Your Choose...Muffins or Cupcakes...Gluten-free Carrot Zucchini Pumpkin Raisin

I have a problem recently.  I literally just looked the pictures on my camera...of food of course...and could not remember what exactly I had made.  I could tell there was cream cheese frosting, I always remember cream cheese frosting, and there was salted caramel drizzle too.  I just couldn't remember what exactly was underneath.  So I had to go back and play a little Nancy Drew on myself.  Thank goodness for my mild obsession with Instagraming everything I bake, so I could read the caption of what was exactly in these cupcakes.  I do remember they were delicious though and that you could not tell they were gluten-free at all.  I remember I made them for a co-worker's birthday, even though she wanted just muffins, I couldn't resist making some of them cupcakes.  These cupcakes just come out so moist with great texture from the carrots, zucchini and raisins.  And do I even dare say they are not too terribly unhealthy as pumpkin is used instead of oil? Also, you could definitely add some pecans for a little crunch if you are into that sort of thing.  

In the future though, I need to remember this moment, and start getting my blogging done a little bit sooner than two months later...oops.  Enjoy!

"muffins" fresh out of the oven

Perfect for Fall...Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl Bread

How is it that sometimes the simplest things can put you in the best mood to start your day? Maybe in the middle of driving in traffic on the way to work your favorite song comes on? Maybe its just the sunlight and how it shines on the water or driving through the red, orange and yellow fall leaves.  Today was one of those days, where I wish I could just keep driving or at least maintain the "great day" through out the day at work.  Not let some of the bs that can some days sneak in from nowhere sneak in.  To just enjoy the simple things, and get the work done that has to be done, because there is another three meetings to plan next week. To maybe listen to that song that got you in a great mood a few more times that morning.  I admit...this is totally a pep talk to myself...but some days we have to give ourselves one. Other days we have to leave it to "Kid President" for a pep talk.  Don't forget though...a word from Kid President..."Create something that with make the world AWESOME!"  

Sometimes the best way for me to make my day a little better is to bake...maybe spend Saturday kneading, rolling out and baking some pumpkin cinnamon swirl bread.  I have had this recipe pinned on pinterest for a really long time, and was happy to finally get around to making it.  It turned out delicious!  Almost a cinnamon roll in bread form...with one of my co-workers even requesting that I top it with cream cheese frosting/glaze next time.  It was prefect toasted up and spread with just a little butter...or in my case fake butter, but still.  So if you have a little time, this bread is most definitely worth a try!  Enjoy!

A few more everyday things that can make a day...at least for me.

Coffee and multigrain pancakes from my favorite West Coast breakfast spot.  If I could figure out how to recreate their pancakes I would make them all of the time!