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Happy Helmikuu! Nurture Yourself and Create Your Own Fortune Cookie Wisdom.

Happy Helmikuu! Nurture Yourself and Create Your Own Fortune Cookie Wisdom.

The shortest month of the year, February can nevertheless be long on finding hope and joy. In the United States, it is the month of hearts, and on ...
MadeTV Double Poinsettia Barn Quilt

MadeTV Double Poinsettia Barn Quilt

      Thanks for watching my Double Poinsettia Barn Quilt segment on MadeTV! Here's a list of everything you need: 1 24 inch by 12 inch piece of ...
Hearts and Hands Stitch and Share Dolls

Hearts and Hands Stitch and Share Dolls

Hearts and Hands Stitch and Share Dolls are the dolls you make and give away. Give away with a little part of yourself that says, "I care!"
The Buzz About Busyness

The Buzz About Busyness

Scientific studies have proven that our focus becomes eroded when we remain in a perpetual state of busyness. The word busy is defined by active a...
Dutch Oven Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Dutch Oven Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Here's the pumpkin bread recipe I've been promising to share. It's a super healthy version that uses almond and oat flour. It's very moist and nutritious!

If you use a cast iron skillet like I do, be careful not to over bake. The pumpkin seeds add a light crunch, but feel free to omit them if they're not to your liking. You can eat the bread straight out of the pan with or without a bit of butter, honey, and or the cream cheese topping. It would also be great cubed and layered into a fall trifle!

BREAD

  • 1 1/4 cups almond flour, packed
  • 1 1/4 cup oat flour
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves or allspice
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1-15 oz can pumpkin puree
  • 2 large eggs 
  • 1/2 cup honey or pure maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp avocado oil or melted coconut oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (I usually double this)
  • 1 tsp lemon extract
  • 1/2 cup raw unsalted pumpkin seeds
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips, plus more for topping
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. I use a 12 inch diameter 1 inch deep cast iron skillet to bake it in; even if the skillet is well seasoned, I lightly oil it before baking. You can also use a greased 9x5 in loaf pan.
  2. Whisk together all the dry ingredients (except chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds) in a large bowl. 
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients until smooth.
  4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and the pumpkin seeds.
  5. Spoon mixture into pan. Sprinkle with the rest of the chocolate chips.
  6. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until a knife comes out almost clean. ***This is based on my gas oven using a cast iron skillet.
  7. Allow bread to cool a bit before slicing. We serve it straight from the skillet with a bit of butter and honey, or the following topping!

TOPPING

  • 3 oz less fat cream cheese
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 12 Tbsp almond or oat milk 
  1. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. Drizzle over partially cooled bread.
Flower Month 2022

Flower Month 2022

B is for Buttercup and Bachelor Button! 
Flower Month 2022

Flower Month 2022

A is for Aster...and Azalea! 
Spring Notecard Keeper

Spring Notecard Keeper

I stitched a notecard keeper for some of my new spring cards!

Hope of a Brighter Day

Hope of a Brighter Day

A good cry can wash away some of the darkness of pain and fear.
Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!

A smile is a gift you can give to others--and to yourself! Even if your heartfelt smile, given in kindness to another, is not acknowledged or retur...
The Power of Friendship

The Power of Friendship

The little things you might take for granted about yourself can be big miracles in the lives of others. You have your own unique power to touch hearts and lives for the better!
Crown Point Graphics Featured Artist

Crown Point Graphics Featured Artist

I'm so excited to be a featured artist with Crown Point Graphics! A few weeks ago, CPG publicist Amy Medhurst sat down with me (Covid/Zoom intervi...