Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Squares

1 and 1/4 cup pumpkin puree

2 eggs

1 banana

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cup flour

1 and 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed

2 and 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350˚F.  Line an 11″- x 7″-inch pan with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, banana, eggs and oil until smooth.
• In a separate medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, spices, salt and brown sugar.  Add to the wet ingredients and mix until thoroughly incorporated.  Stir in the chocolate chips.

• Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly. 

 

• Bake for 25 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test. 

Rustic Italian Breadsticks

 

2 1/4 tsp dry active yeast

1 1/2 cup warm water

1 Tbsp honey

3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp salt

olive oil

1-2 Tbsp butter

2 cloves of garlic

Parmesan cheese

*makes at least 8 large breadsticks*

• In a mixing bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and stir in the honey
• Let this sit for about 5 minutes for the yeast to activate (it should get a little bubbly/frothy looking) 
• if it does not activate, your water was probably not warm enough
• Add the flour and salt, and mix with a dough hook on high speed for about 5 minutes (or knead by hand), until the dough is smooth and tacky, but not sticking to your hands
• Coat the mixing bowl with some olive oil, and place the dough back in the bowl 
• Cover with plastic wrap or a dish cloth and let it rise for at least 1 hour 
  

• Press the air out of the dough and lay it out on a cutting board in a rectangular shape
• Let it sit for another 20 minutes, and then slice it into sticks
  
• Place the breadsticks on a nonstick cookie sheet: brush with garlic butter*, and sprinkle with Kosher salt and Parmesan cheese
  
• *melt garlic and butter in the microwave or on the stove...ta-da*
  
• Bake at 425 (F) for about 12 minutes (if you want a little extra golden brown color, turn on the broiler for just 1 minute at the end of the baking time)
  

Enjoy!

(The soup is my favorite Butternut Squash Soup recipe- let me know if you want it!)