Fall Bucket List

Pumpkin Bread Crumble Recipe

Nevermind that LA is still in 90 degree weather, I will not be deterred from fall baking! There's no fighting the pumpkin, and on one fateful afternoon after I opened this season's first can of pumpkin puree, a pumpkin bread was born (and all of the leftover puree was eagerly embraced by Preston, yay). Pumpkin bread is one of those warm, comforting treats that you need to balance with a cup of rich, black coffee on a fall morning, and your day will instantly be made better. Promise. 

Since the crumble is already so sweet and decadent, I didn't want the bread to be oversaturated with sweetness and went lightly on the sugar. It was still moist and flavorful as ever!

Yields: 6-8 thick slices

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Pumpkin Bread Ingredients

2 C. Flour 

1 tsp. Baking Soda 

1 tsp. Baking Powder 

1/2 tsp. Salt  

2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg

1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice 

1/2 C.  Brown Sugar, Packed

1 C. Pumpkin Puree 

1 Egg

1/4 C. Milk 

1/2 C. Coconut Oil 

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract 

Crumble Ingredients 

3 Tbsp. Flour

3 Tbsp. Granulated sugar

3 Tbsp. Brown sugar

1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Tbsp. Butter

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a loaf pan and then set aside. 

2. In one bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients (flour, spices, sugar, baking powder, baking soda)

3. In another bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients (pumpkin puree, egg, milk, oil)

4. Add the wet ingredient bowl into the dry ingredient bowl and use a good ol' spatula to stir all of the ingredients together until moist (but do not overmix). 

5. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. 

6. Prepare the crumb topping by combining all of the crumb ingredients. Sprinkle over the bread and use your fingertips to disperse it evenly across the top. 

7. Bake for approximately half an hour (or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean). Let the bread cool completely out of the oven before cutting. If you can resist the tempting aroma, I think it only tastes more delicious with some time spent chilling in the refrigerator. Then, cut it into slices and enjoy!

Hello Fall

I hear today is the first day of fall. I knew it had to be coming. A few days ago, I even picked up bits and pieces anticipating the ushering of a new season. My pumpkin scented candle is aflame. Oversized sweaters will very soon be making appearances. But tonight... tonight I am sipping on my green tea latte (which should really be a pumpkin spice latte), hunkering into a good book, and slumbering into bed 'cause it's been a long, long day.

Labor Day Sale Roundup

I've never paid much attention to labor day weekend sales, but this year was one for the books. We went to the mall on Friday and I scored a dress and romper. On Saturday, my mom, Preston and I took the long haul over to the outlets in Massachusetts and unleashed our energy visiting every store that tickled our fancy from late afternoon until closing hours. It was good times, except that I  ended up leaving with a bundle of fall and winter clothes for my Hubs who actually cares niche about clothes.

Its tricky, you see, because the hubs is tall and lean. I am small and petite. Tall and lean means almost everything looks good on him. Small and petite means finding clothes is darn near impossible for me. It's not fair, it's not fair! But such is life.

A Very Special Spa Date

I have to say... each time I visit my parents, it breaks a heart to see the wear and tear that owning a family business (20+ years) has done to them. I see it in the lines in their faces, the calluses on their feet, their sapped energy at the end of the workday. Things are finally easier financially, but not much in any other capacity.

To get away from the daily grind, I thought it would be a nice treat to take day trips while I was home, so we got a chance to visit Lees, Boston, Lake George, downtown Albany. All of these trips were 

I also happen to know how much my mom enjoys being pampered, and I bought her a gift card to a highly reviewed spa close by for Mother's Day.  Unbeknownst to me, she's waited months for me to come home so we could go together (I should have known...) so that's what we did today!

An Introductory Post

Here it is! My little nook of the internet.

Hi blog.

I'd like to make a proper introduction, but I do detest doing things like this so I won't. This is my blog,  and I make the rules.

To make things simple, let's just pretend we know each other, and let me just tell you about what's been going on in my life.

I'm visiting my parents in Albany, New York right now. I love being here, but I miss my Hubs. His horribly long work hours coupled with the time zone difference is putting our chit-chat time to a bare minimum. Ok, bare minimum might be a slight exaggeration but it sucks a lot. How do long distance relationships even function?

To be honest, sometimes I get off the phone with him and I literally don't remember a thing we talked about. But that's not really the point, is it? For the last week, 6 month old Preston has refused to fall asleep anywhere but on top of me. I keep thinking a cushioned mattress has to be more buoyant and comfortable, but he will wail and wail until I position all of him flat on top of me. I suppose this and that are the same idea. We both just want to be comforted by what is familiar, whether it be the sound of a steady heartbeat or the voice of my beloved...

Hm. This post is taking a sad turn. Life isn't sad at all. Tomorrow is a very exciting day. My mom and I are having a ladies day (spa + shopping day trip)! I love that I get to enjoy all the things I never really have opportunities to enjoy while I'm in California with her. I love spending time with my mom, and I love that we do this kind of thing even after I've "grown up".

Ok. Now it's WAY past my bedtime. I need to give Hubs a wake up call at 8:30am so I bid you good night!