Fall time always makes me crave two things – pumpkin and desserts with cream cheese frosting, namely carrot or red velvet cakes. I always kept the two separate, but what if…what if…the two could make a perfect match and combine for a baked treat to satisfy all my fall stomach’s desires? I had to give it a try. Pumpkin bread. Carrot cake. The two together…to crumble atop oatmeal, top with honey greek yogurt as an afternoon snack, or stuff slice by slice into your mouth anytime of day for dessert. What? I have no recollection of that ever happening. No matter what way you choose to eat it…make this recipe!

Pumpkin Carrot Cake Bread

Servings: 10 slices
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup  packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or other optional mix-ins: raisins, chocolate chips, etc.

Step By Step Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie, and salt into a large mixing bowl; set aside. Mix the egg, pumpkin, brown sugar, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just evenly combined. Do not over-mix. Fold in grated carrots and chopped walnuts or other mix-ins.

Spray a regular sized loaf pan well with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool for at least fifteen minutes before slicing and serving.

And go a little crazy with a cream cheese frosting, a glaze, or a streusel topping if you like. I’ll take a slice!

Whew! I tell ya it’s a load off that I haven’t gotten any flack for my post from this morning. In all honesty, talking about things like blog money (including a general idea of how much I make personally) made me more than a little nervous. I believe in opening discussions and when I get enough questions on a topic, I’ll give in eventually and open up my big mouth. Mum’s not usually the word around here.

This morning, I headed out early to get my run on. Fall is definitely coming. I felt a little chilly in my Champion tee and running shorts as I started my run.

Still in the dark. I didn’t expect it to be relatively dark out! Luckily it brightened up quickly, since I’m not a fan of running in the dark. With my propensity to have a wild imagination, it never bodes well. I spend more of my run picturing creepy men in the bushes than worrying about the numerous boardwalks I could trip over. And we all know the boardwalks pose a more likely risk. Klutz to the extreme, right here!

I am incredibly thankful that today’s six mile run was a recovery run. Normally Wednesdays call for a speedier run, but this week focused on an easy pace.

I ran the six miles at my steady pace, knowing I wouldn’t have managed any faster. My body was not happy with me on this run. I would even venture to say this is the first time I have ever felt any pain on a run. My right calf and IT band felt abnormally tight, in an almost to the point of painful way, the last couple of miles. Not okay!

It sure gave me a reality check. I have not been too good about stretching and foam rolling lately. I know I simply cannot let that part of my training slide if I want to stay in top function and adequately care for my body.

When I really started thinking about it, I realized that I have only been stretching at the end of classes at the gym or the end of my workout DVDs because it is included in the workout. I haven’t been focusing nearly enough on stretching my body out after runs. And I need it the most then!

So, after my run today I made a point to stretch well. I did some of my favorite stretches immediately following my run and then came home and bonded with my foam roller and special stretching weapon – the rolling pin.

I even broke out some yoga poses when I had the chance sans kiddos. Let’s hope my body will feel like one piece again soon and not the broken pile of “ow-ies” it feels like right now. And that I can actually stick to my goal of stretching more. I may just have to add it to my daily to-do list to make myself do it. The satisfaction of crossing something else off my list could be just the motivation I need to get ‘er done.

• How often do you stretch?
• Do you ever add unnecessary things to your to-do list just to feel good about crossing them off?