Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Williams Sonoma Orange Spice Pumpkin Bread

This time of year, I am always looking to try new pumpkin recipes. I recently came across an AH-MAZING recipe from the Williams Sonoma website for pumpkin bread. This is the second time I have made it, but I forgot to buy an orange at the grocery store for the zest. Still turned out great though. There is also a glaze included in the recipe, which I didn't make because I don't like the extra sugar. I think this will be a go-to for every fall.













For the bread:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
10 Tbs. (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. finely chopped orange zest
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup pumpkin puree

Directions:
Have all the ingredients at room temperature.

Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 350°F. Grease a pumpkin loaf pan.

To make the bread, over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and orange zest on medium speed until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and pumpkin puree and beat until incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture in two additions just until smooth.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the top springs back when touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes.

Recipe from Williams-sonoma.com

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Recents

Happy Saturday! Today is going to be such a busy day for Hubs and I. First, he wants to go to the Fiat dealership to see if he can trade in his 500 for a black automatic.. Or see when the Abarth comes out. Right now he has a gray manual, which he is getting really tired of driving. After that we are off to the in-laws to get the Mariner all cleaned up and ready to sell. Then I get to study for the rest of the day as I have 2 exams on Tuesday. What fun. Hopefully I can get a lot reviewed tonight so that I can relax a little tomorrow. :)

Decided to stock up on Christmas candles from Bath & Body Works. Can't wait to burn these, they smell YUMMM.


Recent OPI purchases. Suzi takes the wheel, uh oh roll down the window, warm and fozzie, and rally pretty pink.

Got all of these China Glaze on sale for 3.99 at Ulta! Super shimmery and way prettier in person. Ahoy, light house, and white cap.

This is Essie A-list. Gorgeous red, but a little patchy and had to use 3 coats.

My baby boy. Why do kitties ALWAYS look so perfectly snuggled when they sleep? I want to squeeze him! <3

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

New car! :)

For a while now husband and I have been thinking about getting me a new car, as my 2006 Mercury Mariner is starting to show its age. Now that hubs is a direct employee at Chrysler, we get pretty great discounts. I had my mind made up about getting a Jeep Liberty.. But when we got to the dealership, I saw a black on black Chrysler 200 Limited, and decided I wanted that instead. This car was a LOT nicer than I expected. I test drove it and we ended up buying it that night. So excited, I really love it! :D

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Currently loving: Navy

I think navy is such a great color for fall. Always a classic. Lately I'm loving it paired with orange and red. All images via pinterest


Friday, October 21, 2011

Five Things Friday

My angel child, Philbert, has the best kitty profile! He thinks he owns our bed. This is where he spends most of his time either snoozing or looking out the window. I have to take a lint roller to my {white} duvet cover daily. I can always tell where he had been laying, lol.


My favorite wedding picture in my favorite frame. I looooove it. I bought it on sale from Macy's.


I bought these peegee {?} hydrangeas from farmers market literally weeks ago. They dried up so pretty that I decided to cut them short and put them in a smaller vase. I know they are dead, but I thought it would look weird with no water.


My new iPhone case came in the mail the other day. I love it! Although, I feel like it would look better on a black one instead {I have white}.


As much as I love dark nail polish this time of year, I was craving something feminine. I opted for a color I hadn't used yet, Opi's Passion. It did not disappoint. :)


Happy weekend! :D

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Wedding Pictures :)

Just wanted to post a few of my favorite shots from the wedding. I really, really love the black and white pictures! Very happy with the way they all turned out. :)It rained most of the day, but it didn't get to me one bit. I feel like it actually kept me calm, Lol. It was especially nice during the ceremony and you could hear the rain outside. Many people said it's good luck when it rains anyway! I don't think the day could have been better. :D



















Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Birthday Lust List

My golden birthday is coming up, I'll be 27 on November 27th! I really like the age I am at right now.. I definitely wouldn't want to be 21 again. A while back, husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I hadn't really thought of it until this morning while sitting in class, bored. So Hermes came to mind. I've always loved the classic look of their bracelets. I did a little research to find out which ones I liked best, then emailed them off to hubs. This is what I came up with. :) love, love, love!