Feeling Domestic

Thanks to Catherine (she always helps me up the ante) I've been feeling domestic lately and have been crafting a bit.  Here are a couple of projects I've completed:

Halloween wreath for the front door. Here's the tutorial for this one: http://www.modabakeshop.com/2009/11/fabric-wreath.html.

Coffee filter wreath (so cheap...total cost $5)...never mind the messy pantry behind...the wreath is meant to disguise that. :) Here's the link to the tutorial (http://www.centsiblesavings.com/2010/09/decor-on-dime-my-new-favorite-wreath.html).

I'm also working on a couple of other projects that I'll post when I finish.

And here are a couple of YUMMO fall recipes I've tried and loved.

Zucchini Bread

2 cups white whole wheat flour (I prefer King Arthur brand)
1 cup 100% whole wheat flour (I prefer King Arthur brand)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

6 egg whites

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups grated zucchini

Add chocolate chips (or nuts) if you like (I did in one loaf and not in the other)

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini until well combined. Add chocolate chips if desired. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Pumpkin Bread of Muffins (This is said to be the Great Harvest recipe)
2 1/2 cups white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour
3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
16 oz cooked or canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten lightly
2/3 cup water
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I left the chips out because I frosted them -- see recipe below)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two (9x5 inch) loaf pans or three (8x4 inch) loaf pan or use muffins tins and cups.  Mix flours, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together in a large bowl; set aside.
Mix pumpkin, oil, eggs, and 2/3 cup water together and stir into dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Place batter in prepared pans. Bake 60 or 70 minutes if using loafs or 35 minutes for muffins or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and then frost if you'd like using this recipe.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix ingredients and frost bread or muffins.