Cat Tales ~ Pumpkin Muffins

Mommy did some cooking recently with some of those big round orange things she calls PUMPKINS. 

Me likes cooked Pumpkin. And Mommy let Me eat some Pumpkin before she started cooking. 

Mommy made Pumpkin Bread and Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese filling and Streusel topping. Mes not the only one who likes Pumpkin in the house 'cause neither the bread or the muffins lasted long. Mommy ask Me if Me would share the recipes.

• Pumpkin Bread/Muffins
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 15 - ounce can pumpkin
• 3/4 cup raisins (optional)
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

directions

1. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar and oil with an electric mixer on medium speed. Add eggs and beat well; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, ginger and cloves. Alternately add flour mixture and the water to sugar mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Beat in pumpkin. If you like, stir in raisins and walnuts. Spoon batter into the prepared pans.
3. Bake in a 375 degrees oven for 55 to 60 minutes for the 9x5-inch loaves; 40 to 45 minutes for the 8x4-inch loaves; or 35 to 40 minutes for the 7-1/2x3 1/2-inch loaves or until a wooden toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

Cream Cheese Filling

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

Combine above ingredients with electric mixer. Mix well. Chill until it can be handled. Make balls the size of ping pong balls and place on waxed paper. Chill. Place small amount of bread batter in bottom of muffin pan which has been lined with muffin wrappers. Place a chilled cream cheese ball on top of batter. Continue filling each muffin wrapper with batter until 2/3 full. Cream cheese ball should be completely covered.

Streusel Topping

½ cup sugar
5 tbsp. flour
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Combine above ingredients and then crumble on top of muffins before cooking.