Thanksgiving Pumpkin Muffins

Happy belated Thanksgiving! This was our second year hosting my husband's family from New Jersey for the holiday. I think if we keep hosting for a few more years, we will finally produce a perfect meal. I try not to be picky on the holidays but it is difficult for me!

This year my husband's turkey turned out great and my jalapeno cranberry sauce was exactly as I wanted it. The apple pie was a success and very pretty with a lattice and leaf top, but the pumpkin pies were a bust. I've been using coconut milk instead of evaporated milk in my pumpkin pie for several years now with no issue (lactose-free option). I'm unsure if it was the brand of coconut milk I used (full-fat as always), but the mini pies I made did not set up, the top crust leaves sunk to the bottoms of the batter, and they stuck horribly to the muffin tin I cooked them in. It's a Pinterest recipe save of mine and last time I made it they were a bit messy but otherwise picture worthy and perfectly set. Everyone enjoyed the apple pie though and also the Purely Pumpkin Ice Cream I made the day before.

Instead of traditional cornbread muffins for dinner, I made pumpkin muffins. They were so good that there were only two left for my picture by the time I remembered to take one! It's an altered banana bread recipe and the pumpkin and banana make the muffins incredibly moist. I meant to add craisins, but forgot, and I think they would be a great holiday flare addition!

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Muffins
Yield: 12 muffins
Bake: 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes

Ingredients:
1 can pumpkin
1 ripe banana
1 stick butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1  1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp ground ginger
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
Mix pumpkin, banana, butter, and sugar together until well combined. Add in eggs. Add in dry ingredients and fold batter together. Batter has a very thick mousse-like consistency. Spray your muffin tin or use liners. Split batter among the 12 muffin cups. Muffins are done when the tops have risen and are slightly firm to the touch. Store covered and refrigerate or freeze leftovers after 2 days.


Family Pictures!

We had a beautiful day in Charlotte, a bit unseasonably warm at 72 degrees! We took family pictures the day before Thanksgiving, which was also a more reasonable 65 degrees. Here is our annual picture on the big rock located on the nature trail in our neighborhood. Frisco made an appearance last year, but this year he sat it out. He is doing well, just turned 8 and still the sweetest puppy. But I decided there was no way to get six adults smiling and two small children at least looking at the camera all at once, and also expect the dog to be facing the right direction! We took around 40 pictures, the auto-fire just clicking away, and this was the best one.



Frisco has gotten his share of camera time on other occasions! My son and Frisco posed very well in this picture we took last month on the rock.



And here are some cute outtakes from that photo shoot. Henry had just started walking - at 16 months! Some of his friends were walking by 9 months. I didn't expect or really want him to walk that early, but I was trying not to worry about him as the months ticked by since his birthday. He's finally gotten his feet underneath him though! It's hard to moderate expectations when you see other people's kids, but I try my best not to compare.




I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving!  (And if you know what I did wrong with my pumpkin pies with coconut milk, please leave me a note!)