Oh, Jolene, I think we may have crossed paths many times in the past. 30 years ago I was living on the upper west side in a shoebox that I loved and Sarabeth's was my absolute favorite restaurant for Sunday brunch. I would save up my money just to go there! And the pumpkin muffins were heaven! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Will definitely be making these.
We definitely crossed paths, Ellen! That’s so wild — you make have been in the dining room at the same time I was in the bakery! Let me know how it goes making the muffins!
As a Brit, I have never had pumpkin bread. Or pumpkin pie. All things pumpkiny have passed me by.
I am fully aware of how malnourished and joyless my experience of the world is as a result. But...they don't serve them here. Pumpkins aren't so much a thing for eating in the UK. I've found it impossible to stumble across them (especially these last two years I've been in Scotland). And it seems this is a national problem: https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/finished-goods/thanksgiving-why-wont-brits-eat-pumpkin-pie/625590.article
This needs to change (at least when it comes to me, I can't speak for Britain). I need to step up into the light. Today is the day I find out where good pumpkin bread is served in Scotland, and I'm asking if they deliver. Today.
I will, however, pass along the bread/cake I *did* grow up with as a kid in Yorkshire, because I feel about it in the way that you feel about pumpkin bread. In case you've never encountered it, I welcome you to the rich, sticky glory that is Yorkshire Parkin:
’joyless …experience of the world’ Your comment is a hilarious micro-essay all its own, Mike 😂 I’m definitely going to make the Yorkshire Parkin, I’ll let you know how it goes. Speaking of Yorkshire, I’ve been reading about Betty’s Tea Room (do you know it?) and some of the recipes are available, so I was thinking I’d make some, do you know of/have a favorite item from there? I was looking at a scone-type bake called a ‘Fat Rascal’ that becomes an Advent cake this time of year that I was going to try.
Hooray! I used to live in York, and going to Betty's for a cream tea was a regular treat, both as a student trying to impress a girl or two, and as a University IT employee needing to unwind after a long day of fighting photocopiers. Betty's is a magical place. If you time it right, you get a person dressed up to the eyeballs in Edwardian garb, plinking away merrily on the piano...
And yes, the Fat Rascal is absolutely what I would recommend. Delicious, nice to look at, as big as your head: the three things that any student wants from their food.
pumpkin bread is one of my favorite things to eat. I first learned about it when I learned how to make it in third grade at school. Our whole class made it together and we each got to take a little loaf home. I loved it so much that I asked my mom if I could make it at home, and the rest is history. I have made so many loaves of pumpkin bread that it’s really quite ridiculous. I use a recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook that has been my standby since I guess the 70s! Nowadays I’m gluten-free, so I just substitute King Arthur gluten-free flour for wheat flour and it works just fine. You would never know it was gluten-free. It is one of the most perfect recipes for people who can’t eat wheat.
I've been making a version of the Sarabeth pumpkin muffin recipe for years that I found in Dorie Greenspan's "Baking: From My Home to Yours." She says the Sarabeth ones are "so good they ought to be the standard for all pumpkin muffins in the world." How cool that you worked there!
I agree with Dorie and love that you’ve been making them for years, Ruth! I interned for Sarabeth during cooking school and after I finished and two weeks before Christmas she hired me as a full-time baker! It was like working in Santa’s toy shop, only with cookies!
Oh, Jolene, I think we may have crossed paths many times in the past. 30 years ago I was living on the upper west side in a shoebox that I loved and Sarabeth's was my absolute favorite restaurant for Sunday brunch. I would save up my money just to go there! And the pumpkin muffins were heaven! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Will definitely be making these.
We definitely crossed paths, Ellen! That’s so wild — you make have been in the dining room at the same time I was in the bakery! Let me know how it goes making the muffins!
Thank you, Jolene. Lovely post.
As a Brit, I have never had pumpkin bread. Or pumpkin pie. All things pumpkiny have passed me by.
I am fully aware of how malnourished and joyless my experience of the world is as a result. But...they don't serve them here. Pumpkins aren't so much a thing for eating in the UK. I've found it impossible to stumble across them (especially these last two years I've been in Scotland). And it seems this is a national problem: https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/finished-goods/thanksgiving-why-wont-brits-eat-pumpkin-pie/625590.article
This needs to change (at least when it comes to me, I can't speak for Britain). I need to step up into the light. Today is the day I find out where good pumpkin bread is served in Scotland, and I'm asking if they deliver. Today.
I will, however, pass along the bread/cake I *did* grow up with as a kid in Yorkshire, because I feel about it in the way that you feel about pumpkin bread. In case you've never encountered it, I welcome you to the rich, sticky glory that is Yorkshire Parkin:
https://traditionalhomebaking.com/yorkshire-parkin/
’joyless …experience of the world’ Your comment is a hilarious micro-essay all its own, Mike 😂 I’m definitely going to make the Yorkshire Parkin, I’ll let you know how it goes. Speaking of Yorkshire, I’ve been reading about Betty’s Tea Room (do you know it?) and some of the recipes are available, so I was thinking I’d make some, do you know of/have a favorite item from there? I was looking at a scone-type bake called a ‘Fat Rascal’ that becomes an Advent cake this time of year that I was going to try.
Thanks , Mike!
Hooray! I used to live in York, and going to Betty's for a cream tea was a regular treat, both as a student trying to impress a girl or two, and as a University IT employee needing to unwind after a long day of fighting photocopiers. Betty's is a magical place. If you time it right, you get a person dressed up to the eyeballs in Edwardian garb, plinking away merrily on the piano...
And yes, the Fat Rascal is absolutely what I would recommend. Delicious, nice to look at, as big as your head: the three things that any student wants from their food.
Wow, they look yummy. I want a half dozen and a pot of coffee. Happy Thanksgiving Jo! Skip the turkey pass the muffins...
Agreed! I’ll put on the coffee! 😀
pumpkin bread is one of my favorite things to eat. I first learned about it when I learned how to make it in third grade at school. Our whole class made it together and we each got to take a little loaf home. I loved it so much that I asked my mom if I could make it at home, and the rest is history. I have made so many loaves of pumpkin bread that it’s really quite ridiculous. I use a recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook that has been my standby since I guess the 70s! Nowadays I’m gluten-free, so I just substitute King Arthur gluten-free flour for wheat flour and it works just fine. You would never know it was gluten-free. It is one of the most perfect recipes for people who can’t eat wheat.
What a sweet memory, Jackie, and I’ve heard from a lot of people that they love the Kong Arthur GF flour.
I've been making a version of the Sarabeth pumpkin muffin recipe for years that I found in Dorie Greenspan's "Baking: From My Home to Yours." She says the Sarabeth ones are "so good they ought to be the standard for all pumpkin muffins in the world." How cool that you worked there!
I agree with Dorie and love that you’ve been making them for years, Ruth! I interned for Sarabeth during cooking school and after I finished and two weeks before Christmas she hired me as a full-time baker! It was like working in Santa’s toy shop, only with cookies!
Wow! What a super story, Jolene—so beautifully put! I can see why you have so much baking wisdom and wonderful stories to share with your readers!
Thanks, Ruth! A lifetime ago! :)
Perfect timing for me—I've been searching for a great pumpkin muffin recipe, and these look great! Thanks!
So glad you’ll make them, Joan! Let me know how it goes!
What a lovely memory -- for a second I could hear the salsa music 😊
What a sweet comment, Sarah!