she said they made hamburgers for dinner, but didn't have any buns, so they pulled these rolls out of the freezer, baked them and then had hamburger sliders for dinner within 15 minutes.  That got me to thinking of all the yummy sandwiches that could be made using these delicious Warm-N-Serv Rolls.

One of my favorite combos is bacon, ranch, chicken and cheese.  You can't go wrong with that, right! So, I threw all of the ingredients together and made Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Sliders and let me just tell you that these 5-Ingredient sliders are so dang good.  The soft buttery roll paired with the creamy ranch, crisp bacon, melty cheese and tender chicken is guaranteed to be a huge hit.   

Let me show you how easy these are to make . . . 

First, get all of your ingredients ready.  You will need baked Rhodes Warm-N-Serv Rolls, cooked bacon, cooked breaded chicken tenders, sliced cheese and ranch dressing.  

Slice the baked rolls in half, spread ranch over each half of each roll.  Then, top one half of each roll with sliced cheese.  

Top one half of each roll with sliced bacon.  

Cut the breaded chicken tenders in half.  Top one half of each roll with half of a chicken tender.  Place the tops onto each roll.  Place in a warm oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.  Serve.  

#RhodesBread #RhodesRolls #completethemeal

Easy Chicken, Bacon and Ranch Sliders

From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner

(Printable Recipe)

6 Rhodes Warm-N-Serv Dinner Rolls

1/4 c. ranch dressing, plus more for serving

3 large slices Pepper Jack cheese (or your favorite cheese)

3-4 slices bacon, cooked

3 frozen breaded chicken tenders, baked

Bake Rhodes Warm-N-Serv Rolls according to package directions.  When finished baking, slice rolls in half and spread ranch dressing over each half.  Cut or tear the slices of cheese into fourths.  Place two pieces of cheese onto one half of each roll.  Tear the bacon into smaller pieces and divide between one half of each roll.  

Cut the cooked chicken tenders in half and place one half onto each half of each roll.  Place tops onto each roll and place in a warm oven until the cheese is melted, about 2-3 minutes.  Serve with additional ranch dressing, if desired.    

This post is sponsored by Rhodes Bread.  I have always been a fan of Rhodes Rolls and all opinions are my own.  Thanks for allowing me to work with the brands that I love. 

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Cheesy Green Chile Mashed Potatoes

If there is one food that I could never ever give up, it would be potatoes.  I could eat potatoes in some way, shape or form every day.  So many choices . . . potato chips, hash browns, french fries, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, twice-baked potatoes, potato salad, potato soup, potato skins, etc . . .

Another vegetable that I absolutely love are green chiles.  If you want to add some flavor to a dish, just add some kind of green chiles and you have instant flavor.

When you combine potatoes and green chiles magical things happen.  These mashed potatoes are everything you could ask for and more.  Creamy, cheesy and FULL of amazing flavor.  I ate these potatoes as leftovers for three days in a row and they tasted just as good as on day one.

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Cheesy Green Chile Mashed Potatoes
slightly adapted from: Hatch Chile Cookbook
(Printable Recipe)

4 Lbs. Russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 Tbl. unsalted butter
3/4 - 1 c. whole milk, warmed
seasoned salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. cumin, or to taste
4 Hatch Chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded and chopped,
  or you can used canned diced green chiles
1 1/2 c. grated Sharp Cheddar cheese

Add chopped potatoes to a large pot and cover with cold water.  Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender (if you can mash one of the chunks easily, they are ready).  Drain the potatoes and add to a large bowl.  Add the butter and 1/2 cup of milk.  

Mash the potatoes until they reach desired consistency.  If they aren't creamy enough, add another 1/4 cup - 1/2 cup of milk.  Stir in the seasoned salt, pepper, cumin, chopped green chiles and grated cheese.  Mix well and serve.  

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S'mores Pumpkin Cookies

I am so happy it's September.  The next few months are my favorite time of the year.  This Summer has felt extra hot to me, so I am ready for the weather to start cooling down.  

Do you save up pumpkin recipes all year long and can't wait to start baking them in the Fall?  I usually have a bunch of recipes saved up and I always have one on the top of my list that is the 1st thing I can't wait to make.  This year, I didn't have a list, but when I first saw someone post about Hershey's new S'mores Baking Pieces, I immediately knew I wanted to add them to my go-to pumpkin cookie recipe.        

Since this is a newer product, you might not be able to find it at all grocery stores.  I was able to find mine at my local Walmart and they had a bunch.  Inside the package you get mini graham cracker squares, marshmallows and chocolate chips.  The marshmallows are tiny and crunchy, but when you bake them they soften and puff up just like a regular marshmallow.   

These cookies turned out so good.  The pumpkin cookie is thick and soft and when mixed with the creamy chocolate chips, toasted marshmallows and crunchy graham pieces it's the perfect cookie to welcome in September.  

You might also like:

Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Roll Cake with Pumpkin Icing

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies

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3-Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

S'mores Pumpkin Cookies

From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner

(Printable Recipe)

1 c. canned pumpkin puree

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 large egg

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. milk

1 Tbl. vanilla

1 (7 oz.) pkg. Hershey's S'mores Baking Pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin puree, sugar, oil and the egg and mix until well blended.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; add to wet mixture.  Dissolve the baking soda in the milk and add to the wet ingredients along with the vanilla.  Mix all together until just combined.  Stir in just over half of the baking pieces and save the rest for pressing on top of cookies before baking. 

Using a 1 1/2 Tablespoon cookie scoop, drop dough onto a large cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Press a few more baking pieces onto the top of each cookie.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Makes around 2 1/2 dozen cookies. 

Jenn's Notes: This cookie dough can be refrigerated overnight and baked the following day.  However,  the graham pieces and marshmallows will dissolve into the batter, so if you aren't going to bake the cookies until the following day, wait to stir in the s'mores baking pieces until you are ready to bake.  

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