Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

Monday, September 13, 2010

A Great Weekend

This weekend I had a great time. Why? I massaged the economy! And the best thing of all, I found stuff! I am not usually so lucky to find stuff. I'm a bad shopper, unless there are racks of all the same stuff. I feel overwhelmed by thrift stores and the like. Hubby is always so good at finding things, so I usually send him in first and he will text me if he sees anything I might be interested in. And that is exactly what happened this time. I dropped him off at "Ross" and went shopping elsewhere. He called and said "You're going to want to get over here. They have some of the pumpkins that you love." I finished up my shopping really quick and scooted right on over there.

And looky here. Can you all see what I bought? Orange was my color that night! I know you can't miss those cauldron pumpkins. Who cares that I already have 2. The big one was only $18.99 and the little one was $11.99. Who can pass that up! And the sheet set, a walloping $30, discounted! I don't know if I will use it in the normal fashion or if I cut it up into a quilt. Either way, I needed it. I had a lot of fun buying orange. I may be hiding a love for that color and am suppressing it. But not for the next couple of months!

Now that Hubby and I are will the only ones I cook for, on a regular basis, I've decided to start making all our bread. I really do love to cook and bake. I just don't like being fat. So it's really hard to do any baking without eating it all. These days I only bake if I know I can feed it to someone else. But I love to bake! There was a compromise, bake bread. I know what I'm eating if I make it myself and I can't help but think my bread may be lower in calories. This time I decide to bake them in loaf pans. I've found that it's really difficult to make sandwiches out of the artisan loafs. Even if it is easier to just roll and fold it on a pizza stone. But I'm really happy with the way they look and taste, coming out of the loaf pans.

I've made 2 different kinds this weekend. A light wheat bread, you know, one that is not so heavy that you can use it as a doorstop. And a pumpkin wheat loaf, the darker one on the left. Now the wheat loaf is beautiful, light and soft. When they first come out of the oven, their crust is oh-so crisp and chewy. I love it! Now the pumpkin wheat is just the best! Chewy, light and moist. So this brings me to another problem. Did any one you know that there was a pumpkin shortage last year? Well I didn't. And now it's coming to get me. There is no canned pumpkin puree to be found! I use pumpkin in many things and now I may have to go without! And I just discovered this recipe and now I'm going to have to go without this wonderful bread! What's a girl to do?
I may have to plant my own pumpkin patch. And I will have to start baking or roasting pumpkins. Now I just need to find some pumpkins. There seems to be a delay in the pumpkin shipment in my area. Or something. Maybe it's just too soon. Either way I just wanted you all to know that any canned pumpkin that you have is precious. We may have to start paying a Kings Ransom for our canned pumpkin. There was talk at the grocery stores that we may not have any for Thanksgiving. What would Thanksgiving be without pumpkin pie? It would be against my religion, that's what it would be!
So guard that pumpkin with your life and I be back for more tomorrow.
Take care, Brandie
P.S Anyone looking to clean our you pantry and needing to get rid of any pumpkin, send me an e-mail and I'll gladly adopt your cans. This may prevent me from raiding local pumpkin patches late at night.

4 comments:

Diane H said...

Whoa! Love your orange purchases! What's a "Ross"? I am now remembering about the pumpkin shortage, oh oh! What about using squash puree? They are all from the same family. Think I'm going to 'knead' that bread recipe, Brandie. Quick check of the pantry - only one can of pumpkin!!!

Sue-Anne said...

Glad you had a great day shopping, love all your purchases.

Your bread looks divine Brandie. We can always get fresh pumpkin here, wish I could send you some. I have never seen pumpkin in a can before, sounds interesting.

Lori said...

What fun finds!! Great hubby!!

The bread sounds wonderful, but I'd be in big trouble if I baked my own.

debbie m said...

We have the same problem here with baking for 2. a few years ago I bought a book called Small Batch Baking by Debby Nakos. The recipes are all from scratch and serve 2 to 4. Cakes, pies, tarts, breads, most anything you can think of. She calls for baking many of the cakes in cans, but since the plastic can lining issue I use a 5" spring form pan.
I heard about the pumpkin shortage last year...and then saw hundreds if not thousands of pumpkins left in fields after harvest last year. There was no pumpkin shortage in southern Maryland last fall. I think it's all hype to freak us out and make us hoard. It's not hard to make your own from fresh, and that coming from a non-cook, a serious non cook.
Your bread is lovely, makes my mouth water :o)