Saturday, October 1, 2016

Happy Fall??? Really?

Happy Fall Y'all!!!  I'm seeing it everywhere.  I can't say I'm happy about it.  Dried corn & soybeans means harvest and hopefully happy farmers.  Changing leaves means the summer I love so much has come and gone AGAIN!  I enjoy "sweatshirt weather".  It just isn't long enough.  Every year I go into this season a little grumpy, complaining, and sad.

It's Fall 2016.  There's enough grumbling and complaining with presidental candidates, violence against one another, and general unrest on our own soil.  If nothing else, I can at least take charge of my own attitude.

If you are like me and begrudgingly accept Fall, maybe you could adapt my 2016 Fall Philosophies.

SEE FALL - Every year it seems the colors change so quickly and are gone.  No matter what, this year, 2016, will be the year we drive the countryside to simply admire the colors, harvest, and the BEAUTIFUL FALL!

SMELL FALL - Fall can mean allergies for some but I can at least enjoy a spicy, cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, clove smell in my own home.  For me that means diffusing Young Living Essential Oils.  For others, that might mean your favorite candle burning or on a warmer.  BREATHE  FALL!

FEEL FALL - Walks on a crisp cool day aren't really something I enjoy.  It's the cool part that just sends me into a tizzy.  I do have a coat, gloves, scarf, and a hat.  I can and will use it to get out and step on the crisp colorful leaves that line the sidewalk.  I will enjoy the walk without the summer bugs!  Ahhhh......that's a joyful thought of NO BUG FALL! (except for spiders!)

EAT FALL -  For me, I enjoy baking.  It's relaxing to me.  My body seems to like high blood sugar, so the two don't necessarily go hand in hand.  However, I'm allowing myself pumpkin, cider, hot chocolate.....all those things that make my taste buds happy and just scream YUM.....FALL

I had planned on starting today with a week of pumpkin cooking.  I like pumpkin.  It's a joy I can easily attach myself to for Fall.  I say I planned to start today, but I inadvertently started yesterday by making pumpkin bread muffins.  Today I have pumpkin butter started in the crock pot so I can make pumpkin rolls.

I'll share a little joy with this easy Pumpkin Bread recipe.  Given to us many years ago by friends in Indiana.  I've been making it for at least 18 years.  Happy Fall Y'all!

Coca Cola Pumpkin Bread
3 Cup Sugar
4 Eggs Beaten
1 Cup Oil
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
2/3 Cup Coca Cola
2 tsp Soda
3 1/2 Cup flour
2 Cup Canned Pumpkin

In a large bowl, mix the sugar, eggs, oil, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cola.  Add pumpkin and mix well.  Stir in flour and soda.  Place in well greased loaf pans.  Bake 350 degree for 1 hour. Bread Muffins:  I use muffin liners and bake 18-20 minutes.