Product Review: Hefty E Z Foil Loaf Pans-- for Perfect Christmas Gift Baking

One of my favorite things about the holidays is baking...I love to bake cakes, cookies and pies...and I think giving a homemade baked gift is something special, at least if the person receiving it, enjoys the goodies I give them...My Doctor is especially fond of my Rum Cake and Pumpkin Bread so I usually bring both to the office a few days before Christmas.

Both are a big hit with a few other people I know but I find the Pumpkin breads easier to give and even wrap when I bake them in Hefty EX Foil Loaf Pans.

These pans are disposable aluminum and come in just the right sizes for my gift giving purposes. I usually use two sizes depending on who I am going to give the finished product to...when I make a gift basket I use the smaller pan since I add other items to the basket...

These smaller pans come in packages of 5 and are 5-3/4" x 3-1/4" x 2". The other size I use is 8" x 3-3/4" x 2-1/2". and comes in a 3 pack, sometimes they come with clear lids but I can not always find those packages...In any case these pans are terrific you can use them over again if you wish since the wash very well in a dishwasher or you can just dispose of them when the cake or bread is gone, no mess, no fuss. What I like the best is that they keep their shape while baking and when being wrapped later on..A big plus in my recipe book.

And of course I always bake the Pumpkin breads for my daughters and one or two for my hubby and me...the smell of the spices coming from the oven on the day I bake is always the sign of the holiday season in my house, and when I am very ambitious I bake two batches and freeze a few for unexpected gift giving or whatever suits my fancy...for in my opinion, "nothing says lovin like something from the oven"

I thought I would share my Pumpkin Bread recipe to any and all who might be reading this article...The recipe will make 4 loaves in the larger pan with a little left over for a mini pan and a taste treat for yourself when they cool should you so desire to dig in

Ingredients:

4 cups sugar
1- 29 ounce can pumpkin, plain, not pie filling.
3 eggs
1-cup vegetable oil...I use Canola
5 cups unbleached flour
1 Tablespoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1-½ teaspoons cloves
1-teaspoon salt
2 cups coarsely chopped dates or raisins ...I use a cup of each
2 cups chopped walnuts, optional, if you don't want to use the nuts you can double the amount of the raisins and dates

Preheat the oven to 350 F, Grease the pans with butter, oil or cooking spray..lately I've been using the flour spray.

Combine pumpkin, sugar, eggs and oil. Beat until well blended in a sturdy electric mixer. This is a big, thick batter and does need a somewhat powerful machine... Slowly blend in dry ingredients...Too fast and it will fly out of the bowl...really, I have had pumpkin splatter up to my ceiling more than once when I had the power of my mixer set to high. So remember, low speed at first then you can up the speed to medium....Mix until very well blended. Slowly stir in dates, raisins and nuts
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Pour batter into your Hefty EZ Foil Pans about 3/4 full..

Bake about one hour, until a knife can be inserted in the middle and come out clean.

If you do use one of those mini pans for the left over batter it will need to be baked for a shorter time, about 40-45 minutes..

When finished, cool for at least an hour then wrap in double heavy foil to keep them fresh and moist until time to serve or to freeze for gift giving later on in the season.

Hint: They do freeze exceptionally well, especially if you double wrap them and put in the freezer while still slightly warm..when they thaw out you wouldn't know they have been frozen..

When you are ready to give your Pumpkin Bread gift, keep the foil on but cover with red or green cellophane wrap and contrasting curling ribbon...A pretty presentation for a great tasting gift that says you care...and of course says Happy Holidays..Ho Ho ho