Recipe: Pumpkin Bread

My favorite season would have to be fall. I love the leaves changing colors, taking the kids to pick apples and pumpkins, and making yummy breads, applesauce, and pies. I also love how good my house smells when I am making all of my tasty treats!

Last year I came across a Pumpkin Bread recipe ... (I don't remember where I got it from, so if it's yours, sorry I didn't give you credit for it! LOL)... any whoo... it is the most delicious recipe for pumpkin bread. It almost tastes like a pumpkin pie! It is SO very good and SO very moist!

So go ahead and bake a few loaves... you won't regret it!

Pumpkin Bread

• 2 cups white sugar
• 
  
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 
  
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 
  
• 1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 
  
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 
  
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 
  
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 
  
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 
  
• 1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 9-inch loaf pans.

Mix white sugar, brown sugar, and eggs in a large bowl; stir in pumpkin and mix well. 

Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, cloves, and allspice in a bowl; add alternately with water to pumpkin mixture. 

Pour into prepared loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center 

comes out clean, 60 to 65 minutes. 

Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Enjoy!

Elizabeth

Deal of the Week: Get FREE SHIPPING!!! - 9/10-9/14

Get FREE SHIPPING** when you order ANY size pumpkin or apple beanie this week (9/10 thru 9/14)

*Photo courtesy of J.Lynn Imagery

Both the pumpkin and apple beanies come in sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, toddler, & child.

*Photo courtesy of J.Lynn Imagery

To receive FREE SHIPPING:
1.  Head on over to my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/softandsweetboutique
2.  Pick out an apple or pumpkin beanie ( or two :) and add to your cart.
3.  At checkout enter code "FALLFS"**

**Coupon code "FALLFS"  only applies to free shipping on APPLE or PUMPKIN beanies purchased from Soft & Sweet Boutique's etsy shop. This code DOES NOT apply to any other items in the shop. Free shipping is only valid on orders in the continental US. **

If you are outside the US and wish to place an order I do have a coupon code for you as well! You can use code "20OFF" to receive 20% off  your apple or pumpkin beanie order :)

Thanks for being such awesome customers!

Elizabeth

Bean Leaf Craft Project

If you have kids, then you know how hard it is to keep them busy during the day. Now that school has started that is no longer a problem for many of you. But this is a great project for the weekend or for anyone who home schools.

Next time they come to you with those dreaded words " I'm BORED", break out this craft. It not only will keep them busy for a while but will also give you some beautiful fall leaf art to decorate your home with!

You can find the instructions and templates for this craft via All Kids Network.

Happy Crafting!

Elizabeth

Magic Circle Crochet Tutorial

As I have been crocheting I have been seeing more and more people are writing patterns with a "magic circle" start vs the traditonal way. I have been asked how you do the magic circle and I can show someone how to do it, but I can't explain it very well. 

I came across this youtube video a while back. This lady does a wonderful job explaining it, so just watch this if you'd like to learn how to do the "magic circle"!

Have a great day!

Elizabeth

Work In Progress (WIP) Wednesday

This week my current work in progress (WIP) is a counted cross stitch birth record I started for my 2nd child.

I actually started this project before she was born (over 2 years ago) and never finished it. I had no time after  we got home from the hospital to work on it and eventually it just ended up sitting in a cabinet. I came across it when I was cleaning out said cabinet and decided it was time I finished it for her!

(^ no I am not a slob.. I do keep my house clean but this is a....junk closet....so it's ok to only clean those out every 2 years right?? :P)

Most of the cross stitch was done already but I did have a few more things to finish: do the black outlining and stitch the words. I have been working on that the past few days and hope to finish it this week. I really dislike sewing of any kind, so I don't know why I even started the thing..lol.

Recipe: Vanilla Almond Granola

One of my favorite things to do (other than crochet :) is bake and cook delicious food for my family. I came across a vanilla granola recipe a few months ago and tweaked it a little. Here is the recipe for the granola I make for my family. I have 2 kids..one 7 year old and one 2 year old and they both get excited when they see me in the kitchen making this home made granola!

Vanilla Almond Granola

4 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup, packed brown sugar

1/4 t. salt

1/8 t. cinnamon

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup honey

2 T. sugar 

1 T. almond extract

3 T. vanilla extract 

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Lightly spray a large cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

Mix the oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan, combine the oil, honey, and sugar. Simmer over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Pour the hot liquid over your dry ingredients and mix well.

Spread the granola on your prepared baking sheet and bake 20-30 minutes, or until lightly golden.

This granola can be stored for up to two weeks in an air tight container or 6 months in the freezer.

**Added bonus: When this is baking it will make your house smell AMAZING! :D**

Enjoy!

Elizabeth

SHOP OF THE WEEK 9/4

Shop of the week is the Ohio Crochet Lady, Monica Marks!

She not only makes beautiful crochet and knit hats, scarves, and fingerless gloves, but she also sells some ADORABLE crochet patterns as well! If you haven't already checked out her shop, head on over there this week to browse all of her goodies! Make sure to let her know Soft & Sweet Boutique sent you!

Ohio Crochet Lady Facebook Page

Ohio Crochet Lady Etsy Shop


Thanks for helping spread the love! <3

Elizabeth