Today is Homemade Bread Day: “A day for the family to remember and enjoy the making, baking and eating of nutritious homemade bread.” (Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, page 552) While the intent was probably to encourage people to prepare yeast breads, I think quick breads should qualify as well … especially since I only had enough time to bake a quick bread this morning, rather than waiting for dough to rise!

My son Jeremy and I are celebrating this festive day not only with new colored lights in front of our house, replacing the burnt-out white ones, but also with a beautiful loaf of Pumpkin Spice Bread topped with Orange-Honey Butter.

Between the pumpkin and the applesauce and the spices in this recipe, it's a perfect food for Fall. Serve it next week at Thanksgiving, or bring some in to the office to win friends among your co-workers, or eat it simply because it's both delicious and good for you. As big a fan as I am of yeast breads -- and particularly of baking them myself -- there is just something wonderful about the speed with which you can mix a few ingredients together for a quick bread, warm the house both physically and with a fabulous aroma, and then enjoy a treat whenever a craving strikes. From start-to-finish, this took just 1 hour; and it takes only a whopping 30 seconds or so to mix together the Orange-Honey Butter that is not necessary, but which really adds a special touch ….

Pumpkin Spice Bread

2 eggs 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup smooth applesauce 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup flour 3/4 cup whole wheat flour finely grated zest of 1 orange

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 8”x4” glass loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, butter, applesauce and pumpkin; stir in remaining ingredients, and pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Orange-Honey Butter

1/4 cup butter, softened finely grated zest of 1 orange 2 tablespoons honey

Stir all ingredients together.

Mary Bilyeu has won or placed in more than 60 cooking contests and writes about her adventures as she tries to win prizes, feeds hungry teenagers and other loved ones, and generally just has fun in the kitchen. The phrase "You Should Only Be Happy" (written in Hebrew on the stone pictured next to the blog's title) comes from Deuteronomy 16:15, and is a wish for all her readers as they cook along with her ... may you always be happy here!

You can contact Mary at yentamary@gmail.com.