Pumpkin Muffins

Today I made Pumpkin Bread and Muffins. I have several left over cans of Pumpkin from Thanksgiving.
I know...its Spring, but there is nothing like warm muffins anytime of the year, and this is what I had on hand.

My 6 year old walked into the kitchen, nose first... "mmmmm mommy what is that cooking? It smells soooo yummy!" I said Pumpkin muffins and every few min he asked "Is it done yet?" This was after he ate 4 pieces of homemade pizza!
Here is my version:

Pumpkin Bread

1 15 oz can Pumpkin
5 egg whites
3/4 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
2 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp finely ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cups raisins*

*you can also add some orange zest or 1/3 cup shredded carrots or 1 mashed banana

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine the pumpkin, egg whites, applesauce, oil, water and sugar.
Mix until well blended.
In a seperate bowl, combine rest of dry ingredients with whisk.
Stir the dry ingredients into pumpkin mix until just blended.
Mix in raisins
Spray pans with PAM w flour or grease with butter
Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon on bottom.
Pour into 2 loaf pans, OR
Pour into muffin pans.
If using Muffin pans, bake 20 - 25 min or until knife inserted comes out clean.
If using loaf pans bake 45-50 min or until knife inserted comes out clean.
Cool and eat.
Yumm!

Storing Food Safely

I am always forgetting how long food can be safely stored for, and have probably tossed a few things that were still OK to eat. And probably eaten food that shouldn't of been.
So while looking up how long to store the cheese I just opened, I came across some guidelines. I am posting all of the ones I found. This will make it so much easier for me in the future! Although I still have some questions, like once opened and refrigerated, how long! I will update the info as I find out.

PANTRY ITEMS

Baking powder/Baking Soda 18 months Keep in airtight container after opening
Bouillon cubes, granules 1 year
Cake mixes 1 year
Canned food (store bought) 1 year
Cereal Check package date Keep in airtight container after opening
Chocolate-baking 1 year Keep in cool place
Coconut 1 year Refrigerate opened bags
Coffee -fresh ground 2-3 weeks Refrigerate or Freeze
Flour - all purpose 15 months
Flour - Whole Wheat 6 months Refrigerate or freeze during warm weather
Fruit - dried 6 months Refrigerate after opening
Gelatin 18 months Keep in dry place
Herbs - dried 1 year Keep in cool dark place. Refrigerate Red Spices
Honey 1 year
James, jellies 1 year Refrigerate after opening
Molasses 2 years
Nonfat dry milk powder 6 months Keep in airtight container after opening
Olive Oil 1 year Keep in tightly closed bottle away from heat and light
Pasta - dried 1 year Keep in airtight container after opening
Pasta - cooked 1 week Keep in airtight container in refrigerator
Peanut butter 6 months Refrigerate during warm weather
Pudding mixes 1 year
Rice - white Indefinite Keep in airtight container in a cool, dry place
Rice - brown ????
Salad dressings 6 months Refrigerate after opening
Shortening 8 months Store in Cool dark place
Sugar - brown 4 months Keep in airtight container after opening
Sugar - white 2 years Keep in airtight container after opening
Syrups - corn, maple, flavored 1 year Refrigerate Maple after opening
Vegetable Oil 1 year Keep in a tightly capped bottle away from heat and light
Yeast - active dry Check package date Refrigerate during warm weather

REFRIGERATED AND FROZEN

Fresh Meats Refrigerator Freezer
Chops - lamb 3 - 5 days 4-6 months
Chops - pork 3 - 5 days 4 - 6 months
Ground 1 - 2 days 3 - 4 months
Roasts - beef 3 - 5 days 6 - 12 months
Roasts - pork, veal 3 - 5 days 4 - 6 months
Roasts - lamb 3 - 5 days 4 - 6 months
Sausage 1 - 2 days 1 - 2 months
Steaks 3 - 5 days 6 - 12 months
Stew Meat 1- 2 days 3 - 4 months
Cooked Meats
Cooked meat, meat dishes 3 - 4 days 2 - 3 months
Processed Meats
Bacon 1 week* 1 - 2 months
Frankfurters 1 week* 1 - 2 months
Ham (fully cooked half) 3 - 5 days 1 - 2 months
Luncheon meats 3 - 5 days* 1 - 2 months
Sausage (smoked) 1 week 1 - 2 months
*dates apply to opened vacuum-sealed packages. Unopened vacuum-sealed packages can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or until the "use by" or "sell by" date expires.
Fresh Poultry
Chicken/Turkey (whole) 1 - 2 days 1 year
Chicken pieces 1 - 2 days 9 months
Duck and Goose (whole) 1 - 2 days 1 year
Turkey pieces 1 - 2 days 9 months
Cooked Poultry
Covered with broth or gravy 1 - 2 days 6 months
Pieces not in broth or gravy 3 - 4 days 4 months
Cooked Casseroles 1 - 2 days 4 - 6 months
Fish 1 - 2 days 3 - 6 months
Eggs
Whites 2 - 4 days 1 year
Whole (fresh) 3 weeks Do not freeze
yolks 2 - 4 days 1 year
Cheese
Cottage 5 days Do not freeze
Hard 3 - 4 months 6 months
Soft 2 weeks 4 months
Ice Cream cant refrigerate 1 - 3 months
Butter, margarine 1 month 3 - 6 months
Vegetables
Corn (fresh) 1-2 days (wrap tightly in plastic) OR shuck, give 15 min ice-water bath mixed with 1 drop lemon juice 2 drops Clorox bleach (per one gallon H2O). Put in freezer bag and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. (this comes from Alton Browns Corn Episode. I however will never KNOWINGLY put bleach in my families food, I would rather buy it the day or two before I use it rather than put bleach in it)