Spiced Pear Bread

I love this time of year when there is so much fresh, ripe produce available. I like to eat it fresh, of course, but it's really fun to get creative and bake with it! This bread is soft and moist with hidden bits of pear throughout. The perfect treat for fall.

 Spiced Pear Bread makes 2 standard loaves or 5 mini loaves
4 c. soft ripe pears, skinned and chopped (about 4-5 pears)
1 & 1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
3/4 c. oil
4 c. flour
2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. ground ginger

Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease 5 mini loaves (or 2 standard loaves) and line with parchment. In a large mixing bowl, combine pears and sugar, slightly mashing pears. Add eggs and oil and mix well. Add dry ingredients and mix until combined.

 Divide batter among pans. I made the mini loaf size.

 Bake at 325 F for 40-50 minutes for mini loaves (60-70 minutes for standard loaves), or until the top of the bread springs back when tapped.

This is absolutely one of my new favorites for fall...or anytime really. Enjoy!

Roasted Halloween Potatoes

The other night I made these delicious roasted potatoes to go with our dinner. My daughter pointed out that they were Halloween potatoes because of their color. Haha! Totally unintentional.

 Roasted Halloween Potatoes
4-5 c. purple potatoes, washed
2 medium sweet potatoes, washed and skinned
1/4 c. oil
salt

Preheat oven to 400 F and line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment. Cut all potatoes into large cubes (about 1"-2"). In a large bowl, toss potatoes with oil and salt. Spread into prepared cookie sheet and bake for 40 minutes, stirring halfway. When potatoes come out of the oven, sprinkle with a little more salt to taste.

These are such a fun fall side dish. Enjoy!