Ken Haedrich, cookbook author, says, "Since moving to New England nearly twenty years ago, I've heated the house with wood-burning stoves. And because our big Thanksgiving gatherings put oven space at a premium, I've often pressed those stoves into backup duty. That's how steamed breads—which can be cooked on top of the stoves — came to be a regular part of our feast. This steamed pumpkin bread provides another way to bring good pumpkin flavor to the meal, too.
I also serve my special crescent rolls on the big day. One year, my kids let it be known that they wanted croissants on Thanksgiving, but that seemed like a bit more work than I could handle. Instead, I came up with these sesame crescents—croissant-like rolls with savory onion filling. I guess they did the trick, because nobody says much about croissants anymore. Plus, I can make the crescent rolls two weeks ahead and freeze them. That way, they don't take up any of that precious oven space."
Note that this bread needs to cook in an empty 28-ounce food can (such as the kind used to hold whole tomatoes).
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 1 loaf
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Generously butter 1 empty 28-ounce can. Place small rack on bottom of large pot. Pour enough water into pot to reach depth of 3 inches. Bring water to boil
Step 2
Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Stir in dates and walnuts. Whisk buttermilk, pumpkin, honey and yolk in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients. Stir just until blended. Transfer to can. Cover can with buttered foil, buttered side down. Secure foil tightly by tying kitchen string around can just below top rim.
Step 3
Place can on rack in pot; pour enough additional hot water into pot so that water level is 2/3 up sides of can. Bring water to boil. Cover pot; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until wooden skewer inserted into center of bread comes out clean, occasionally adding more hot water to pot to maintain water level, about 1 1/2 hours.
Step 4
Using tongs, transfer can to another rack. Cool 10 minutes. Remove foil. Run knife around sides of bread. Gently shake can to remove bread. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Return bread to can. Cover tightly with foil and secure with string. Store at room temperature. Steam bread in covered can on rack set over simmering water until heated through, about 15 minutes.) Cut into slices. Serve warm.
