Pumpkin Lite

How was everyone's Halloween? From the looks of it, everyone had a great time. I think whether you love Halloween or think it's a totally commercial lame holiday, you have to agree on two things:

• The decorations are probably the most fun out of any other holiday
• 30-50% off Halloween candy starting November 1st is pretty sweet

While it's not the most masculine trait I have, my family always instilled guerrilla type shopping skills after holidays. I'm not talking like ducking and rolling around through the aisles, (been there) but more like secret stealth money saving. Nothing says you can't use Halloween stuff like cups and kitchen stuff year round. So what if a spatula is orange? Orange is cool.

So to round out the Orange theme, I have yet another pumpkin recipe... because what are you supposed to do with half a can of pumpkin in the fridge anyways? I guess I COULD eat it out of the can... I do eat just about anything (what can I say, protein powder enables you do eat just about anything taste wise)

So, about a year ago... did I just say that? A year? Wow.

So about a year ago I did an angel food cake recipe. I really dig angel food cake. It has literally no fat, some protein, and... a ton of sugar. Oh well, 2 outta 3 ain't bad. But I like it because angel food cake tastes like nothing else. The texture is soft yet chewy, with this sticky almost tang thing going on. It's like cotton candy in cake form. I dunno it's just a neat thing.

So what if we just add some pumpkin and spices to it? That'll work.

I took the old recipe I just listed above, and added some spices and the rest of the canned pumpkin. It was poured into the pan, flipped, and let to cool. Just keep in mind that because pumpkin is a wet ingredient, you might have to up the baking time a bit. Soggy angelfood cake does not make fun and delicious eats. Its like the equivalent of wearing wet socks all day. Squidgy and weird.

But when it turns out perfect.... it's really awesome :)

So here's the recipe, cut, pasted, and changed :)



Cranberry Orange Angel Food Cake Recipe by Dr. Adam

-1 cup cake flour
-1 1/2 cups of sugar
-12 egg whites
-1 tsp cream of tartar -1/4 tsp salt -1 tsp vanilla
-1 tsp cinnamon
-1/4 tsp cloves
-1/2 tsp nutmeg -Half a small can of pumpkin puree

Super easy recipe. Preheat your oven to 350*. Set your rack to the bottom if you are using an angel food cake pan, or middle if you are using something else.

In a large, metal or glass bowl (make sure it's clean, no grease or grime), whip the egg whites with an electric mixer. Don't use your arms... they will probably fall off. Whip the whites on medium speed for a bit, and mix in the cream of tartar and salt. Take the speed up a notch, and as it comes together, add a little of the sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time. Keep adding sugar as the whites increase in volume, and all of the sugar has been used. You want some soft to semi firm peaks forming.

Fold in the flour, gently, and return to beating the mixture so it's well incorporated. Once the flour is in, add the vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Continue to mix on medium, until the colors of the batter turn into a orange brown (the spices are mixed in well then). Turn off the machine and fold in the pumpkin with a spatula, being careful not to over mix the batter or get it all over the counter.

Pour the batter into the angel food pan, making sure it's very clean of grease and dirt, and smooth over evenly. Place the pan into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown, and dry to the touch.Immediately take the pan out of the oven and flip it over, so the dome cylinder thing in the pan is supporting the pan and cake. Let it cool like this until it's cool. Run a knife around the edge, and take it carefully out. Serve it up.




I may not be the first cat to think of this cake, but it's my first time eating it. I was happy with the results, and so were some of the girls at the Halloween party. What can I say, I get a couple of points on the scoreboard here and there :P

Happy November, and I hope everyone is staying warm and safe. I'll be out of town this weekend and in Florida for a seminar, but I'll catch up with you when I get back. And speaking of last years recipe, is anyone else excited for cranberries? Fall fruit is great :)

Random thing.... Bon Jovi is on TV right now celebrating 25 years. To be cool and do something you like for 25 years is remarkable. Good for them :)