Foodie Friday (Fall Bread Baking)

My dad grows pumpkins and everything seems to be pumpkin flavored these days so I tried this out. Plus, I've added my mom's awesome sourdough bread and my favorite banana nut bread! I know everybody wants to be gluten free but sometimes you just gotta have some bread! 

 

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Courtesy of Pillsbury

1 can of Pumpkin

4 eggs

3/4 c. butter

4 cups of all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/8 c. miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp  nutmeg

1 tsp salt

2 1/8 cups sugar

2 Tbsp pecans

1/2 cup water

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of two 8X4 loaf pans.

Next, mix dry ingredients and set aside.

Then in a large bowl beat sugar and butter with mixer until creamy. Next add eggs, water and can of pumpkin on low speed.

Add nuts and chips.

 

Bake for 1 hour 5 mins to 1 hour 15 mins.

Cool for 1 1/2 hours.

 

I have always loved my mom's sourdough bread. I usually make it for Christmas happies for Paul's coworkers. When I make a pot of soup and if I have time, I love making this bread! You don't have to feed the starter for days.

 

Sourdough Bread

Starter:

1 c. warm water

3/4 c. sugar

1 pkg. of yeast

3 T. of potato flakes

Bread:

6 c. bread flour

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. oil

1 c. starter

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 c. warm water

Make starter and let it sit in a closed container for 1 1/2 hours until smells sour.

Mix sugar, oil, salt and water together. Add starter. Stir in two cups of flour at a time. Place in greased bowl to rise in a warm place. When doubled in size, about four hours, knock down and knead. Divide into at least two loaves. Let rise again until doubled in size. Bake at 350 until brown.

 

Banana Nut Bread

1/2 c self-rising flour

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, beaten

3 med. bananas, mashed

2 cups flour

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts

 

Combine all ingredients and pour in loaf pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 mins and then 350 degrees for 35-40 mins.

 

Being a coach's wife is hard but you've got to embrace it...

I follow several blogs written by coach's wives and there was a guest post on The Football Wife and it just made me so unbelievable sad. The wife talks about the resentment she felt about her husband coaching but she also discusses how she has dealt with it. I wanted to tell her -- you are missing out.

From the moment we set foot on Ethel High School's campus, I've totally embraced my role as a coach's wife even more so than I did at South Pontotoc. There are some great and rewarding moments and moments when you have to stop, take a deep breath and pray to God. We love them like they were our own children.

I've baked cookies, cleaned the field house, washed jerseys at our house and shed many happy and sad tears over the years and it's all because I've embraced the team and the coaches as my family. You take care of your family and support your family.

I've embraced that my husband isn't going to be home much and there will be many nights when his supper waits for him in the microwave. Sometimes, that's hard but I also know all the pressure he puts on himself and how hard the players and coaches work and that takes time. Every year it's an adjustment.

I've embraced that fact that we aren't going to have many true friends because of Paul's coaching. With the exception of the coaches and their wives and several teachers, we've got a small tight inner circle and I'd rather have five great friends than  several hundred "good" ones.

There is probably one thing I won't ever embrace or except and that's the critics. Win or lose, there is always someone out there that has their opinion about how Paul coaches. I know how hard he works, how much work he brings home, how many hours are put into each week...not to mention the devotions he leads on Friday mornings, the counseling his gives and how in a lot of cases, he's the only father figure some of those players have.

For nearly 10 years, I've either been the coach's girlfriend, fiancée or wife and I wouldn't trade where I've spent those Friday nights for anything in the world. Cause you see, my heart lies on that field.

I'm finally done with PUMPKINS!

I've pretty much been on the go the last two week of October as I've been traveling to Rolling Fork to work at my parents' pumpkin patch, Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, to not only work on the weekends but also to assist with the school field trips during the week. It's really been a great month and I've finally caught up with my sleep. Our school groups were awesome and I enjoyed every minute of their pumpkin patch visit. Plus, I got to see some old friends and some family.
 Yes, I've seen every one of Paul's football games too.

 Just an afternoon at Farmer Jim's!

 Landry and her pumpkin!

 

Educating school children on the life cycle of a pumpkin. 

October is always a WILD RIDE!

Most of last week was spend in spent in "The DELTA," helping my parents get ready for the opening weekend of Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze. Everything was a little bit behind. We opened on Saturday to the public and Sunday we were closed due to the rain. We were able finish setting up the our new store Sunday afternoon. Also, I got to see some family and make it back for the Paul's football game.

1. Being a Farm Hand is hard work but I got to take in some beautiful sights! It's also a great workout! I've lost 5 pounds!

2. Eating at the Onward Store with some cousins, who later visited the patch! It's just up the road from Rolling Fork and is the site of where Teddy Roosevelt didn't shoot the bear and how we all have come to know the "Teddy Bear." Rolling Fork holds the Great Delta Bear Affair on October 26. Lots of activities.

3. Landry dances at Farmer's Grocery to the live Blues Music after a hard Saturday at pumpkin patch. She never slows down!

4. We love our new store at the Patch. So proud of our building and Jason is haunting it a little early this year. Our haunted maze is October 26.

5. Took some awesome photos Saturday. Can't share yet as they are a SURPRISE! I wish I could do photos all the time and get paid. It's so much fun.

Ethel Homecoming is this Friday! Can't wait to share photos and my thoughts on being a coach's wife! Hopefully, that will be before November.

Getting to know you...getting to know all about you...

1. What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown?
Paul and I have lived in Kosciusko for 7 years but I still consider my hometown, Rolling Fork, in the Delta, my "home, home." In addition to visiting my family and church family, I love to ride with the windows rolled down and cruise the wide open flat land, eat a  Rolling Fork original "Chuck's Burger or Chicken Strip Basket, do a little shopping at The Green Apple, The Shoppe (which has lots of local and MS made items), and Deep Delta Drugs and Gifts, and just chill out with my family. We've also got several fabulous murals painted in town and several chainsaw carved 8-plus feet tall wooden bears around town that I enjoy photographing.
2. What is the best vacation spot in Mississippi?
Growing up so close to Vicksburg, I think I took the history for granted. You can have a unique shopping experience Downtown near the water front, locally owned restaurants including several B&Bs and of course there is the history -- the military park.
Next I would have to say Natchez. My parents have been twice and they've enjoyed several historical tours and shopping and eating at Fat Mama's for the weekend. Paul and I are going one day.
3. Tell us about the most fun date night idea in Mississippi.
Paul and I started dating in the middle of his football season about 10 years ago, so "fun" for us was just being together. We went to several MSU football games (we are both graduates) and dinner at Harvey's afterwards.
This may not be in MS but the Saturday morning his football season was completely over, he took me to Graceland (I'm an Elvis nut) and we did the complete tour and got souvenirs. We still laugh about how it rained and rained during our tour and we got soaked.
4. What is one fun fact that very few people know about you?
I'm left-handed and that makes me one of the chosen few to be in my "right mind" because the left side of our body is controlled by the right side of our brain.
5. Who is your favorite sports team (if you have one) and how did it start?
My Dad went to MSU and my parents lived right off campus for a semester after they were married so I was born to be a bulldog! By 6th grade, I would watch MSU football games with my dad with the sound turned down and Jack Cristal on the radio. My dad always watched the New Orleans Saints, no matter how much they lost back in the day and I even had a New Orleans Saints football of my very own.
6. What are your top three “Best Eats” in Mississippi?
1. Rusty's in Vickburg -- On the water and fresh seafood is flown in daily.
2. Little Dooey's in Starkville -- BBQ staple and I love their chicken strips. There seafood is good and I just love the atmosphere.
3. Onward Store in Onward -- It's the only landmark in the town that is where Teddy Roosevelt didn't shoot the bear while on a hunt. Recently remodeled with the history on display. Variety of food and I know the chef personally and he can dish it out. Variety of seafood, steaks, sandwich plates and daily lunch specials. Hamburgers and the Delta staple -- Tamales.
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see Paul and I with a child (biological or otherwise) and he will be retired from football but we will still go to football games on Friday nights. We will continue growing our antique business. I can see maybe an antique jewelry line in my future as well. I want to be at a good health weight which has been a constant struggle with me for my entire life.
8. If you could choose an actress to play you in real life, who would you choose and why?
Well, I don't think my life is that interesting but if someone wanted to tackle the role of me as the coach's wife then I guess I would pick Lost's Evangeline Lilly because she's about my age, came coloring and freckled. :)
9. What is a southern tradition you and your family have? (Note: Get your guest posts on “Traditions” ready for December!)
10. List 5 things on your Bucket List you hope to do before you die.
1. Fly on an airplane and go to someplace fabulous like Europe.  I'm afraid of heights and that would be a major deal.
2. Take my parents and immediate family on vacation. Growing up we went on vacation twice and I would like the chance to do that with them again. I'm thinking Disney.
3. Write a book. Not sure if it would be coach's wife related, a children's book or even a cook book.
4. Speak a foreign language. After four semesters of college Spanish, I can't speak hardly anything.
5. I just really can't think of a thing. My life is pretty good. :)

Getting ready for Football Friday -- Recipes

With the addition of the new field house last year, we finally had a place where our coaching family could gather after the games. It's also a great blessing for the players to have a place that is safe, clean and really nice. The team is really proud of the facility and so are the coaches. Here's what we were dealing with before.

Inside the new field house last year, with the coaches and the 2012 seniors.

Anyway, onto the recipes.

Tuzzi Dip
1 lb. of breakfast sausage, cooked, crumbled and drained (I've used turkey, pork and deer breakfast sausge before)
1 can of RoTel
2 blocks of cream chees (full fat, 1/3 less fat, fat free -- all work fine).

After cooking and draining the sausage, add room temperature cream cheese and RoTel in a boiler and mix and melt well. Place dip in crockpot on warm and serve with a heavy corn chip.

Rolo Brownies
2 rolls of Rolls, remove foil and place in a bowl in the refrigerator
1 brownie mix, prepare per instructions

In a mini-muffin pan, poor brownie mix and cook per instructions. After removing from the oven, press rolos (small side down) into the center. Wait until they are completely cooled before removing.

Yesterday, I bought a $1 brownie mix pouch and a $1 bag of Rolo minnies. It made about 16 brownie bites.

Five on Friday...Randomness

Hooray for Friday!

1. Paul's birthday was Thursday and we've been celebrating all week. We had catfish and fixins' with cupcakes for dessert. However, he's been getting his "favorite things" in brown paper packages tied up with string. Also, we had movie night with popcorn and Redbox DVDs on Tuesday and I decorated the dining room for his birthday.

2. I tried a new product this week from one of my Birch Boxes. I love getting samples and trying new stuff.  Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls was just that soft curls and it didn't make my hair limp. However, this gel was kind of thing and I wasn't cracked up about the scent. I will tell you that I love my Deva Curl products. They are awesome!

3. One of my favorite TV shows of all time is on Amazon Prime -- Friday Nigh Lights. If you've ever wanted to know what the life of a high school football coach, it's pretty dang close. Hopefully, I will be doing a fun blog on fall TV soon.

4. Thankful for girl talk! I had a surprise visitor at the antique mall while I was working yesterday. One of Paul's former students and my friend of the same name -- Leslie stopped by. As much as a love my husband and my bff, sometimes it's nice to have a girl to talk too. Leslies RULE!

5. My sweet niece has the hand, foot, and mouth virus. It's only on her feet right now and since my mom is off today, she's watching her. This is a photo from our first home game at Ethel. Grana and Paw Paw brought her to see me and Uncle Paul. She loved the football field, the lights and the band. Her mama made her shirt for the special occasion.