Pumpkin Bread [Mini Loaves]

I love pumpkin bread but I don't nearly make it enough. I made it a few years ago and a draft of the recipe has been sitting in my drafts folder since Fall 2012. Yes. It's taken me almost 2 1/2 years to finally post about it. I actually had found a recipe I liked a little more on Sally's Baking Addiction so I'm happy I waited. And speaking of waiting, I made this back in November when my roommate (hi Alicia) was home sick, I was off for the whole day, and one of our best friends came over (hi Molly) and we watched Buffy and TV all day. It was awesome. Not that she was sick, but spending a day with the two of them was.

Something I'm trying to do more of are girl's nights. Like on Wednesday, my friend Nicole and I drank whiskey gingers, watched the Little Mermaid and cuddled with her dog. I'm trying to do one with my work girlfriends since it would be nice to sit down and actually hang out instead of chatting in between running to tables. And this past Sunday? Sunday was awesome.

My friend Kelly and I have been talking about watching Moulin Rouge together for FOREVER but for some reason it has never worked out. She works as a bartender, so while our schedules are more similar than most, they're still different enough that our days off never are the same. Until Sunday.

It was awesome. We drank two bottles of wine (total, not each!) and it was so nice. It's one of my favorite movies and we were literally giggling we were so excited. So many chills on my arms and tears in my eyes.. Like, I LOVE Ewan McGregor and Come What May is one of my favorite songs. Now I never want to wait so long between viewings (it's been years!).

I've been listening to it all week which is the first time since Thanksgiving that Taylor Swift hasn't been the album on repeat on my phone. Craziness! Considering I've been talking about how much I listen to 1989 on here and in real life, that's a huge deal. Like I actually uploaded the album back onto my phone so I could listen to Ewan and Nicole any time I want (plus El Tango de Roxanne because that song is AWESOME. Makes me want to tango on the spot, not that I know how or anything).

Anyway, I love Moulin Rouge, intend on watching it WAY more, and more girls nights will happen. Who doesn't like wine, cheese, cookies, and good friends? Right?

So this pumpkin bread. It was delicious, moist (I know, sorry but seriously? There's NO other word for it!), spiced, pumpkin-y and the loaves with the chocolate chips? Those ones were my favorites. We devoured a loaf that afternoon and then the other two mini loaves disappeared over the next few days as we ate a slice here, a slice there, a slice for breakfast, a slice for a snack.. lots of slices.

And now that I'm talking about this, I want to go make a batch of this. You should too!

Pumpkin Bread [Mini Loaves]

makes 3 mini loaves or 1 regular loaf

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup Chocolate Chunks, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour or use a non stick baking spray to coat loaf pans.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat together eggs, sugars, pumpkin, vegetable oil, and water until well blended. If necessary, stop mixing and scrape down the sides so everything mixes together. Slowly add in dry ingredients, mixing together until combined (and again scraping sides down as necessary). Fold in chocolate chips, if adding.

Divide batter evenly between mini pans or add all to regular pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes (mini loaf pans) or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. (Bake for 55-65 minutes in a regular pan).

Let cool and enjoy!

[source: lightly adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction]