Do you like Starbuck's Pumpkin bread? If you do then give this recipe a try!

I love pumpkin bread. I found out this week that my little granddaughter loves it too. She kept asking to go to starbucks so she could get a piece of their pumpkin bread.  This is my favorite recipe for pumpkin bread. About 18 years ago a neighbor baked a loaf of plum bread for our family when Emily was born.. It was out of this world.  She shared her recipe with me. This is the same recipe but I substitute whatever fruit puree that I have a taste for at the time. She uses plums found in the baby food section. You could also use applesauce, sweet potatoe, bananas, etc.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Loaf Bread

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup pumpkin puree (you could use any fruit in the baby food section)

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices, in a medium bowl. Whisk ingredients to free of any lumps and to make sure everything is mixed well. *Note for the pumpkin bread I only add the cinnamon but in plum or apple you would want to add the other spices listed above.

I used farm fresh organic eggs that my friend Marty gave me. We work together and she also lives in North Raleigh. Thank you Marty!

Then using my stand mixer, I add in eggs one at a time. Beat the eggs, both types of sugar and vanilla together in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed for about 30 seconds. Add fruit (pumpkin) and oil and mix well.

Begin to add the dry ingredients mixture into the egg mixture and only mix until ingredients are combined well. Pour the batter into a well-greased 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 loaf pan.

One secret tip that I feel is very important is to butter the pan with real butter. My Aunt Margaret taught me to save the wrappers from the sticks of butter and use those to butter your pans as needed. (don't throw those out. You get an extra use out of that butter on the wrapper).This really makes a difference. Bake for 70 minutes or until the top is dark brown. Test with a toothpick to make sure it comes out crumbfree and it is ready. Cool and sprinkle with powder sugar. You may choose to sprinkle nuts or brown sugar on top instead.

This makes a beautiful loaf and a great gift that everyone should love.

 This bread also freezes well which makes it great for making it ahead for breakfast during the week. I like to cut the slices and wrap them in a sheet of wax paper. Then put them in a ziplock freezer bag.

 If you will be freezing them longer than a few days I would also wrap a layer of foil over the wax paper for each slice. It will keep without freezer burn for over 6 months. I have had it taste just as good after a year in the freezer. The secret is in the way you wrap it. My friend Evelyn taught me this tip many years ago. She taught me so many things. She has passed away now and I miss her very much.
You could wrap this in food grade cello wrap and tie it with a pretty ribbon and you will make someone's day! Enjoy!!!

Do you like Starbuck's Pumpkin bread? If you do then give this recipe a try!

My Trader Joe's Shopping list!

I love to shop at Trader Joe’s Market. When I first shopped at Trader Joe’s it took me awhile to fall in love. It was only a matter of time that I realized that they offer the best quality and tasting food products around. I love organic products and want to purchase them but I found them much higher than the regular products. I have found the prices are very reasonable at Trader Joe’s. The best part is that I don’t have to read the labels because everything is healthy. They exclude the use of unsafe additives like hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. I have tried everything in the store (almost) in the last few years. Here is the list of my favorite items.

Trader Joe’s “Must have” shopping list: (in order by aisle in my local store in Raleigh, NC)

TJ lobster bisque (near salads in the chilled section)

TJ Tomatoe bisque (near salads in the chilled section)

TJ walnut, cranberry,spinach, goat cheese vinegrette salad pack

Produce is very reasonably priced as well. (garlic already peeled is a favorite)

Meats are nitrate and artificially hormone free (bacon, ham, beef, chicken, pork)

Bread (sour dough, whole wheat english muffins, pitas, organic hamburger & hot dog buns)

Cereal (mango granola, yogurt o’s, oatmeal, too many to name)

Organic pop tarts (all flavors)

Grits (organic in a pre-cooked roll) yummy!

Stevia canisters 6.99 (for tea and coffee, etc)

TJ green goddess dressing (oh my it is to die for)

TJ organic creamy tomatoe soup (has a pour spout)

TJ organic - ice cream(coffee), greek yogurt, butter, eggs, milk,sour cream, cream cheese, cream,butter,cheeses, are all the best quality and taste I have found

TJ fair trade organic dark roast coffee (oh the taste is fantastic) Very high quality

TJ frozen orange chicken

TJ frozen fried rice

TJ frozen fried egg plant (oh my is it good)

TJ frozen fried egg plant lasagne

TJ frozen meatballs regular size and party size (add a jar of TJ marinara to serve)

TJ frozen french onion soup ( I can’t tell you how gourmet this is. comes with cheese & croutons)

TJ frozen cinnamon rolls

TJ frozen frozen pre-cut peppers/onions and other frozen varieties of veggies

TJ frozen sweet corn

TJ frozen chocolate ganache cake (this is to die for)

TJ chocolate covered pretzles

TJ praline pecans (yummy) these sell out all the time

TJ mini cheese crackers ( like a ritz with cheese in the middle)

TJ mini peanut butter crackers (like ritz with peanut butter in the middle)

TJ thin ginger cookies (yummy) no bad stuff in these healthy cookies

TJ regular ginger cookies (small bite size with bits of candied ginger)

TJ peanut butter cups

TJ wine 2.99 all varities are very good

TJ Lemonaide (already made & ready to drink)

TJ green tea (already made)

** The baked section with fresh cakes and pies are also good. Whoopie pies are out of this world. Especially the pumpkin ones with creamcheese filling
** I will add more to this list as time goes on. You have to try this market if you have not done so. It is worth a trip if you don’t have one locally. I use to travel an hour to shop there. I would carry my insulated bags and my frozen goods would stay cold for up to 3 hours even in the summer. So I could shop when I was in that area but didn’t have to rush home.Hope this list will help you and save you time! Please leave your favorite trader joe items!

My Trader Joe's Shopping list!

Italian Pasta Sauce Yummy!

I have tried for years to make the yummy pasta sauce that my Italian Friend Olga's mother made for us for dinner years ago. I wish I had of thought to ask her for her recipe. My kids were much smaller then and they mentioned meatballs. She said that in Italy that they don't eat meatballs with spaghetti. She was a wonderful cook. I found a wonderful simple recipe for pasta sauce. I tweaked it a bit to fit my taste buds but I am going to post the original recipe as well at the bottom of the post. Give it a try. It is very good and easy to make!

Italian Simple Pasta Sauce




1 Large Can of diced tomatoes


6 tablespoons of Butter (must use real butter)


1 sweet onion


2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning

2 gloves of fresh garlic



I pureed the tomatoes with my emulsion blender. I love this thing. I purchased it about 11 years ago from HSN. Cut the root ends from the onion, peel and wash. Cut the onion in half. Put all ingredients in a crock pot. I let the ingredients cook on the high setting while I was getting ready for work. I turned the setting to low when I g0t ready to leave. It simmered and cooked all day. It was yummy!


Next time I plan to roast the onion and garlic with some eggplant and other veggies in a 425 oven for 30 minutes. Roasting vegetables is my favorite way to eat them. They are amazing. I will then puree the onion and garlic along with the tomato and cook the sauce on top of the stove in my cast iron skillet. I will cook it until it comes to a boil and then simmer for approx 45 minutes. I will serve this sauce over the pasta and topped w/roasted veggies. I plan to garnish with fresh basil. Give this pasta sauce a try. It is simple and very delicious! Let me know what you think.

 

Italian Pasta Sauce Yummy!

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

My favorite time to eat banana pudding is when it is hot. I also like chilled. I really don't enjoy it as much if it is at room temperature. I thought I would share the recipe that I use for Old Fashioned banana pudding. I use caranation evaporated milk. It does make a huge difference.

3/4 cup sugar

2 (heaping) tablespoons flour

1 cup evaoprated milk

2 egg yolks, (reserve whites for meringue)

1/2 stick butter

a pinch of salt

1 tsp pure vanilla extract (please use the best because you can't skimp here)

1 box vanilla wafers (Iuse full circle organic)

6 ripe bananas, sliced

Mix together sugar and flour in a small bowl, set aside.

Whisk egg yolks with evaporated milk and combine with the sugar/flour mixture in top of a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, a heavy sauce pan will work. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool and add vanilla. Line a dish with vanilla wafers, alternating with a layer of sliced bananas, then more wafers. I like to pour a thin layer of pudding over each layer of cookies and bananas as I am layering. If you decide to do this you will need to make a double batch. This will keep it from tasting dry.

Beat egg whites adding 4 tblsp of sugar, a pinch of cream of tarter and a teaspoon of vanilla until you get stiff peaks, and spread over layered pudding. Bake in a 350 degree oven until the top and peaks begin to get touch of golden brown. Yummy! This is great to serve for a reunion or potluck!

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding