The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ August 6th
Thoughtful Friday, and Speaking of Pumpkins ...

A little taste of fall ...

I baked pumpkin breads recently and the house smelled just like fall ...

Pumpkinbrd

If you're doing any autumn planning these days, bake yourself something spicy and warm ~ your house will smell fabulous! A slice of pumpkin bread with a cup of tea will really put you in the mood for fall thoughts.

Of course, if it's really hot where you live - it happens to be in the 70s here this week - turn the AC up a bit before you start all that baking and brewing. ;)

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

P.S. For Heather ~ My Favorite Pumpkin Bread Recipe:

Mix-and-Match Quick Bread (Frozen Assets)

  • 3 cups flour (whole wheat and white make a nice blend)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon (we play with this element ~ ginger, cloves etc.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 cups sugar (we cut this down and see very little difference)
  • 2 cups Mix-N-Match (see list below)
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla (use pure vanilla not imitation)
  • 1 cup chopped nuts or seeds (we leave these out)

Sift together dry ingredients. In separate bowl, beat eggs; add oil and sugar; cream together. Stir in Mix-N-Match and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix well. Stir in nuts. Spoon into two well-greased loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 1 hour. When cool, wrap bread in foil; label and freeze. Makes 2 loaves.

Mix-N-Match (one of more of the following to equal 2 cups) *we've used this ingredient before

  • Apples, grated or chopped*
  • Applesauce*
  • Apricots
  • Bananas, mashed or chopped*
  • Berries*
  • Carrots, cooked and mashed or grated*
  • Cherries
  • Coconut
  • Cranberries, dry or raw, chopped*
  • Dates or figs, pitted and finely chopped*
  • Lemon, 1/2 cup juice
  • Marmalade (omit one cup sugar)*
  • Mincemeat
  • Oranges, chopped
  • Orange juice, 1/2 cup juice
  • Peaches, fresh or canned, chopped* (we've also used peach butter)
  • Pears, fresh or canned, chopped* (we also like to use pearsauce)
  • Pineapple
  • Prunes, chopped
  • Pumpkin, canned* (we like fresh, cooked and mashed too)
  • Raisins*
  • Rhubarb, finely chopped (add 1/2 cup more sugar)*
  • Strawberries, well drained* (I dice them)
  • Sweet potato or yams, cooked and mashed or grated*
  • Zucchini, grated and well drained*

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