Pumpkin Bread Rerun

I wrote a few posts awhile back that were rather cluttered, with multiple topics. I've decided to spread them out into separate posts to make them more easily searchable. So, here's the pumpkin bread recipe from this post.

Ok, now to something a bit yummier. I made pumpkin bread today! Now, I mentioned a long time ago that I like to make jars of stuff to give people every year. The pumpkin bread was from one of those jars. I love the leftovers as much as I love the gifts! They always come in handy, and give me lots of new recipes to use. Sometimes, I'll make up extra jars during the year so that I'll have quick, easy recipes on hand. Here's a picture of the first jars I ever put together:
This one was green and yellow split pea soup. Super easy, super cheap, and makes a HUGE pot of soup. Anyway, I've had these jars of pumpkin bread in the cupboard for awhile, and the only time I ever make it is around Harvest time, if I'm assigned cakes and ale for a ritual...which...well...hasn't happened in a long while, beings that I'm very super duper extra solitary right now. Which means, I haven't made pumpkin bread in ages. I've had the jar sitting on the counter for a week, so I FINALLY went for it today! Here's the recipe:

Quick Pumpkin Bread

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. packed light brown sugar
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Layer ingredients attractively in any order in 1-quart food storage jar with tight-fitting lid. Pack ingredients down slightly before adding another layer.
2. If gifting (or if desired), cover top of jar with fabric, attach recipe tag with raffia or ribbon.

Recipe Tag:
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 c. canned pumpkin (I save and freeze my leftover Samhain pumpkin ever year, just for this recipe)
1 jar Quick Pumpkin Bread Mix

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray (I didn't have any...used olive oil, worked fine).
2. Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin until well blended. Add contents of jar; stir just until blended. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (mine took 65 minutes, but I had too much liquid in my bread...it came out fine, though). Cool in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Makes 1 loaf.

And here is the finished product:

Crocheted Slippers

I've tried making a few different kinds of slippers, and these are my favorites. I won't lie, it's because they're the easiest to make. If there's a pattern that I don't have down pat after the first two times I make something, I scrap it. How am I supposed to wiggle the pattern around, change stuff, and make it even cooler if I don't even understand the original pattern, know what I mean?

But anyhoo, I'm sitting here at Shannon's house, and in addition to starting my Harry Potter marathon, I've decided to also crochet (and I brought about 100 other things to do, too...how long did I think I was going to be here exactly? Well, I won't be bored, that's for sure!).

Before she left, Shannon handed me a bag I didn't even realize I had left here. It had a half slipper that I had been working on for the lovely lady who takes care of our furbabies when we go out of town. So, this is what I've been working on for the last hour or so. I love watching my work go from this:

To this:
It's been a good day. I just have to add ribbon and I'm done.

Homemade Envelopes

A friend of mine sent me a letter enclosed in the most gorgeous envelope the other day. I opened it up to find that it was actually a page from a calendar! Ok, I confess I've heard of this before, and I'm sure it's not a brand spankin' new thought or anything, but I've never done it, and I thought it was the coolest thing on the planet at that moment. So, I asked my friend how to do it, and I thought I'd share here with you.

Warning: I'm a tad obsessed with sunflowers.

Without further ado...so, you take a regular envelope and steam it to release the glue (it took me awhile to figure out how to do this. I actually ended up leaving the envelope on top of my cup of tea while it was steeping, resulting in an oil spot on the envelope from the essential oils in the tea...but whatever, it worked, right?

Then you pick out your subject (i.e. calendar page, scrapbook paper, picture, or whatever). I taped the envelope on, although I'd like to make a sturdier pattern out of a cereal box or something so that I can start just tracing on the paper. But this works for now:
Then, you just cut it out:
I realized after doing a few of them that it's much easier later on if you fold the two end pieces at this point, before you're finished cutting.
Then when you're done, you fold in the two side pieces, and make a really good crease:
Fold up the bottom and tape it up:
Fold down the flap, and viola, you've got some way cool envelopes!
I almost forgot to mention one of the coolest parts of making your own envelope out of calendar pages! You have the inspirational quotes leftover for scrapbooking!

Making Stuff

Another of my favorite things (definitely nearing the top of the list) is making stuff. I'm sure I'll post many, many entries about the stuff I make, and I'm really looking forward to those posts. But for now, how about if I post about my Homemade Vanilla Extract.
This picture is from the day I first put everything together. My plan was to make Vanilla Extract for the holidays this year, and give the bottles out as gifts. I usually end up making between 15-30 jars to give out. So, I bought a ton of alcohol, a huge bag of beans, 3 dozen jars...and I gave away NINE jars as gifts. Which means I have a TON left. I've researched on the internet, and Pure Vanilla Extract is pretty pricey. I've been selling bottles to friends and co-workers at rock bottom prices, and I'm so glad they're selling. It's steeped for about 3 months, and it's all ready to go.
I've heard great reviews from friends and family who have used it (from my sister in law: "Just letting ya know i cracked the lid on that Vanilla its makes some really good pancakes....kids gobbled them up like they were goin out of style....lol thank you").

Oh, and the best part? It's perpetual Vanilla! As you use it up, just keep adding vodka. Since I'm leaving the beans in the jars, it will just keep making more Vanilla Extract. So, this one bottle will last for years! It smells delicious, too.