Spiced Carrot-Zucchini Bread

I love to bake.  I think it's the start to finish sense of accomplishment, the yummy noises people make when eating my stuff and the OMG smells that fill the house!  I usually am able to with-hold from eating (too much) of what I make and most of it gets shared with family and friends, both Chris' and mine.

I thought I might start sharing some of my favorite recipes here.  There are so many yummo things to bake!

Today so far, I've got a zucchini bread recipe in the oven that came with my new Pampered Chef stoneware loaf pan.  I love cooking with stoneware!  So far, I've got a pizza stone and a deep-dish cooker and now the loaf pan.  Hope to add more to my collection - let me know if you need a Pampered Chef lady!  Mine ROCKS!

So, here's the recipe:

Spiced Carrot-Zucchini Bread

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 c sugar
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground cloves
3/4 c finely chopped carrots
3/4 c finely chopped zucchini
1/2 c coarsely chopped walnuts
2/3 c vegetable oil
1/2 c milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350*F  Spray bottom only of stoneware loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray
In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cloves.
Add remaining ingredients, stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Spoon batter into pan.  Bake 65-70 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove from oven; cool in pan 5 minutes.  Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove loaf to cooling rack.  Cool completely.

I will tell you the batter is really dense!  Give me about 40 more minutes and I'll let you know how yummy it is!  My house is smelling fabulous so I have high hopes!

People and their "things"

First off, get your head out of the gutter.  I'm talking about people's different quirky things that make them who they are.

Example -

One of my things is making the bed.  My darling hubby would be quite content with just a comforter on the bed.  Oh, no.  I love the whole coordinating thing!  Bedskirt (a must since I utilize that space for storage), bottom AND top sheets that coordinate with a beautiful comforter/bedspread which (yes, I am one of "those") is NOT used for sleeping.  That's what the nice pretty blanket is for!  Blankets can be washed much easier than a comforter.  Oh, and matching pillow cases on the pillows plus shams that go with the comforter which, like the comforter are NOT used!

The top sheet and blanket must be tucked in and comforter folded down neatly with the decorative pillows placed on top of the cedar chest.

Yes, I'm nutty.  But it's one of my "things!"

Another "thing" I have is the glasses in the cupboard.  Like glasses need to be lined up with like glasses.

And though my darling hubby tries, he and I just don't see eye to eye on the laundry so I just prefer to do it.  Towels must be folded a certain way, socks must be matched and drawers organized.

So, come on internet community.

What are your "things?"

Sad....

Not for me, but for my SS.

It must be really hard to be two different people.

With us, he's an energetic, video-game loving, typical 9-year old boy who adores his daddy and uncle and is constantly seeking their attention and approval. SS is only with us every other weekend so approximately 4 days/month our house is a much louder place but that's usually ok. He listens (most of the time - he is a 9 year old boy) and usually seems at peace with the arrangement at hand.

We hear from others who get to experience him when he's with his mom that he's a totally different kid. Apparently he broke the french doors in his new house shortly after they moved in. Not the kid I know.

I think he feels guilty because he misses his dad and knows there is more structure here, he's allowed to be a kid and not his mother's emotional supporter. My husband plays WITH him and doesn't just drag him from sporting event to sporting event and give him things to entertain him.

Up until about 2 (I think) years ago, it was just him and his mom. Along comes a new SF and with him a new step-brother. A younger step-brother. And in April his mom's having a baby.

My heart breaks for him. He just doesn't seem himself the closer we get to the birth of this baby.

But his mother won't ever give up, claiming she's with him all the time (ummm, no. Usually he's with my MIL or us on the weekends and even MIL's sometimes during the week.) and she would miss him soooooooo much.

I am of the opinion she'd miss the child support.

I have very little control over this aspect of my life and if you know me at all, you know how extremely difficult that is for me to handle. I have removed SS's mom from my head and haven't seen her in probably a year which is just fine with me. Out of sight, out of mind.

I do wish things were easier for SS. Right now I'm just sad for him.

Cute kid, eh?

Saturday Six!

• Yeah, I totally stole this from Mommy in Real Life! Thanks, T!
• 
  
• What’s the one thing that really annoys you?
• Incorrect grammar and spelling. I won't even text and spell something wrong!
• If it was the end of the world what be the last thing you would try to do?
• Make sure I knew everyone in my circle of people knew that I loved them very much.
• If you had the choice of designing a mobile phone what one feature would you add to it?
• Something that would prevent me from dropping it all the time! I'm definitely a clutz!
• Diamonds or pearls?
• In the immortal words of Marilyn - "Diamonds are a girl's best friend."
• Silver or gold?
• I'm a silver girl. White gold and platinum are lovely too!
• Are you at home or work?
• Home - just got back from Target.

Snow Days!

This past weekend and this week "Snowmageddon" has hit! Z and I got to stay home both Tuesday and Wednesday and had a 2 hour delay this morning.

Snow days were a HUGE deal when I was little. I grew up in North Central Indiana and it had to be like a foot of snow before LCSC would call school off. "Back in my day, we had to walk to school in 3 feet of snow without any boots!" I heard lots of stories like that today at school when people were recalling their childhood snow days! LOL

So, Z and I watched probably too much TV but it was nice to cuddle on the couch with a quilt and a nice princess movie. We also got to play outside in the snow. She and I started to make a snowman but my snow-sculpting skills are much lacking so it was more like a snow-Jabba the Hutt. She attempted to help with her little pink spade as Daddy and I shoveled, and shoveled, and shoveled.

I got a few pics Tuesday but not of our sad little snow-thing. It was just too pitiful!

More pics at my MobileMe Gallery

My tall child

It occurred to me earlier this week that Zoe has been able to reach the light switches without grabbing her stool from her room! When did that happen? I already know she's going to be taller than me. According to the pediatrician and the growth charts she's in the 90th percentile for her age in height. Chris and I must both be carrying the recessive TALL gene because neither one of us are tall at all (sorry honey, you're not) but we both have tall relatives. My grandmother was a tall woman if I remember correctly.

If she continues growing at the same rate, she'll be 5' 6 1/2" as an adult. That puts her over 2 inches taller than me and almost as tall as her father. Put a pair of heels on her and she'll be downright statuesque! If she's anything like me, she'll definitely be wearing those heels, too!

Also, her new game to play is "I'm the mom, you're the honey." Of course she only wants the fun mommy stuff, she won't fold clothes or empty the trash or anything. But it's fun watching her play - she's definitely into the cooperative play thing now. I sometimes sneak in to watch her play before she sees me at pick-up time at her school.

She's always in some sort of outfit, too. Soon as we get home, she's either got a princess dress on or a million bead necklaces. Definitely dramatic! I see lots of musicals, show choir and recitals in our future.

I love being a mom! Oh, wait. I'm the honey.

Then why am I writing lesson plans while she gets to watch Tinkerbell? Hmph.

Calling all lurkers!

My friend Sarah in MI posted that's is DELURKER DAY! As a lurker myself, I thought I might encourage all other lurkers to come on out and say what's on your mind!

Also - leave your blog so I can come visit!

A