Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

If you can recall a few of my previous posts, I really like to bookmark pumpkin recipes. I had the afternoon free yesterday and had the itch to bake. I've come into the habit of baking fresh goods every week (especially when the weather gets colder) and our Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies were out. I came across this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread and was sold.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups canned or cooked pumpkin
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter. Gradually add sugar, eggs and pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture and blend well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Pour into a greased and floured 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until loaf tests done. Cool on a wire rack. 

I omitted the walnuts and used pecans. It was what I had on hand. I also did not have ground cloves or ground ginger so I doubled the other spices (as well as the amount of chocolate chips!). It was perfect. It's best served warm, so heat up it in the microwave for a snack when you come home from work! That's what I just did, anyway. :)

Menu Plan Monday

I'm going to try and stretch our grocery budget this week and use what we already have on hand for this week's menu plan. We've spent so much on groceries these past two months, it's ridiculous!

• Cheeseburgers (already have ground beef, buns, and cheese)

• Pork Tenderloin with Sauteed Apples (have apples & pork)

• Alaskan Baked Salmon with Quinoa (salmon, quinoa, check)

• Chicken Parmesan (chicken, mozzarella cheese, check) 

•  Crispy Panko Chicken with Corn Salad (chicken, corn, check)

• Cheese Tortellini (pasta check)

What are some creative ways you use to stretch your grocery budget? 

Dance the Night Away. . .

This weekend came early! Thursday night was the official start of our weekend. The birthday dinner that was set for Monday moved over to Thursday night. The main course was beef brisket, which was d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s. Sorry, no pictures, but I did make these brownies for dessert.

Friday night was Fall Ball!

We ate, danced, and ate. It was a lot of fun. I love any excuse to dress up.


Saturday we went to another pumpkin patch.

And got four more pumpkins...

No, these are not all of ours. We went with a group of friends! I'm not that insane...
We came home and I made a big pot of chicken chili. Mmm. Perfect for a fall night.

Tonight I will probably make Shrimp Scampi since I didn't get to it before. As for the rest of the afternoon...I plan on being lazy, reading my new book, possibly taking a nap.

I'm ready for Thanksgiving break!

Recent Bookmarks

I've been bookmarking apple/pumpkin recipes like a mad woman. I have a serious Fall baking problem. Remember this post? All pumpkin except for those chocolate chip cookies! But don't worry. This post has only one pumpkin recipe. 

Mexican Chicken Casserole

How good does this look! I love any kind of Mexican food.

Pumpkin Streusel Bars

Yes, this is the pumpkin recipe. Come on, can you blame me!!

Sugar Cookie Bars

I'd really like to make these and decorate them for Halloween.

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies could potentially be a dessert for Thanksgiving.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Panini

This sandwich looks SO GOOD!

Chili

Can you believe I've never made chili before!? We're from Florida...we don't feel the desire to make soups or chili's! It's always HOT!

What have you bookmarked recently?

Menu Plan Monday

This week's menu is a bit short, with Monday and Friday night taken care of. Monday is a friend's birthday dinner and Friday is the medical school's Fall Ball (which I am so excited about!). Hubby and I chose the steak option when we RSVP'ed. We don't eat much steak. But that's not the only reason I'm excited. A chance to dress up and dance with my hubby? Can't pass that up. :)

Last week's menu was followed through pretty well, 4 out of 5 were made. The highlight was definitely the Beef Dip Sandwiches, which will reappear on the menu quite often, we just loved them so much!

Sadly, no baking was done this weekend. With all those donuts we ate that might actually be a good thing. But don't you worry, there's bound to be some treats made this upcoming weekend for our pumpkin carving party!

Here's our menu for the week, in no particular order.

• Apple Smothered Pork Chops (gotta use up those apples!)
• Baked Ziti
• Spring Chicken Rolls 
• Shrimp Scampi
• Cheeseburgers 

Have a great week!