Ms Jones and the Pampered Chef

So this was the product for the Baby Shower at church the other week...it took me a while to post them just because I was trying to keep things together at work, etc. But nevertheless, baby shower cake. It was rough to finish this because it was really humid the particular day I decorated it...which means as I was warming up the frosting when I was holding the pastry bag. I even had to put it right in the fridge onece it was finally done. Not my best work...though everyone at the party loved it. Inside was cinnamon swirl. Once again, impressed with the look of the basketweave pattern. Still can't understand why more people don't like it. Its old school and I dig it.

This week, I had a torrid affair with the Pampered Chef. It was actually the first PC party I had ever been to and thankfully walked out with most of my money still in my checking account. I did purchase a couple things for other people but I didn't over do it for my personal collection, which only consists of a springform pan set that's actually my mothers, haha. I'm considering hosting one even though my apartment is teeny and it would be a tight squeeze.
Anyway, at said party, the PC woman made a chicken and broccoli braid and a Banana Cream pie thingy. Pretty simple stuff. Here's my purchases:
1 can strainer
1 mini measuring cup set (ADORABLE for liquid measures up to 4 tbsp!)
1 pair of Bamboo Tongs
1 8 inch serrated Bread Knife (quite a steal for the price..and its lifetime guaranteed)
1 2-cup capacity stoneware oval baker
1 Citrus Peeler (it was like .75 cents and I was still using my fingers to do that crap!)

So overall, I was happy with my selections...could have bought WAY more...
Being who I am, I couldn't go to the party empty handed. So, I decided to bring the friendship bread I had finally gotten around to baking the night before. I made a loaf of Banana Walnut and also a loaf of Pumpkin Raisin.
If you've ever made Friendship Bread, you know its a 10 day process that you can basically add anything you want into it. Both loaves turned out great and my oven was quite accurate as far as baking time goes! I can't express how nice it is to have an oven that behaves!
The Banana Walnut was slightly drier than the Pumpkin Raisin, but that's a direct result of add-ins. I DID pull an America's Test Kitchen trick out and press the pumpkin before I put it in. I think the bread would have been way mushy if I didn't. Same principle that's used in the Pumpkin Cheesecake I love to make so much. And it turned the bread a warm orange color.
I was pleasantly surprised with the taste of both breads, because I used Splenda instead of sugar. In the whole recipe, there was about 1/4 cup of real sugar because I used 1/2 cup of the Splenda blend for baking. The rest of the additional sugar was substituted. I was concerned that it would be TOO sweet, an unfortunate side effect of sugar sub products...but it worked out well. Again, I partially attribute that to the mix ins I used.

I have one more batch of bread that I'm on day 4 of...I'm thinking about the Pumpkin Raisin again...maybe using chocolate as well for the 2nd loaf. Any suggestions you all have would be amazing.

I'm also looking for baking projects. So consider this a challenge to you all to give me one to work on. I haven't got ALOT of time on my hands...but the spare time I do have, I'd like to spend it making things for you all to read about :)

get to it! challenge me!!!

ms j