Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz) Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice or water
1 cup sweetened dried, fresh or frozen cranberries


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease & flour two 9x5-inch loaf pans.


Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil & juice in large mixer bowl; beat until just blended. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stir until moistened. Fold in cranberries. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans.


Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Clean in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Recipe makes two loaves.


For Three 8x4-inch loaf pans:
prepare as above. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes.


For Five or Six 5x3-inch mini-loaf pans:
Prepare as above. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes.

Black Bean & Sausage Soup

If you are looking for a lower calorie/very yummy soup, I have just the one for you! I have a couple of picky kids when it comes to tomatoes {any kind} and they loved and ate this with NO complaints!!! Enjoy! Let me know your feedback if you try.  Happy Monday! :0)

Black Bean & Sausage Soup
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled or scrubbed, chopped
1 stalk of celery, sliced
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 medium potato, peeled, diced
2 cups beef or chicken broth
1- 28 oz. can, diced tomatoes
4-6 oz. lean kielbasa sausage, cubed
1- 19 oz. can black beans, rinsed


1. Heat pot with low fat cooking spray. Add onion, carrot & celery, cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables begin to soften.


2. Stir in garlic, oregano, potato, broth & tomatoes, heat to boiling. Stir in kielbasa. Cover & simmer gently for at least 1/2 hour to blend flavors.


3. Drain & rinse beans. Add to soup. Heat until hot. Add salt & pepper to taste. Serve with crusty bread.


Servings per recipe: 6
Serving size: 1 serving
Calories 273.9


**I put in crock pot on low and I added all the ingredients except for the potatoes, added the potatoes about 2 hours before we were ready to eat. Don't forget to put on high! I forgot and it took an hour longer!!!**  I did step 1 and then added to the crock pot!

**Recipe found by Marcus at SparksRecipe**