Happy Fall!
Yes, I know it isn't technically fall yet, but the as soon as Labor Day is over it's fall in my mind. Fall means changing leaves, crisper weather, and the need for all the cozy comfort food and treats. One of my favorite fall treats is pumpkin bread. I've been making this version since 2014, when a friend gave me a loaf of apple bread with streusel, and I thought it would be perfect on my pumpkin bread. Spoiler alert, it is amazing.
Pumpkin Bread Batter
1 can pumpkin puree (not pie, the regular 15 oz size pumpkin puree)
3 eggs
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla extract (I use the vanilla bean paste)
1 cup sugar
1 3/4 flour (I do 1 1/4 reg & 1/2 whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/3 cup milk
optional chocolate chips - I usually do 1/2 plain & 1 cup of chocolate chips in the remaining batter.
Mix the pumpkin, eggs, butter, vanilla & sugar until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth. Preheat oven to 350.
Once smooth pour into pans - makes 1 2lb loaf & 1 mini loaf, 2 1lb loaves, or 4 mini loaves.
Once you've poured into the desired pans, make your streusel topping.
Streusel Topping
6 TBS butter
2/3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup flour (I use whole wheat)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Hand cut together to make a crumble, or toss it in your mixer or food processor -it's such a small amount I hand cut/mixed it.
Press the streusel onto your bread batter. I really pat it on so less will fall off as it rises in the oven.
Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes for full loaves, 30 minutes for mini loaves or 20 minutes for muffins. Since all ovens cook differently I would check at 35 and 20 minutes on loaves. Once your tooth pick pulls clean you're ready to pull. Let cool about 20 minutes before popping from the pan.
Enjoy!
Quick Baking Time Guide - 350 degrees
for full loaf cook for 45 minutes
for mini loaves cook for 30 minutes
for muffins cook for 20 minutes
Happy November
November, when fall turns crisper, winter creeps in, and hearts are filled with gratitude. One way we celebrate gratitude in our family is a thankful tree; a tradition we started six years ago. What's a thankful tree? Basically, it's a way to share something we are thankful for each day. Every night at dinner, each person says something they are thankful for - no repeats allowed - and then we write it on a leaf and glue them on or thankful tree.
Each year I sketch a tree on a big sheet of paper from a craft roll (you can find it at hobby lobby, michaels, or on amazon, or from Melissa and Doug) My tree is usually about 4 feet tall.
I start sketching branches, from the top, keeping in mind that trees are naturally perfectly imperfect, so your tree should be too, don't get hung up on perfection. Just like real life - it isn't perfect, but there is still so much to be grateful for. Focusing on the million little good things makes your tree so much more perfect! I just use the Crayola Super Tips.
Once I get the branches drawn, I start adding lines to look like bark. If you check out my highlights on Instagram I talk about the process, which took about 30 minutes from cutting the paper to hanging it up.
One of my traditions is to add a heart knot with our name and year.
If you aren't a DIY fan, but like the idea of a Thankful tree, I've seen several options this year - there are several printables on Etsy, and a few premade options as well, Target is even carrying one this year. Another option is a thankful pumpkin. One of my friends gets a craft pumpkin and they write what they are thankful for on the pumpkin each night.
For the past 4 or 5 years I've bought this leaf garland, and cut it apart, but this year I discovered these cute place cards, so we'll be using both this year.
Last year I saved a lot of our leaves. As you can see, anything goes as far as what we are thankful for! Cookies, technology, friends and family, earth, puppies, nature, electricity, and quiet all made the list last year.
I love the opportunity to talk with the littles about all the things we have to be grateful for. Hearing what everyone comes up with each day is so fun, and very often funny - today we started with gravity, school, my clean room, treats, and books.
I hope your November is filled with good food, fun, family, friends, and gratitude.
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Fall = Pumpkin. I'm a big fan of pumpkin in the fall, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin seeds. There are only two ways (I know of) that I don't like pumpkin: pumpkin pie (I know, I know, it's a classic - but I can't do it - in fact, I don't like pie at all) and pumpkin soup (sorry mom). Anyway back to the good pumpkin! Today we are whipping up some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! This recipe is quick easy and yields about 5 dozen fluffy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Yummy.
The Deets
1 Cup Butter (2 sticks)
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Can Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
3 Cups Flour (I use 2 Cups Regular, 1 Cup Wheat)
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 Bag Chocolate Chips (Milk)
The How To
Cream Butter, Sugars and Eggs
Add Vanilla and Pumpkin
Add Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon and Nutmeg
Beat until Smooth
Add Chocolate Chips
Scoop onto cookie sheets (spray sheets with Pam first)
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes (may take 20 minutes depending on oven)
Enjoy a cookie or two along with your beautiful fall weather!
