Boredom Break

I was within a couple loads of being caught up on laundry when an aunt brought like seven bags of clothes for me to go through…not that I’m ungrateful.

{Sigh}. 

In the meantime, I added some worship videos on the sidebar.  “Awesome God” is on my active list for the day.  I have NO IDEA what rap Kirk Franklin has going on in the beginning of that…just block it or jam or whatever you tend to do during rap you can’t understand…then clean house like mad to the rest of it.  Talk about a lift!

I added a bunch of others to my VodPod but haven’t looked at the videos yet.  They will be my “half-time break” from laundry. 

For now, unearthing my daughter’s closet and trying to plan a short-cut for supper.  Home-made cornbread, pre-cooked beans, country ham, and mac & cheese, I think.  I ate a turkey sandwich for lunch and that is long gone…I’m dreaming about a second “World’s Famous Chocolate” candy bar at the moment.  {whew}.  Only one per day, please.  Fifty candy bars, two kids…that gives me a three months supply.  YA’LL HELP A WOMAN OUT!

They sold all the caramel before I got one.  There is just something in the world wrong with that, bloggites.  Very.  Wrong.

Well, yesterday I ran Daisy and did eight minute abs for my exercise.  I think I’m going to have to, say, re-shingle the house to wear off calories from here on out with these candy bars in the house.  And I can, too, shingle, baby.  I surely can.  Getting the shingles on the roof is a little tough, but after that, I’m good.  Only the house doesn’t need shingles, so that exercise program is out the window.  Darn it. 

God has just blessed me with so much rest this week… I’m getting bored and lonely I’m so refreshed.  Thank you, LORD!    I can’t wait for company tomorrow and a party on Saturday!  I went across the street to a yard sale yesterday?  I got a new blanket just like I wanted for our bed…brand new, it looks.  It’s just a woven cotton tan blanket, but for $4.00.  I’m all over that.  I also found two pictures for my front room to put in a hole, framed and matted matching flower prints, which I happen to love, for $15.00.  Thank you, Lord!   I also bought a huge wooden paper clip thingy which makes a great recipe holder.  It can hold our party book up off the bar.  I’ll put up a pic later.  I also found a really cool seasonal sign for the yard brand new for $5.00.  I just had me so much fun it was crazy. 

My husband is still working on his apreciation of my bringing more junk home, but he’ll come around soon.

I’m on Psalm 121.  I lost my list, so I have no idea how far I’m behind.  Need.  To.  Find.  List.  {working.  very.  hard.}

Well, the vaccum needs me apparently, to run.  That thing is so needy and codependant. 

Until my next “I’m bored” break…adios, bloggites!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread or Muffins

I put some of the best bread in my mouth this week.  It is delicious.

I’ll be honest with you, I don’t usually care for “pumpkin” anything…it’s just twangy and rick.  But mix it bitter sweet chocolate chips?  I made myself personally two cups of my own coffee just to commemorate that moment appropriately.  I nearly ate the whole loaf in like three days, I kid you not.  My KIDS even tried and look forward to it every year, eating every last morsel.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread 

Makes 3 (9×5″) loaves, or 4 Pampered Shelf 4X loaves + 9 miniloaves

INGREDIENTS:

3 1/2 Cups Flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 cups sugar

3/4 T ground nutmeg

1–15 oz can pumpkin puree

2 tsp baking soda

1 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup water

1 cup miniature semi-sweet chips (don’t add in until after you stir the flour mix good![Mag])

4 eggs

1/2 cup walnuts, optional

1 T ground cinnamon (Saigon Cinnamon was too strong for this recipe for us.  Just use the cheaper Cinnamon.)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour pans.  Set aside. 

PREPARE FLOUR mix: flour, soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt.  Set aside.

In extra large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs. Beat until smooth.  (Don’t add in the chocolate chips yet or it’s hard to get the flour lumps out.)

Blend flour slowly into the wet ingredients.

Fold in chocolate chips (and nuts, if you like them).

Pour batter into prepared loaf pans, about half full.  I’ve also made muffins.  Yum!

BAKING:  For full loaf pans, bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Pampered Chef stone 4X, about 45 minutes. 

Non-stick mini loaf pans (our fav), 25 minutes.  (The mini loaves are great because the kids love to grab them running out the door to soccer practice or school).  I think I found a nonstick pan at Wal*Mart or perhaps Kroger.

When done, loaf tops should not feel sticky or gooey,  or jiggle…there will be a golden crust.  If you start to pull one out and it’s not done, just stick it back in for 5 minutes.  Golden brown edges are okay.  Dark brown edges aren’t as good.  

Cool on wire racks before removing from pans to avoid them falling apart.  Unless you are waiting with hot coffee in hand, then just blow so you don’t burn your tongue and dig into a crumpled mess.  In that case, appearance doesn’t matter.  

FREEZING: This bread freezes well, though the crust isn’t as good as when fresh.  You can freeze a loaf or two for later.  Make early fall, defrost Thanksgiving when thinks are too crazy to be baking bread.  

STORAGE:  I wrap mine in sandwich or bread bags so you can see the bread.  They seem to get eaten better than in foil and don’t get soggy.