Wednesday, October 16, 2013

A new pumpkin bread tradition


My mother's annual Christmas package to us, mailed from California to Arizona, always included a loaf of pumpkin bread. Dang I looked forward to that every year. She always made the full-loaf size - the big one, you know? Not the mini's like I always make. It was a dense, heavy loaf of bread with lots of cinnamon and cloves.

By the time Mom's Christmas package arrived every year, we were usually already reaching our limit of sweets and goodies. You know how you reach that point where you look forward to not having so many Christmas sweets around the house? We would enjoy some slices of her pumpkin bread with coffee, then I'd slice and freeze the rest for after the holidays. She always liked hearing from me in February to say thanks again for the pumpkin bread. "It was awesome, Mom!"
 

I knew I'd be able to find Mom's recipe after she was gone, and I knew that it was in my Aunt Betty's handwriting and rather faded and stained from years of use. But I ended up not having access to it last Christmas so I had no other choice but to Google "pumpkin bread recipe."


My mom's pumpkin bread was awesome and my Christmases will never be the same without it. Having said that, I have to admit that I like the recipe I found through Mr. Google better than hers. {gulp. Sorry, Mom.}

So Christmas is coming up and even though my sister and I have found Mom's recipe, I don't plan to use it. It's weird, and I feel slightly rebellious, but I like the new one better.

Even though I'm not using her recipe, maybe the fact that it's still pumpkin bread redeems me. I mean, it's not like I totally switched to fruit cake or something.
 
~sigh~
New traditions.

17 comments:

Sian said...

I've never had pumpkin bread, but I bet your Mom wouldn't have been averse to a bit of experimenting herself. She might have liked the new recipe better too :)

Ruth said...

Have to echo everything Sian has said!

Patty Branco said...

Don't you LOVE allrecipes....my go-to site!

traci said...

what a great tradition. plus it makes you think of your mom. i am sure she is smiling down on you. pumpkin bread is my favorite!!!

debs14 said...

My mum would always be 'tweaking' old favourite recipes so no two dishes were ever exactly the same. I'm guessing your mum may have been the same so she would probably welcome you trying something new while keeping her tradition going!

Susi said...

I love pumpkin bread but have never made it. I may have to try out this recipe. I did however make some quick pumpkin muffins for the office just last night.

Mel said...

Hmm it looks and sounds tasty. I recently made marrow bread using a courgette bread recipe and it was really tasty.

Maria Ontiveros said...

What a great post! So full of love and acknowledgement but also about letting go (at least that's how it struck me this morning).
Rinda

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Pumpkins are appearing in the shops now, ready for Halloween, so I might just have to try this.

scrappyjacky said...

It's a great 'sort of new' tradition for you.....which will always make you think fondly of your mom.

Audrey said...

I bet you Marti would've loved the new recipe as well! I love the tradition. As you know, I love everything pumpkin. In fact, one of my nicknames for Kenzie is "pumpkin muffin".... The more I sit here and think about it, I may need to try the Pumpkin Bread!

Deb@threeisacharm said...

Somehow, I don't think she would mind, Deb, especially since it's only a slight twist on the family tradition! Your pumpkin bread looks delicious!

Jo said...

I think it's great that you're starting your own tradition with a new recipe. I don't think your mum would have a problem with that but I bet she wishes she could try some x

Jessica said...

I think that she would be happy you are carrying on the tradition! She's probably looking down on you right now wishing she could try the new recipe with you. Love this little story!

alexa said...

Oh, such a bittersweet post, this, Deb! I can't help thinking that, were your lovely Mom here and you said "Mom, I've found a new recipe!", she might have been content for you to give it a go and send it to her this time :). Your photos look so appetizing, and the tops so evenly coloured - you are clearly good at this baking lark. Has our TV programme (a big hit here) called The Great British Bakeoff reached you yet?

Miriam said...

The bread looks wonderful Deb. I think some people can bake and others can't...I'm in the latter camp.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking of it as just a slight change to your tradition. I bet your Mum would have no problem with it at all. My it does look yummy!

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