Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from DeSoto County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension! This week your FCS agent has been learning tons of new information at our Mississippi State University Extension Service Annual Conference in Starkville, MS along with all Extension faculty and staff from across the state. I got home last night in time for today...HALLOWEEN! Check out one of the few ways we celebrated fall at Annual Extension Conference this week. There are lots of creative Extension Agents across the state of Mississippi that entered the Pumpkin Decorating/Carving Contest! Our DeSoto County 4-H Agent, Jessica Lindsey place second with her deer head carved pumpkin. Congrats Jessica!

Take a minute and view this video because it answers the question I've been hearing a lot lately, "Can I eat my Jack O Lantern?" Also below you will find an easy pumpkin bread recipe to try this fall with possibly one of your leftover Halloween pumpkins. And last but not least check out the "Halloween Food Safety How To" tips below to ensure your safety this weekend.




Pumpkin Bread

Makes: 2 loaves or 30 muffins
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 60-75 minutes for loaves; 20 minutes for muffins

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups whole-wheat flour
½ cup non-fat dry milk
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
¾ cup applesauce, unsweetened
½ cup vegetable/canola oil
4 eggs
½ cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. 
2. Spray two loaf pans or pan for 30 muffins with nonstick cooking spray. 
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, non-fat dry milk, sugar, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and pumpkin pie spice. 
4. In a second bowl, beat pumpkin, applesauce, oil, eggs, and water until blended. 
5. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture and stir with a spoon just until moistened. Do not over mix. 
6. Pour batter into 2 loaf pans or muffin tins. 
7. Bake loaves for 60-75 minutes, or muffins for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. 
8. Cool on a rack and remove from pans after 10 minutes. 

Source: "Eating Smart Being Active Curriculum Recipes"

Have a spooktacular day!