Pumpkin cinnamon swirl bread

I love cinnamon swirl bread and I love pumpkin so I just had to try this yummy bread! It was just as yummy as I imagined it! The only thing I recommend is to not pull it out of the oven to soon thinking it is done lol... I should of left mine in the oven just a little longer but my family didn't complain and they loved it!


Pumpkin cinnamon swirl bread


Ingredients:

1/2 cup mile
 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1/2 cup warm water + 1 teaspoon sugar
1/3 sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups bread flour
1 1/4 to 1 3/4 all purpose flour

Filling:

Pumkin butter (I used trader joes pumpkin butter)
1/2 cup brown sugat
5 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions:

Heat the milk and butter together until the butter is melted . Cool until lukewarm

In the bowl of a standing mixer, pour in the warm water, teaspoon of sugar, and yeast. Stir together with the paddle mixer and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Add the eggs and sugar and mix again until eggs are mixed in.

Add the salt, milk mixture, and 2 cups of bread flour. Mix at medium speed for about 1 minute.
switch to the dough hook or use a wooden spoon and add 1 1/4 cup of flour, mixing again and adding more flour if needed. If the dough is sticking to the bowl you can add up to another 1/2 cup of flour.

Turn the dough out onto a clean counter and knead a little bit more flour if needed. Lightly oil a large bowl and add the dough, cover an allow the dough to rise for 2 1/2 hours.

Roll the dough onto a floured surface into a 18 x 8 inch rectangle, spread pumpkin butter over the dough, sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar. Starting lengthwise roll the dough closed and pinch the ends closed. Place the bread seam side down into greased bread pan. Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 hours.

Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes. Let cool for 45 min

Chickens really are some of the best backyard pets

Yes, I'm writing a post about my chickens! Yes, I have become the crazy chicken lady! haha but I love it!! It all started last Christmas when I got the best gift ever!! My parents and Sis built me the best chicken coop! Link here if you want to see more of the best coop ever!

We ended up getting 4 baby pullet chicks the second week of May, two Plymouth rocks and two Easter eggers.  Top left is Lovely, top right is Pocahontas, bottom left Pepper and bottom right Liberty.

Instantly Justin and I feel in love with them and there cuteness! I knew raising chicks would be a fun adventure but I didn't realize how fun and I'm so happy Justin loves it as much as I do!

Since having the coop I treated the wood with a stain treatment and added a sign and planter, added some metal to the top of the run for some more shelter from the weather and made some nesting boxes. I'll defiantly be adding more metal signs!

They grow up fast!! They loved moving into the coop.

  

Two weeks ago we got our first egg and it was so eggciting!! 

Since then all four have started laying and they each have there own color of egg which I love! I can tell who is laying and who isn't. On average we have been getting 3 eggs  a day! 

If any one of you have been on the fence about getting chickens I recommend getting a few and giving it a try! I'm so glad we did! Now I'm wanting a bigger coop so I can get more hahaha!

My cooking adventures ~ Bacon cheddar chowder

Its the weekend and I thought I would share this yummy chowder recipe, it is sooo good! I made it this past week and my kids raved about it and said it was the best soup ever.

Ingredients:

1 12 oz pkg bacon, chopped

2-3 celery ribs, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 onion, diced

1 garlic glove minced

6-8 potatoes, peeled and cubed

32 oz chicken broth

3 tbsp. butter

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cup whole milk

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

Place bacon in a large soup pot and cook until crisp. Remove bacon and drain off bacon grease 

except for 1/4 cup leave in pot.
Add celery,carrot,onion,garlic and potatoes to the bacon grease and cook on low for about 15 min. Add chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are softened, stirring occasionally.
Place butter in saucepan over medium heat, whisk in flour. Add milk slowly, while whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and continue stirring until mixture thickens.
Stir cream mixture into the potato mixture. Stir in cheese and bacon. Salt and pepper to taste.

Inside my makeup drawer and my faves

I thought I would share a peek into my makeup drawer... I have a lot of products in there but only a few are my fave that I use on a daily basis... so I thought I would share my fave products I can't live without!

First off I start with Garnier Skin renew bb cream, I have tried other bb creams but this one is my fave I don't even have to use a foundation with it... but I do use a 2-in-1 concealer and highlighter under my eyes.  For my powder, bronzer and blush I use Physicians formula. For my eyes I got Urban decay naked 2, naked 3 and the basics and I'm addicted its the only shadow I use now. Any one who loves eyeliner as much as I do needs to try Lorac front of the line pro, you can get it at ulta for around $25, I love, love, love it! I love how skinny the tip is and how effortless and easy it goes on, I don't like most liquid eyeliners so that says a lot. last but not least is Mascara... currently I'm using Benefits they're real and CK One and both are great.

DIY Makeup brush jar

DIY makeup brush jar... the possibilities are endless. All it takes is a jar and some spray paint.... and like I said the possibilities are endless because there are so many different colors you can choose from there is even glitter paint... you can add ribbon or bows for even more decoration. It didn't cost me anything I already had the supplies at home and its a simple project.

Healthy Super Bowl appetizer

Yippie the Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl.... AGAIN!!!! If you can't tell I'm super excited!! I'm already planning what I'm going to make for the family to snack on while we are watching the game.... so this weekend I tried this healthy dip and it was a hit!

Ingredients:

2 cans white beans
1/2 jar of the roasted red peppers
2-3 gloves roasted garlic
1 tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper

Instructions:

First I roasted my garlic in the oven for about 30 min, then I added everything to my food processor and gave it a whirl until everything was mixed well, scoop it all into a container and put in refrigerator and let it sit for a few hrs or overnight. Serve with corn chips or pita crackers

This has been a great week for me, I already can cross some things off on my to do list for the year. Got my yearly check-up out of the way, got my hair cut and it feels wonderful! I've decided I'm getting my haircut a lot more often! Started back at the gym and it actually feels good to have sore abs. Hopefully this next week will be another good week, going to work on some more goals :) God is good! Go seahawks!!