Healthy Pumpkin Bread

I LOVE all things pumpkin! I was so excited to find a healthier version of pumpkin bread in Simply in Season. Worth the time and energy for sure! Must be eaten warm, with butter....

Nutty Pumpkin Bread

1 ½ c. flour (I used white wheat)

1 ½ c. whole wheat flour

1 c. wheat germ

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 t. baking soda

1 ½ t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

½ t. nutmeg and cloves

Mix together in a large bowl and make a well.

2 ½ c. pumpkin (cooked and pureed

4 eggs (lightly beaten)

½ c. oil

½ c. pecans or other nuts

1 c. raisins or dates (David doesn’t like them so I leave them out of his loaf J )

A handful of Dark Chocolate Chips (optional but oh so tasty! :)

Add into the well and mix just until all the dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter into two greased 9 by 5 inch loaf pans (I use four mini ones. Of course, you could also make muffins too!) Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 min.

It's Genetic

He LOVES cars! Especially this JEEP. (Aren't you proud, Aunt Sharon!? :)

Looks like they're on a date!

Crusin' with Noelle

Why I Love the Fall

Crisp, cool mornings

Picking plump pumpkins

Jewel toned mums

Sipping hot cider

Fall fests

Hay rides

Bon fires

Camping with friends

Hot chili

Spiced pumpkin bread

Apple picking

Warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream

Changing leaves

Trees ablaze

Colorful Indian corn

Collecting acorns

Decorative squash & gourds

Sweet candy corn

Sticky caramel apples

Hay bales

Harvest

Falling leaves

Giving Thanks

~~~~~~~~~~~

Did I miss anything?

Inspired by my friend Jess ;)

Breakfast this Weekend?

Blueberry Coffee Cake

This is so tasty! A friend mentioned that his wife made it and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. When I asked her about it I was excited to learn it was in a cookbook I had, Simply in Season. When I made it for a larger group, I doubled the recipe and made it in a bundt pan, sprinkling the topping in the pan first.

1 c. flour (I used white/wheat)

½ c. whole wheat flour

½ c. sugar

1 T. baking powder

1 t. cinnamon

½ t salt

Combine in large mixing bowl.

1 ½ c. blueberries

1 t. lemon peel (grated, optional)

Gently fold in.

1 egg

½ cup milk

¼ c. butter (melted) or oil

Whisk together in small bowl. Add to flour mixture and stir carefully. Batter will be stiff. Spread into a greased 8 by 8 inch pan.

Topping:

1/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. whole wheat flour

1/3 c. walnuts or pecans

2 T butter

1 t. cinnamon

Mix together until crumbly and sprinkle over batter.

Bake in preheated over at 425 until top is light golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

A Father's Love

It has been such a joy to see and experience David's deep, deep love for Blaise. From the moment he delivered him, laid him me and exuberantly cried out, "It's a boy! It's a BOY!" his love has exponentially multiplied. What a beautiful gift a father's love for his son is! I am so thankful for David and the incredible father that he is.

I realized I never posted this precious picture taken on Father's Day. That led me to finding many other adorable father-son shots taken the past six months. ;)

Celebrating David's FIRST Happy Father's Day!

Love that he's a "daddy" now. It breaks David's and my heart when Blaise cries when we drop him off at work in the morning, and when he calls for his dada/daddy during the day when he's gone. :(

Days before he walked on his own!

Mmm yummy corn on the 4th of July

Fountain Play at the Botanical Garden-we're sad the free Wed night concert season has come to an end :(

B looooves it!

The children's garden is our new favorite place!

Taken in the Spring

B loves to brush his teeth with daddy

Feeding the fish at the gardens

Shaving with daddy

At the beach, sleeping in daddy's arms

incredible Captiva Sunsets!

My friend Mary said in an email the other day, " I love hearing parents talk about their little babies and how much they love them, such a picture of God's heart for us!!! " I loved that she reminded me of that-we love Blaise with such an overwhelming love, but God's love for us is even greater!!

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." 1 John 3:16