Thursday

It is Thursday already and the shop is undergoing some BIG rearranging. Hopefully with the Oktoberfest advertising and some wonderful fall specials I can get some good sales this weekend and next. I have been busy trying out new pumpkin recipes for the Pumpkin cook-off and have one to share. It turned out great and was pretty easy.

Pumpkin bread recipe with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Cook Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin purée
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
Preparation:Grease and flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin and oil.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; add pumpkin mixture. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 1 hour, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
Makes 2 loaves of pumpkin bread.

I am not quite sure if this is the one I will go with yet, I have a couple more to try over the next week before that most important decision is made LOL

Well, back to my cleaning and painting. The Dress-Me Welcome Frinds need pumpkin outfits painted!

Last minute touches

I am trying to finalize my choices for the upcoming PUMPKIN Cook-off. This is not an easy task. Last years entries were delicious and I took third place. This year I am aiming for the top. Not to be beaten by one of my granddaughters who are also entering or my daughter who once again is entering our family favorite pumpkin squares recipe. Ladies from all over town enter their favorite and best Pumpkin recipe, whether it is a cake, pie, cookie that dsoesnt matter as long as it is Pumpkin. People drop in and taste test all day and vote on their favorite. I am going to gain 10 lbs just testing to get to the final recipe LOL.

At the shop I am busy looking for some new patterns that are gingerbread men. The personalized families are painted and ready for final touches and I have just about caught up on the recent online orders. With weatherrmen calling for more snow than usual I have found a few more places to list my items online and maybe keep me busier this winter. Etsy, indiepublic and silkfair. The Dress-Me Welcome Friends are always dependable year round so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I realize that money is tight , so with my prices being reasonable and an assortment of gift ideas and home decor I am hoping to at least coast thru this winter.