The Kindness of Strangers

I arose early yesterday morning as is my habit. (Even on days when I don't want that particular habit!) As it's darker now in the early mornings (boo hoo!) I started my run on the treadmill. I had recorded a Lifetime movie (don't judge me) the night before so figured I could just run and run. After 1 1/2 miles, I just couldn't seem to get my rhythm, so I slowed to a walk, then ran another mile, then slowed again. I don't know if the movie just wasn't up to par (what, a Lifetime movie falling short?!?) but by this time it was light enough to finish my run outside. It was a beautiful morning and the sun was getting ready to rise, so I started out in my favorite neighborhood. Just as I was getting into the change of venue, a car slowly passed me and a sweet woman leaned her head out of the window and said, "There is a large, black animal on your side of the road just ahead."

Lady, you had me at "large."

After thanking her, I did a 180 and tried to quickly come up with a different route. All routes seemed to end in the same spot I obviously didn't want to be in, so I just did a few loops. I felt really off, but at least I got to see the sunrise and some ducks out for their early morning swim. (No large, black mammals in their pond, I guess.)

I really thought that would be enough to blog about on a Monday, but then I was at the store later in the day and guess what is back?!?!?!?



I don't know if any of you have been going through pumpkin withdrawal, but our family has felt it in a big way. Pumpkin muffins and bread are how we eat breakfast at least once a week and sometimes snacks too. So of course, our favorite muffin is being served today! The original recipe came from one of these types of cookbooks:



My friend Parker refers to these as "one of those books where all the recipes require a can of hash." (She is hilarious and makes me laugh every.single.time we get together....one of God's blessings in my life:) But I digress.....

Anyway, I have tweaked this recipe to make it a wee bit healthier (less hash, more fiber!) Here it is:

Pumpkin Bread and/or Muffins

1 1/2 cups sugar (decreased from 2 2/3 cups)
2/3 cup butter (the original calls for shortening - same category as hash if you ask me!) NOTE: I did not have any on hand, but usually I will use 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup) and 1 snack size container of applesauce.
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
2 cups canned pumpkin
3 1/2 cups flour (I used 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 cups white and I threw in a little wheat germ to make myself feel better.)
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (down from 1 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (if I don't have this, I mix my own concoction of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg.)

Cream sugar and softened butter together with mixer, add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add pumpkin, mix well. Mix dry ingredients together and add, alternating with water. This recipe makes either 2 full-size loaves, about 6 mini loaves or 33 muffins (or probably a WHOLE lot of mini muffins. Bake at 350.

Full loaves - 1 hour
Small loaves - 40 minutes?
Muffins - 20 minutes
Mini muffins - check after 10

Since I had these two things.......



I whipped up a quick glaze.....(I added about 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla as well, all of this to off set the wheat germ and whole wheat flour, of course!!)



The only thing missing was a mallocreme (sp?) candy pumpkin.....and the funny thing is that I passed them up earlier in the day....that will teach me!

Well, I'm off to take a rodent-free run on the treadmill....and finish the cheesy Lifetime movie.