November in September

Hello you guys! How are you all???  I sure hope well.  Last Sunday I was in the mood for pumpkin chocolate chip bread so I made some and it actually turned out pretty good.  So here is the recipe.....

I got it from allrecipes.com

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Rated: Submitted By: Star Pooley Photo By: Allrecipes Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour Ready In: 1 Hour 30 Minutes Servings: 36

"This spicy pumpkin bread dotted with mini chocolate chips makes a fun holiday treat."

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups white sugar 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 1 cup vegetable oil 2/3 cup water 4 eggs 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 1 pound size coffee cans, or three 9x5 inch loaf pans.
2.	In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Fill cans 1/2 to 3/4 full.
3.	Bake for 1 hour, or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Cool on wire racks before removing from cans or pans.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2010 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 9/22/2010

Just a few things..... First I know it's a lot of sugar.  I bet you could substitute with applesauce or something like for at least some of it or just not put that much in.  Also I only made half of the recipe and used 8 by 4 pans and actually only cooked it for 45 min and it came out perfect.  So your ovens may be different.  


So as I made the bread, I watched Home Alone 2 and felt like it was November or late October.  I was super sad for summer to end but it made me get excited for fall with Halloween and just all of the fun activities that fall brings.  I also was probably trying to trick myself in wishing it was November because I would be that much closer to having our little one come and for Drew to come home.  I have about 10 more weeks!  I tell you what- I can't wait to have my old self back again.  Not that i am not loving having our baby girl grow inside of me but I went to Target tonight and I was like.... really?  can I just buy a normal shirt or pants that will fit me!  Okay I am just complaining because pregnancy really is the most amazing thing and I am so excited for all of you to go through it but there are sometimes where you are like....okay I am done!  Anyways....  Well I hope all is well and I miss you all!


much love


Rach

CHICAGWA

We just got back from visiting Brad's brother/sister-in-law in Chicago and it was AMAZING!!  Les, I was thinking of Marianne while we were there and imagining how sad she must've been to leave!  I thought it was the coolest city.  Steve and Mares live right in the heart of it all too so it was way fun.  We stood on the glass plank at the top of Sears Tower (intense), we went to a cool art museum, we saw the musical "Billie Elliot" (has anyone seen that?), we rode the swings and ferris wheel at Navy Pier, we went to a Cubs game, we walked along the beach (so cool that they also have a beach in that city!), and ate a ton of yummy food!  Sadly we didn't go to Oprah... that was the only thing we missed out on, but it looked so fun to have a baby in the city and it made me excited for you Laura and Rach!  You will have a blast once you get all settled and situated.  You need to post some pics of baby Ethan by the way!  He is so adorable.  And I'm sure you have so much free time on your hands right now Laur :)  I'll have to post the ones I took.  Anyway... this is awkward to end... enjoy the pics I guess!