My Take...on One of My Favorites

When I was little, my abuelita would always make pumpkin  bread. For Thanksgiving. It's so yummy! Weeks before Gabi was born, it's all I could think of. But I didn't want to bother my abuelita. So I set out, to search the internet. And I found this recipe.

Let me tell you, it was delicious! Not as good as my abuelita's bread, but pretty darn close. Yum! Did I mention that it makes 2 loaves? I'm almost 100% positive that I ate 1 and 3/4 loaves. Shhhh! We won't tell anyone. It was that good. So here's the recipe!

Spiced Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 16-ounce can solid pack pumpkin
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

How to:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. Beat sugar and oil in large bowl to blend. Mix in eggs and pumpkin. Sift flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt and baking powder into another large bowl. Stir into pumpkin mixture in 2 additions. Mix in walnuts, if desired.

Divide batter equally between prepared pans. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool 10 minutes. Using sharp knife, cut around edge of loaves. Turn loaves out onto racks and cool completely.

While my abuelita was out here visiting,she did a little baking. And I got 4 loaves of her bread. Just for me! I was over the moon with excitement! Then I told her about this recipe. She tried it out. And really liked it. But this time, she wrote down her recipe. Yay! Now we'll have plenty of pumpkin bread. My favorite fall treat!

We're Home!

In late 2003, we left. Gabe and I were off, to live out one of his dreams. I was unsure of it. We weren't just moving. We were starting a new life. One together. Our families, and most of our friends, were miles and miles away. But we had faith in each other. We left. Never looking back.

I don't think either of us, dreamt of how our next 7+ years, would turn out. Buying homes, traveling, living out dreams. Dreams that neither of us knew, that we had. It was so fun! We saw the world. Gabe performed for so many people! Spreading the joy of his music. I just loved watching him!

It was tough. We were never in one place, long enough, to set down roots. The last couple of years, had been tough. But we had each other. We saw the world. Experienced some of the most amazing things, that life has to offer! It was so much more, than either of us could dream up! We have so many memories, from our travels. Trinkets that we picked up, along the way. Things for our home. Our future. 

We knew that it wouldn't be a "forever job." We couldn't dedicate our lives to music, and traveling. We want a family. We want to be close to our families. We want to provide our children, with a stable community. We want to enjoy life. In a different way, than this lifestyle has to offer.

Today, we're home. Home for the first time, in a long time! And it feels good. Almost no one, has a clue. I've told our dear friend. She's good at keeping things quiet. Because for right now, we just want to keep things quiet and simple.

We want to enjoy a few of these beautiful sunrises. Without interruptions.We want to be together. Starting this new chapter. In a few days, we'll call our families. Meet up with friends. And truly begin our new life. But for right now, Gabe and I, are very happy. Locked up in our home. Falling back into love, with our home state.

This chapter of our lives, is going to be so different, from the last. Gabe will be working a corporate job. I'll be a housewife. Hopefully, in the next few years, God will bless us, with healthy children. Most of all, we're anxious, to spend time with the people we love.

Of course, there will be music. Lots of music. But at the same time, we get to set some roots. Begin a more stable life. Something that we saved most of our money for. Something that we've dreamt of. A more quiet, yet fulfilling life. I'm excited! I hope you enjoy the ride!