The last couple weeks have been so jam-packed for my little family. We had two weddings, both out of town, both of us in the bridal parties, on back-to-back weekends. Things are ramping up at work, and I’m trying to log some extra hours before being on baby leave. Husby has been coaching this season, and I often forget how much time that involves. We’ve joined a couple committees at church, which bumps up the time committments. Facebook decided to change a TON of things and do some upgrades this week, which (as a social media manager) I’ve had to invest time in studying.

All such good things! Just a lot of them. And I’ve been feeling squeezed, restless, flail-y.

Today I fought for calm, and I won =) This morning, I took Nysse the dog on a long walk through the changing autumn leaves. Work did claim my late morning and early afternoon, but then I spent the rest of the afternoon listening to some favorite piano music and baking Autumn Spice Bread.


Doesn’t just the story make you cozy? I was yearning for cozy and calm and quiet. This bread, though it created an enormous mess in my kitchen and my butter was too cold and I didn’t realize the recipe called for ginger until I was typing it up here, gave me cozy and calm. The recipe is from the brand new (as in it was released two days agoGooseberry Patch Big Book of Home Cooking. Today is the last day to enter to win a copy for yourself, so scoot on over and enter now!

Autumn Spice Bread
submitted by Lisa Lepak in Suamico, WI
from the Gooseberry Patch Big Book of Home Cooking

3 1/2 c. all purpose flour

2 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
1 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. ground ginger (which I totally forgot to add. oops.)
1/2 t. ground cloves
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
2 c. canned pumpkin
4 eggs, beaten (which I forgot to do. which led me to scoop out the egg from the batter and beat.)
1 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (of which I just one cup. So I added the chips to just one loaf.)
2 c. chopped walnuts, divided (which I don’t like, so I left out.)

Grease two 9×5 loaf pans; set aside. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients (including ginger). Beat butter, sugar and pumpkin until light and fluffy {mine never got light and fluffy, but I think my butter was too cold}; blend in (beaten) eggs. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, beating at low speed with electric mixer until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and one cup walnuts. Pour into loaf pans and sprinkle with 1/2 cup walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for one to 1 1/2 hours.

Let cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pans to a wire rack. spread Spice Glaze over warm loaves. Sprinkle with remaining walnuts. Makes 2 loaves.

 Spice Glaze
1 c. powdered sugar
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cinnamon
2-3 t. whipping cream or milk

Combine dry ingredients; blend in cream or milk until mixture is desired consistency.

can’t you smell it from there?!

A big huge thanks to Gooseberry Patch for this lovely book! There are SO many delicious recipes – I just ran out of time to share them with you. Again, head over and enter to win a copy – can’t wait to see who I get to share this with!
-anna
{girlwithblog}

anna
{girl with blog}
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