Pumpkin Bread

So I've been assigned the task of baking gifts for all of my parent's friends and family... on the menu? Pumpkin Bread. So I came across this wonderful, and highly rated recipe on AllRecipes.com- Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread. I never had pumpkin bread before, and I never had a thing for pumpkin pie, so I never really gave it much thought... until last year.... and this year.. everything that I want to be "holiday"-ish seems to have pumpkin of some sorts in it. I overloaded on pumpkin too soon!

- Looks like a mini bakery here... haha this was like 20 minutes into cooking... it puffed up nice and big after they were done..the big loaf is well over a pound.... heftyyyyy :)

- ...and I made 2 more apple pies today to give out... this time.. no leaves.. just lattice.... I wonder how they taste? Looks like i ran into some trouble after baking it... the lattice work was nice and crisp... but then the apples got soft and deflated.. leaving a lattice bird nest dome..... haha uh yea... hope it deflates tomorrow !

Note to self... for the Pumpkin Bread : 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown, 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/4 tsp cloves , bake low in the oven, big loaf 3/4 filled will take 70 minutes, 4-minis 3/4 filled will take 60, and mini bundts 5/6 filled will take 30. Yay, no more guess work next time I do this, but let's just hope I won't have to make 1.5X the amount specified... whew.. that took way too long...it's almost like a workout every time I bake nowadays... oh well, a little workout never hurts :)

What are you thankful for?
This Thanksgiving is just like any other ones.... food on the table, family all around, and friends to spread cheer with. Why should I even complain, it's a pretty good life I live. I do whatever I want, and I have all the support in the world. So since the holidays are roaring in at full force, it's time for me to plan out my months. I have people to see who only come home for that special time of the year, and things to do. I really hope that this holiday is filled with more happiness than the usual holiday blues that have plagued me the past iono 8+ years... I'm really convinced that it's the cold weather and the fact that most of my friends are not at a short drive away...and the majority of them are actually 30+ miles away! Oh well, I'll be sure to make the most of it. What's life without friends and family? Meaningless. Happy Thanksgiving... : )

Up Next: My Thanksgiving Feast.... hahaha