I enjoy movies, I really do. But I have a real big problem with certain movies.

The ones with the unnecessary blood and killing. For example, about 50% of the scary movies ever made. Yes, I understand they are *supposed* to be scary, but c’mon, do you really need to kill the girl, her boyfriend, her 2nd cousin twice removed, and ant on the wall? No, I do not need that much blood and killing to be scared. A simple peek-a-boo from out of the closet will scare me plenty, thank you.

But I guess I do not really have much of a say in this matter, as I am not much of a frequent horror movie watcher. I prefer the Pixar, or romantic comedy-type movies. Sometimes I even like action if I’m feeling crazy and wild, but that’s about as intense as I get with movies. I’m still scarred from just hearing the noise from when my sister and dad would watch the Saw movies.

Well, anyways, I made some cinnamon swirl pumpkin bread that is perfect for those you who have health-related New Years Resolutions. This bread is full of whole wheat flour, no butter, and all of the wonderful health benefits of pumpkin. Plus it has cinnamon which is like pumpkin’s BFF so get wild and crazy with those two and start 2013 off right.

Cinnamon Swirl Pumpkin Bread

(Slightly adapted from Hungry Hannah)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

a pinch of ground cloves

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup hot water

1 teaspoon baking soda

FOR CINNAMON SWIRL:

1/4 cup white sugar

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a loaf pan with baking spray. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together oil and honey. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Add in both flours until thoroughly combined.
3. In a small liquid measuring cup, microwave 1/4 cup water for about 35 seconds. Stir in baking soda and let it fizzle. Stir into batter.
4. For the cinnamon swirl, in a small bowl, simply mix together 1/4 cup white sugar, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Set aside.
5. Pour half of the bread batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle most of the cinnamon swirl mixture on top. Then spread the remaining bread batter over the cinnamon swirl layer. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon swirl mixture on top of loaf. Bake in preheated oven for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool and slice.

Random Fact of the Day: The name Joshua is Hebrew for ‘Jesus’.

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