Pumpkin is one of the great foods of autumn, yet we don't use it nearly as much as other fall foods like apples. Well, here's one way to start using more pumpkin - in tasty little muffins!  This Pumpkin-Nut Muffin recipe, courtesy of Fitch Hill Inn (Hyde Park, VT) is simple and flexible.  You can use either fresh or canned pumpkin.  Give them a try - and you may want to make a double batch because not only do these muffins freeze well, they go fast!

Pumpkin-Nut Muffins

By Fitch Hill Inn

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup canned or cooked mashed pumpkin
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1/3  cup water
• 1-2/3  cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts

1. Pre-heat oven to 350º.
2. In a large bowl, mix eggs, sugar, pumpkin, oil and water.  
3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  
4. Stir dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture; mix well.  Fold in nuts.  
5. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups ½ - ¾ full.  
6. For regular-sized muffins bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done.  For jumbo-sized muffins bake for 30-35 minutes or until muffins test done.  Do not over bake.  Cool on wire rack.

Yield: 12 regular-sized muffins or 8 Jumbo-sized muffins

About Fitch Hill Inn

The Fitch Hill Inn is a six room Bed & Breakfast on over 3 acres with lovely views.  The inn is located in Hyde Park, shire town of Lamoille County, in northern Vermont, and was the farmhouse on a 100 acre farm established in 1797 by Darius & Lydia Fitch upon their marriage.  Julie & John Rohleder, innkeepers since 2003, welcome you with home-made cookies and tea, warm cider, and lemonade, in season.  The inn is a cozy retreat, with a wood stove in the living room and a parlor with TV and parlor games. A full hot breakfast, consisting of muffins, a fruit course, and a main course such as Gingerbread Waffles or John's Savory Egg Casserole are served in the dining room, which has views of the mountains. 

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