Sugar & Spice...

And PUMPKIN!...

That is what pumpkin bread is made of!

I am headed down to Opelika tomorrow to meet the first of our college group's, baby boy, Mr, Charles Parker Moore! I can't wait to snuggle wuggle with him! In preparation for this little journey I thought what better way to let the Moore's know how much we care about them as to bring them some goodies, just as any southern lady would do! (including wine for the new mom!) So I decided to get out the ole' Kitchen Aid mixer and whip up a few loaves of pumpkin bread! I have come a long way in my cooking over the past few years, but baking is a skill I am still trying to master. However I must say, this turned out to be a success!

Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree

1 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

31/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp ground all spice

(I used pumpkin pie spice because I had it)

1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnut or pecans)

1 tsp baking power

Directions:

1. Combine pumpkin, oil and eggs. Sift together dry ingredients. Combine the 2 mixtures, blending thoroughly.

Which will look similar to this:

2. Pour into 2 greased 9X5 inch loaf pans and bake at 300 for 1 hour.

Here is the fun part.. I went to Michael's the other day and found these cute little mini loaf pans for 60 cents a piece. So I decided to get them and then fix up a cute little bags of mini loaves to take to the Moore family as well as pass along to my neighbors.

How cute are those!?!?!?

(Ted had to have a little sample... that one will stay at the Baker's!)

I am going to wrap them in foil for extra protection then then put them in this cute little bag

Along with putting the recipe inside.

(also found these cute little fall recipe cards at Michael's... $1 for 20 of them!)

Hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making them!

Happy weekend everyone!

Wordless Wednesday...

Fall at The Baker's!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Oh the places you will go...

I love that Dr. Seuss classic and the title is the reason I have been missing in action the past few weeks! 
New Orleans to Houston to Chicago all in the past two weeks can really wear a girl out! Mixing work and play can most certainly wear a girl out! Especially this one, but they were all GREAT trips!  I can't tell you my excitement of being back home!

I love Fall and I love to be home decorating, cooking and doing any other craftiness I can get into to. One of my favorite reasons I love fall is the color change. And as much as I love the great state of Alabama there is just no comparsion to the season change that northern states get. Here are a few photos from the Chicago suburbs.

My Chicago trip was the first, of hopefully many, mother/daughter trips. There was a total of 6 of us that went and enjoyed the wonderful city of Chicago. I also incorporated a bit of work in the trip that lead me to have to rent a car which is why I have the lovely pictures of the suburbs. Let's just say that was the 1st time driving in a major city and I hope it is the last. Me and cab drivers do not get along while I am not in the back of their cabs! Geez...

After that stress was over I could continue the trip stress free and enjoy the time we all got to spend together. We enjoyed dinner at Gibson's, Gene and Georgetti's and Shaw's Crab House while there. As well as going on an architectual tour, Second City Comedy Show, hitting up a few stores, lunch at the John Hancock Buildng in the Signature Room (on the 95th floor) and most importantly having a great memory with our moms! This was my mom's 1st time to fly in 20 years!!!

The whole gang.

Mom and I at lunch at the Signature Room.

Cheers to a great trip!

View from the 95th floor!

The past few weeks have been busy, fun and exhausting. I am glad to be back in a routine and home with my lit family.

Warning: random blogs ahead... trying to catch up on all my thoughts! :-)