The Great Pumpkin (Bread)!

Hello, friends!

I added some buttons to my sidebar for links to SBI&D's Facebook page, as well as my Twitter and Pinterest. Still have lots going on behind the scenes...think new name, domain, and background/banner...but I want to get some drawings and commissions done first before I unleash the beast!

So! BodyPump 78 release was yesterday. Overall, I am a fan!

Here is the new tracklist:


Warmup: Saturday – Basshunter
Squats: Beautiful Monster (Damn-R Remix) – Mick Lion
Chest: Sweet Child O’ Mine – Swade
Back: Tonight Is The Night 2K10 (Extended Mix) – Raindropz! vs Le Click
Triceps: Yeah 3x – Chris Brown
Biceps: Raise Your Glass – Pink
Lunges: Firework (Klub Smasherz Remix) – Galaxy Surfers
Shoulders: Welcome To Africa (Short Cut) – Paffendorf
Abs: Please Don’t Go – Mike Posner
Cooldown: Just A Dream – Fire & Ice
Alternate Biceps: Escape Me – Tiesto feat. CC Sheffield


....that "Alternate Biceps?" That was our "surprise" towards the end of class. A bonus track if you will. And let me tell you, biceps are by FAR the hardest tracks for me. TWO bicep tracks? Owwwwch. Totally my weakest, I plan on fixing that.


The lunge track was full of squats and lunges...my legs were shaking at the end! Really good one (except for the fact that I cannot STAND the song anymore...Firework, go awayyyy).


And the ab track was my favorite, as usual. That is my strongest, yet this track worked us pretty hard. Plus, I love the song. I also really like the Tiesto song for the alternate biceps.

I was sad that I didn't have any cash on me and I felt ridiculous using a credit card to buy a drink (not that I haven't done that before...), but the gym has $1 off shakes all week (it is Open House)....and they have PUMPKIN!!! You better bet I will get in on that at some point this week.

Speaking of pumpkin, I present to you, the BEST pumpkin bread....ever.

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The Great Pumpkin Bread!

(Peanuts reference? Anyone? ....anyone?)

Ingredients:


3 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 whole clove, chopped (optional)
4 eggs
3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
1 can of pumpkin (15 oz)
1 cup white chocolate chips (the secret ingredient!)


Directions:


Grease & flour 2 loaf pans. 


In a bowl, stir together flour, soda, salt, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped clove; set aside.


Cream eggs, sugar, & oil together. Add water to the mix, and then the dry ingredients.


Add the pumpkin, and then the white chocolate chips. Mix well.


Pour into loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until done.




I am not a baker; I usually eyeball ingredients, and that does not make for great baked goods. I am too impatient and think my eyeballs are as good as measuring tools, and that is not always so. However, I adapted this from a recipe my mom found in her recipe stash (who wrote this? You have really nice handwriting, Mystery Person!), adding in the oats, clove, and the white chocolate chips. These chips make for the most moist bread ever (sorry, Allie, I know you hate the word "moist")...they bake into the bread and you don't really see them, but they definitely up the moist (sorry again) factor. This stuff is great out of the oven, but even better in the days after as the bread sits and all of the flavors mingle.


Serve it with a glass of milk and you are all set! Or use it in breakfast bowls...I find any possible way to eat this multiple times a day until it is all gone. Addicting.

Also, while I am on this pumpkin tangent, I highly suggest this baby:

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I tried one this weekend in Philly (thanks, Riz!), and the second I find this in a store, I just may buy out their stock. My favorite pumpkin ale to date.

"New Plant" Update:

Oh yeah, and an update on "New Plant" (still no name yet...I need to get on that):

Well....he's seen better days. What is wrong with me? Perhaps it was the wasp I buried in the dirt the day I brought New Plant in to work. I fed him a heaping mug of water today, hopefully that will perk him up.

Off to the new release of BodyCombat tonight...I'm exciteeeeed!

xoxoxo