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Announcing Autumn

Oct. 1, 2008 • 5:33 PM

We are announcing Autumn in our home. There's still more to be added... but here is our start from this week!

I love how decorating for the seasons stirs up certain feelings within. I always think Spring decor seems fresh and new, Summer is fun, Christmas and Winter is definately festive (and I love snowmen) but Fall is so warm and cozy. I guess it is the warm Fall colors, the baking starts and the fireplace gets tuned up!

Here are some decorations we've added around the house.

If you want to see how to make a pumpkin like the one on the far right, Click Here! Scroll down to the second pumpkin craft!

I got Fall supplies last year after Thanksgiving at super-duper discount prices and made a Fall arrangement. (I think the cornucopia ended up being 50 cents and the flower picks were 75% off! ) 

Now I got to put that out in our entryway!

Then over the weekend we made this bread, that is now my all-time favorite!....

I had brown bananas so was going to make my banana bread, a family favorite. It is a delicious bread and is so simple as it starts with a cake mix and has pudding mix in it to make it very moist. Well, when I went to the pantry, I didn't have a yellow (or white) cake mix. I think I bought chocolate instead of vanilla as we had lots of those. Anyway, I did find a pumpkin bread mix so I thought I'd substitute that mix! (...so glad I did). I basically used my Banana bread (more like a cake really) recipe and modified it. Here is the recipe (modifications below!) Sorry you can't copy & paste with my no-copy on my blog (for safety), etc. but writing it out is well worth it. (handwriting practice, right?)

Banana Bread from SchoolinRHome

1 to 2 small (over) ripe bananas

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 pkg. (4 serving size) vanilla (or banana) instant pudding

4 eggs

1 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)

Place bananas into bowl and mash. Add remaining ingredients. Blend then beat (with mixer) at medium speed for 2 minutes until well mixed. Pour into a well-greased and floured 10" tube/ bundt pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Cool in pan at least 15 minutes. Turn pan over on top of a serving plate. Allow to release from pan onto plate then finish cooling.        

* May also be baked in a 9x13" pan (for more of a cake): Bake this 50-55 minutes or use 2 loaf pans and bake 50 minutes.

Modifications: I still started with the mashed banana but instead of yellow cake mix, I used a box mix for pumpkin bread. I still used vanilla pudding mix and all the other ingredients but then also added raisins and dried cranberries with the nuts. So.. I guess it was Pumpkin Banana Bread with walnuts, raisins and cranberres but oh! it was so delicious especially once I got the pot of coffee brewed!

I hope to make some small loaves next week for the piano/sewing teachers!

Happy Autumn!

Our SNOW DAY Slideshow!

Jan. 19, 2008 • 10:19 AM

Our Snow Day Slideshow!

Having "Snow" much FUN together!

(I was there too but taking all the photos! and trying to keep gloves on the little ones!)  

We got SNOW!

Jan. 19, 2008 • 9:32 AM

Thursday brought a pretty nice snowfall!

The childen were so excited. They have been waiting for enough snow to go sledding on our big hill!

It does look so nice; the world sprinkled with powdered sugar! (Too bad it doesn't bring along the sweetness for people who need a little extra!)

I don't like being concerned about roads/traveling though. Hubby slid off the road in his car today on the way home from work (and he is an excellent driver). Thankfully he is fine and the car just has a small crack in the fender.