Crockpot Pumpkin Bread

I usually reserve my pumpkin recipes for fall, but just because it's not fall, doesn't mean we can't enjoy a wonderful pumpkin recipe. (smile) 

 This bread recipe is one of my favorite recipes to make. It's easy, and it's so delicious! Do you like pumpkin bread? I hope your answer is yes, because I think it's one of the best sweet breads on this planet!

You don't need an oven to make this bread. NOPE! You need a crockpot. YES! A CROCKPOT! Have you ever made bread in your crockpot before? Did you even know you could? Well, before I found this recipe, I never knew you could. It was definitely a first for me! I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical, too. I mean...bread in a crockpot? Who ever heard of such a thing?

The first thing you need to make this bread is the recipe, so let me give that to you...

 You can click on any of these pictures to enlarge them, if you need to. That should make the recipe easier to read.

My crockpot is oval shaped, so a small bread pan fits into it nicely. If you have a round crockpot, maybe you could try using a round cake pan. I think that would work just fine, although you may have to split the batter between two pans. Just make sure you grease your pan(s) well.


If the paper towel part is a bit confusing, let me show you a picture...

This is a very important step, so you don't want to leave it out. What this does is keep the condensation from dripping on your bread while it's cooking. Nobody wants to eat soggy bread, right?

Now set your crockpot on high, and let your bread cook for about 2 1/2 ~ 3 hours. I usually set a timer for 2 1/2 and just keep checking it. You will know it's done when a tooth pick, or cake tester poked into the center comes out clean.

Once the bread is cooked, turn your crockpot off, unplug it, and carefully remove the pan of bread. Place the pan on a rack to cool for about 10 minutes before removing the bread.

Now here's the best part! Slice the bread and enjoy it with a cup of tea! Or maybe it's coffee you like. That works, too! (giggle)

This bread was super delicious! You probably didn't notice the loaf is already half eaten. (smile)

I hope you get the chance to try out this recipe. I promise you won't be disappointed, and if you do, I bet it'll become one of your favorites!

Blessings,
Julie

The Pantry

In the late middle ages, a pantry was where bread was kept, and any food prep associated with it was also done here. There was a head official appointed to be responsible for this room. He was called the Pantler. Can you imagine bread being so important that it needed it's own official officer? There were other rooms, as well. A room for the bacon and other meats, called the larder, and one for alcoholic beverages. This was called the buttery, because of the "butts" of barrels stored in there. Then there was another room for the cooking, also known as the kitchen.

During the Colonial American times here in the United States, pantry rooms were built in a cold north corner of the home and referred to as the "butt'ry". As time went on, these rooms evolved into being built between the dining room and the kitchen of middle class English or American homes.

Since the late 1990's, pantries have been making a comeback. Most homes today are much larger and pantries are often built, not just for charm, but also for practical or utilitarian purposes. A pantry doesn't have to be a totally separate room. It can be a small closet, cupboard, or even an area in the basement.

I love pantries. I love the nostalgia of a simpler time, and that I am somehow connecting with the past. Here are some pictures of our pantry....

 

Do you have a pantry in your home? Maybe you remember your grandmother's pantry? I hope our grandchildren remember our pantry, and all the memories we've created within it's walls. 

Blessings, 

Julie

Head over to my YouTube channel to see my "pantry makeover" video. The link is in the right hand side column.

March Keepers Meeting

We had our March Keepers of the Home meeting this week. At our last month's meeting we decided we should make a quilt together.

This is something we have never done before, but I'm thinking it will be a lot of fun. It won't be anything too big. We're thinking 12 squares, with a flower theme.  Six keepers will be embroidering 2 squares each.

We had a lot of fun picking out the designs each of us wanted to use, and once we had that part figured out, we ironed the pattern onto our fabric. This proved to be the most entertaining part for us, thanks to a very fun keeper. I'm thinking it may have been her first time using an iron. (giggle) It's a good thing she had a lot of help.

I think this is going to be a beautiful quilt. I always love when many hands come together to create something, especially the hands of friends. This quilt will hold some great memories with great friends, and that to me, will be the best part.

May God bless you with great friends in your life. I believe they make our journey that much more fun.

Blessings, 

Julie

De-cluttering

We often think about de-cluttering our homes, but how often do we think about de-cluttering our minds? They are, in my opinion, in more need of this action than our homes.

Today's world demands so much from us....family, home, jobs, school, society, and any other obligation we are attached to. This can sometimes be more taxing on us than we realize. All of these things can bog us down, put us under pressure, cause worry, stress, anxiety, or even break us at times. It can happen to any of us; including those of us who think we have it all under control. When the needle starts to head towards the red zone, we begin forgetting the little things, like the pot of water boiling on the stove, the bath water running for the kids, important dates, or the words you want to use to make your point. We become too bogged down and tired, and then autopilot turns on. Same day, different date. This is when life stops becoming so enjoyable, and you start missing all the blessings God is placing in your life. Now's the time to start de-cluttering your mind.

How do you "de-clutter" your mind, you ask? Well, let's begin here...

1. Take time for YOU  This might require getting up a few minutes earlier, but it will quickly become some of the best few minutes of your day. During this time, just sit quietly, pray, and reflect on God's blessings. You don't want to use this time to think about all the things you have on your to-do list. This needs to be a relaxing & calming time for you and your mind. Think of it as a much needed time out. Ahhh! Now don't you feel better already?

2. Journal  Write down your thoughts, whether on computer or paper. This is a great way to record your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Just jot down whatever comes to mind. Don't worry if it makes any sense. You're the only one who will see it. This may be hard to do at first, but it will get easier with time. Soon you will be penning out novels! Writing these things down relieves your mind of the burdens it's been carrying for you. We all need that!

3. Go for a walk  Take a nice walk...long or short, it doesn't matter. Use this time as an escape; a vacation without the baggage. Listen to the trees talk, the whisper of the wind, the birds joyfully singing their songs, or just focus on the sounds of your feet when they hit the ground. In doing this, you are encouraging your brain to release endorphins. This naturally boosts your mental health, and decreases your sensitivity to stress. Now tell me....who couldn't use a little of that!

4. Take a tech break  Put your phone down, turn your computer off, the t.v., and any other electronic device you may have around you. All of these things create 'mental noise' for our ears and eyes. I think we can all agree we have too much of that in our lives already. Stepping back from these things will help you engage in real life, not someone else's life, but yours. So, instead of consuming life, take the time to create it!

5. Let go  Figure out what's really important, whether in the day ahead or in your life, and let that be your main focus. We often allow ourselves to worry or stress about things that aren't really that important. All of this worrying and stressing is only depleting our energy. I once read a saying, "Worrying is like a rocking chair. It'll give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere." I like that saying. I think of it often, and find it kind of keeps me in check. Start monitoring your mind, and the thoughts that run through it. Don't be sitting in the rocking chair of worry!

I hope you try adding some, or all of these things into your daily life. We can't always control what life throws at us, but we can control how we deal with it. We set the tone for the day, by first setting the tone for our lives. Do your family, friends, and all the other people in your lives a favor, and create a better YOU!

Blessings,
Julie


Leave your comments below ♥

My New Life

MY GOODNESS! It certainly has been a while since I last posted . I hadn't realized it had been almost 3 years!! Where did the time go?? Well, let me see?? Since my last post we have added a couple more years on to our marriage . This August we will celebrate 35 years! Amazing!! Our sons have given us 3 more grandchildren, we celebrated our youngest son's wedding to his long time love . Really long time, because they have loved each other since kindergarten! I discovered Instagram & Facebook for the first time, and I started a YouTube channel! Know let me share a few photos of the newest members of our family...

MADELINE LUCY

MAGGIE SUE

MASON JAMES

ANDREW & MIRANDA

(parents of Maggie & Mason)

 JOE & I

THE WHOLE GANG!

Now aren't those babies just the sweetest?! We are SO BLESSED! God has, and continues to be very good to us, and for that our hearts are grateful!

In August of last year, I decided to start a YouTube channel . Many have asked what moved me to do this, so let me answer that question for you . About 7 years ago, a wonderful lady (Faye Henry~The Blessed Hearth) inspired me to start a women's group here in my home . I named our group "The Keeper's of the Home". In this group, we share and learn together, all things home . I have formed so many new and wonderful friendships with the ladies in our group . They are so clever, knowledgeable and full of inspiration! I guess you could say it was this group that sparked me to start my channel . I thought that if I can share with these women my love of homemaking, then why not take it further? YouTube allows me to do that! I show and share my love for cleaning, cooking, baking, organizing, decorating and even a few DIY projects . I am really enjoying the learning process of this new adventure, and it has become an amazing creative outlet for me, as well . I would love for you to check it out for yourselves . I will leave a link below . Make sure you leave me a comment telling me if you came over from this blog to visit my channel, and please subscribe . I am always looking to grow my family of "Keepers"!

I'm so glad to be back!! I've really missed you guys!

Blessings,

Julie ~ Keeper of My Home

My YouTube Channel

Instagram 
Pinterest 
Facebook

*Click on pictures to enlarge.
*Highlighted text takes you to link.



Leave your comments below ♥