From My Kitchen ♥ Spiced Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Autumn greetings to you on this fine Sunday morning! I do hope you are enjoying this series thus far...there is still so much goodness to come. I've decided to mark Sundays as a special day of the week in this series. Baking and cooking are two of my passions, hobbies, loves. And I love sharing them with other folks...so that brings me to share with you how Sundays are going to be a bit special. 

Each Sunday in October, I'm going to pull aside one of my collected, beloved recipes that celebrates the flavors, scents and gathering in of autumn. These will all be recipes that you can enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee, and especially by candlelit and family or friends gathered round, with lots of laughter and chatter alongside.

What's better than chocolate and the warm spices of autumn? Well, I'm not sure...but this bread certainly would put whatever answer you came up with to a fight. This bread is so spectacularly moist and soft. Chocolate chips add a melty goodness that lasts long after the bread has cooled down, and the spices are subtle and not overpowering, offering just the right amount of warmth. As this bread bakes in the oven, your home will begin to smell all cozy and inviting, so you'll know it's time to put the kettle on. You'll surely want a cup of tea as you sit around the table waiting for the heavenly-scented bread of chocolately goodness to come out of the oven! 

And in case you're wondering, you won't even know the zucchini is in there! It's like a little hidden treasure...{{smiles}}

The sudden chill in the morning air tells me that fall has arrived. It's time to move my coziest clothes to the front of the closet and light a few of my most delicious smelling candles. Soon, dinner will be simmering on the stove all day while countless cups of tea will be sipped.

-Christen Hammons-

Spiced Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1/3 cup oil 

little less than 1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup grated zucchini

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 2/3 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 cup cocoa

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, gently whisk together the oil, sugar, eggs, zucchini, milk and vanilla. Gentle stir the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. 

Pour into a greased loaf tin and sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top for good measure. 

Bake at 325*F for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely.  

Slice, serve with coffee or tea, and enjoy!

Note: You can also freeze any bread you don't want to eat right away.

Feel free to double or triple this recipe to share with others.

And, of course, you can make these mini loaves to give as gifts, just make sure you adjust the baking time so your bread doesn't burn.

Celebrating Autumnal Bliss in the Kitchen

Many would say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. I know that for me, that is certainly true. Though the living room is also the other half of that heart, but that's another topic of discussion. {{winks}} I remember standing on a kitchen chair at the counter and helping my mom bake cookies or mix a cake batter or stir or scoop or pour when I was a wee girl. When I was fourteen, the cooking bug really bit. And it bit hard! From that point on until now, I have found tremendous joy and delight in being in the kitchen. I love making dinner for my family and serving them in that way. Seeking out and trying new recipes is always a fun adventure, and most of the time, it has some pretty tasty results.  

I am such a seasonal person. I love really delving into the different seasons of the year, whether it be with my wardrobe, music, candle scents, tea flavors, decorations, the shows or movies I watch, and yes, most certainly, with the recipes I make. I wouldn't dare make a chili or soup in July or August. For me, that just wouldn't happen! That may have something to do with the fact that it is always at least 95 degrees here with high humidity at that time of year. But, even still, I just wouldn't dare make something fit for autumn or winter right smack in the middle of summer. That's crazy talk! Ha!

Anyway, like I said, I'm a seasonal person. For many years, I would sit down in August and go through all of my cookbooks, collected recipe magazines and my numerous-volume set of notebooks full of recipes I've collected over the years. As I would thumb through each book, I would make a very long list of all the different things I wanted to make during the autumn and winter months. (I also happen to love those months with an endless love...I dream of living in a place where the seasons are full and proper with delicious, warm colors in the autumn and lots of fluffy, white snow in the winter.) Then, during the following months, slowly, but surely, I would make my way through the list, never fully completing it, but always having a blast as I tried this new recipe or made this old family favorite.

I am a firm believer in home-cooked meals, sitting around the table together, lingering long after the meal is eaten and the dishes are picked up. I believe in the love that goes into preparing a meal and in serving those we care about. Cooking is a way of showing love to those around us, and I believe that the kitchen should be a place where goodness is both tasted and seen. As I've written before, autumn is the time of gathering in, of coming home, of savouring all the many blessings that magical world holds. There is no better time to get in the kitchen than when the air gets that first chill and the leaves begin to change to brilliant shades of red, orange and gold. 

Autumn is also the season in which we celebrate Thanksgiving. Oh, I'm so grateful to be an American where we celebrate such a simple, yet blessed, holiday. Truly, a holiday in which we gather round the table with family and loved ones, sharing a meal that has been prepared with such care, detail and love, remembering all the many blessings that fill our lives, and to do so in the season when the world is afresh with beauty and reminders of beauty and goodness, is one of my most favorite things of all. 

During this October series, I will be sharing a few tea time recipes that celebrate autumn in a sweet, special way. Some of my favorites to make this time of year are Herb Roasted Chicken, Chicken Fajita Soup, Autumn Chowder (the perfect quick meal for busy days), White Chicken Chili, Rainy Day Stew, Autumn Stuffed Acorn Squash (this recipe made me fall in love with acorn squash), Heavenly Pancakes, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, Halloween Barmbrack (which has become a yearly Halloween tradition!), Hey Carrots! Cake (this has since become my mom's birthday cake of choice in October), Toffee Oat Cookies, and Perfectly Spiced Tea.  

I hope this week you find some time to enjoy your kitchen and all the autumnal bliss that is stored up in your jars of spices, cans of pumpkin, bowls of fresh apples, dutch ovens ready for hours of simmering soup, and more! 

Happy seasonal cooking, dear friends!

♥

Coming Home to Autumm

Autumn is a celebration of gathering and of golden leaves.

Leaves turn to all shades of bronze,
chestnuts carpet the dewy ground.
The weather brings cooler days and fresh misty mornings.
It marks the end of summer and a new start.
Hedgerows boast ruby fruits among spindles and spikes,
root vegetables swell and flavorsome game appears in 
butchers' windows, wholesome and plump.
Stews, roasts, and pies fill our plates.
 from "Celebrate" by Pippa Middleton

Autumn is my time. I am most radiant and full of energy when the leaves are changing and there is a ghost of change in the air.

Ah...beautiful, beautiful Autumn! How I love this season and time of year! 

It's the time when all things cozy and warm are in, and all the candles, blankets, and cups of tea are out and enjoyed. This is the time of year that seems to have people enjoying the comforts of home even more....the cool temperatures, crisp air, and blustery winds lure us inside. Evenings are spent curled up with a favorite book or crafting project, perhaps a favorite TV show or movie playing, or even some lovely music playing in the background. Candles are lit and the soft light is flickering in the room creating an inviting glow. All the ones you love and cherish are gathered around. 

 The kitchen seems to be bustling with more life than it's seen in some time. The warm scents of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are wafting in the air, tempting everyone in the house to gather 'round to see what's coming out of the oven next. Favorite soups, stews, hearty chili, muffins, breads, cakes, and pies are returning for another year. And the cider simmering on the stove top explains the numerous mugs and cinnamon sticks resting on the counter.

Outside, leaves are turning all shades of glorious color...golden yellows, burnt reds, and bright oranges. The crackling sounds you hear as you walk only mean one thing...it's about that time of year when you bring out the rakes. Hours spent out in the cool air fill you with an energy that has been lost all of summer. You are once again called into a comforting evening of family, laughter, enjoyment, and coziness. Ah, yes, this is the time of year when we are reminded of the simple pleasures that life holds. Autumns calls us home....this is where those simple pleasures are cherished, loved, enjoyed, and valued. We are reminded to be thankful. We are brought back to the place where love is planted, celebrated, and passed on. It's home....

Let's come home to Autumn! 

P.S.-- Be sure to come back later this week for an exciting announcement regarding a special October series...it's going to be splendid!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Scones

I'm back today with a marvellous recipe to share with you...

I'm not sure about you, but there are a few flavor combinations that are, to me, absolute heavenly perfection. Sweet and salty. Chocolate and mint. Cinnamon and vanilla. Strawberry and pretzel salad. And...peanut butter and chocolate. It may very well be my most favorite duo. Anytime I see a recipe that has these two ingredients as the star, I take notice and jot it down to try at some point. 

Today's scone recipe is such an awesome one! When I made these, we gave a plate to our neighbor and her peanut-butter-loving niece came over and took the whole thing home with her. She didn't even get to taste one bite! That just goes to show how delicious these little beauties are!

The peanut butter glaze is creamy and so silky smooth, paired along with the richness of the chocolate, these scones are a winner all around. Though, you may want to hide them from any peanut butter lovers, as they're sure to disappear quickly! 

♥

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Scones

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 stick of cold butter, cubed

1 egg

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add peanut butter, sour cream and vanilla. Stir to combine. If the mixture is too dry, add a little milk until the batter comes together. Add the chocolate chips and gently fold in. 

On a floured surface, pat out into a circle shape. Cut into triangles. Lay on a greased baking sheet tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes on 375*F. Cool completely.

The Glaze/Drizzle:

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar

milk or cream

Stir the peanut butter and powdered sugar together. Slowly pour in milk, a couple tablespoons at a time, until it becomes easy to drizzle or glaze over the scones. You should be able to end up using a whisk as you add milk and the glaze/drizzle becomes the consistency you are looking for.

You can either drizzle this over the scones or glaze them entirely by dipping the tops into the mixture. Either way, they taste wonderful! It's simply a matter of preference.

Allow to sit until the glaze is set.

Enjoy!

Stepping into September

Monday greetings to you!

Saturday morning saw the world stepping gracefully into a new month and we said "hello" to dear old September. I must admit that this is a favorite time of year for me. September where I live doesn't mean autumnish temperatures or colorful leaves or anything like that, but it does mean that we get little glimpses and peeks into what the coming season holds. You begin to smell the faint scent of autumn in the air and gradually, as the month goes on, we will get more and more tastes of cooler weather.

September is when I begin directing my thoughts towards autumn...and dare I say, the holidays! Oh, my! They will be here before we know it. I love taking some time before a new season begins to ponder what I want my rhythms, rituals, and routines to look like for that coming season. Autumn is the time to gather in and rediscover the coziness and comforts of home. My mind begins to wander toward the kitchen and I find myself pondering all the many warming and delicious things that I want to bake and cook over the coming months. The crisper days and longer nights seem to just call for soups and chili and pot pies and homemade bread and all the scrumptious baked goods that call for cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and all the other spices that speak autumn.

Autumn is also the time when folks find themselves drawing in more. Time spent at home in the evenings as the sun sets earlier and the temperatures drop to chilly. Reading and knitting are two pastimes that I find myself savouring during this time of year, perhaps more than any other. Yes, I do read all year long, but there's just something different about curling up with a good book, mug full to the brim of hot spiced, herbal tea and a fluffy, thick robe on or soft blanket wrapped around you. I also find that taking the time to light a candle or two adds a peaceful, relaxing tone to the room that is a gentle blessing. I've found myself uncovering my nightly ritual of book, tea, blanket and candle here the last week or so. Autumn is in the air, so it's positively perfect.

I am not a hot weather girl. No way! Give me all the snow, cold temperatures, and such you can find and I'm a happy camper. I also find that I thrive so much more in that type of season. My creativity, ideas, energy, passion, delight,and excitement just seems to grow a hundredfold in those cozy months and seasons. I recently heard a lovely lady say on Instagram that autumn and winter are her favorite seasons and that Christmas is her favorite time of year because she "thrives in a cozy atmosphere". That resonated with me in every single way possible. I'm the exact same!

Writing is something I feel much more motivated to do when it turns cool and beautiful outside. The hot, stinky, sticky, humid summers really suck all inspiration out from under me. However, as soon as the first little glint of autumn comes round again, I find my creativity bursting forth. It's like a breath of fresh air, like life flowing through you once more. The heat of summer just totally drains me! As I am mentioning writing, I have a series that I am currently working on that I hope to share in October. If you've read any of my blogs for the last six years, you know that I have loved to do a 31-day series in October as a way of celebrating and welcoming autumn. I'm so excited about this one and can't wait to share it with you! I'll be sharing details on it later in the month...

This was such a rambling post...that's what I tend to do sometimes. I so enjoyed sharing some of the beauties that September holds and hope that this month is off to a great start for each of you as well.

What are some of your favorite things about September? Are you excitedly anticipating autumn's grand return, or are you wishing summer would just go on forever? (If you're the latter, I'm sure I can overlook that flaw...hee!)

May your day be a beauty and your week be blessed! Happy September, dearies!
♥

Lemon Almond Poppyseed Scones

There's nothing as cheerful on a sunny, summer morning as a bit of lemon. And friends, have I got a lemony treat for you today!

Lemon has always been a favorite flavor of mine...especially when it's allowed to stand out in all its glory, not overshadowed by too much sugar. A bit of tartness makes me happy! This scone recipe is just that...and some more. 

I paired together some of, what are in my opinion, are the best ingredients when paired together and created a perfect union. Tart and bright lemon, crunchy almonds and the pretty blue of poppyseeds. Truly, when these three come together in harmony with one another, the results are bound to be scrumptious. 

With a brand new week just beginning, why not brighten up your Monday morning with a fresh batch of scones...speckled with poppyseeds and a few almond slivers on top, these are sure to be pleasing not only to the taste buds, but also to the eyes!

♥

Lemon Almond Poppyseed Scones

2 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest

4 tablespoons cold, cubed butter

1/3 cup slivered almonds

1 tablespoon poppyseeds

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 tsp. lemon extract

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour sugar, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Gently whisk together.

Cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients using your fingers, two knives or a pastry blender. The mixture should be crumbly when the butter is incorporated. Add the almonds and poppyseeds. Stir very gently to combine.

In a measuring cup, combine the heavy cream and lemon extract. Slowly add to the dry ingredients and gently stir just until combined. If the mixture is still too dry once you have added the cup of cream, you can add a tablespoon of cream at a time until the dough is moist, but not too sticky.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently pat out to about 3/4  inch thick. Cut into scone shapes...triangles, circles or any decorative shape using a cookie cutter. Place on a greased baking sheet tray and place a few extra slivered almonds on top for prettiness. Brush lightly with a bit of heavy cream. Bake at 350*F for about 15-20 minutes, or just until the bottoms are golden brown.

Allow the scones to cool for a few minutes on the tray once they are out of the oven. You can then either serve them warm or allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. 

Enjoy with a nice, hot cup of tea!

Have a splendid week!

♥

Toffee Caramel Pecan Scones

The weekend is almost here and I can't think of a better excuse to do a little baking!

Scones have been a favorite of mine since that first bite several years ago. I love the simplicity of scones, as well as the way they aren't too sweet, but just right. Scones also allow me to be creative...it is the best fun thinking of different flavor combinations and what ingredients to add to make this particular batch of scones special. 

I'll be honest and say that I'm not the biggest fan of caramel. It tends to be too sweet for me. However, we had some caramel bits in the freezer that needed to be used up before our move and I'm not one to just throw unused food away. I sat down and brainstormed of what ingredients would go with caramel and decided that toffee bits and pecans would be just perfect. I happened to be right! {{winks}} 

Though caramel isn't my most favorite thing in the world, this scone recipe is! The combination of those three chosen ingredients is a trio of deliciousness. I'm so excited to share this recipe with you and hope that you get to make a batch for your family soon...

Now, grab a cup of tea and settle in whilst I share the recipe below. 

Home is the one place in all the world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence. It is the place where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unreserved communication of fill and confiding hearts. It is the spot where expressions of tenderness gush out without any dread of sensation of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule.

-Frederick W. Robertson-

Toffee Caramel Pecan Scones

2 cups  flour

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp, baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 stick (1/2 cup) *cold* butter, cubed

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup caramel bits

1/2 cup toffee bits

1/3 cup chopped pecans

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk together until thoroughly combined. Cut a stick of butter into the flour mixture with either your fingers, two knives or a pastry cutter. The mixture should be crumbly.

Gently stir in the beaten egg and milk. Finally, fold in the caramel bits, toffee bits and pecans. Stir just until combined.

Place the dough on a floured surface. Gently pat out to about 1 inch thick (no need to be precise). Using a pizza cutter or a knife, cut into triangles, circles, or use a cookie cutter to make pretty shapes. 

Place on a greased baking sheet tray and bake at 350*F for about 13-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are just golden brown. Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack. Cool completely.

Drizzle with caramel and sprinkle chopped pecans on top. 

Enjoy with your favorite cup of tea or coffee!

**To make the caramel drizzle**

I simply poured some caramel bits in a bowl and microwaved them for 30-second intervals until they were completely melted. I then slowly drizzled in a little heavy cream until it reached a not-so-thick consistency. It turned out lovely!

May your weekend be a beauty, dear friends!

♥