Can you do me a favor?

This past Saturday we had a bridal shower for my future sister in law.  Her mother planned a great shower at a local restaurant in Boston and we all enjoyed brunch.  Since it is fall time there was a bit of a fall theme.  The flowers on each table were absolutely beautiful!

After a wonderful brunch mixed with bloody mary's, mimosas(not executive ones), and bellini's it was time for gifts.  The bride received many wonderful gifts from all her friends and family.  Everyone enjoyed the shower at the end they received a special favor.  My mom worked very hard baking 40 mini pumpkin breads.  I had picked up mini fall themed ceramic pans from the Christmas Tree Shops back in the summer which were perfect for the bread.  My mom wrapped each bread with a fall themed cellophane bag, ribbon, and a leaf for each bread. 

Before I show you the final product I also contributed to the project by making recipe cards to go along with the bread.  This was my big contribution to the favor (not quite as big as my mom's)!  I used brown paper, leaf stickers, and orange ribbon.  They looked great with the bread.

(the materials)

(the final product)

These combined with the bread made the perfect favor for a fall bridal shower.

Everyone seemed to like them a lot - I just hope they tasted as good as they looked but knowing my mother they were fabulous.  Hopefully the recipe will be put to use again too. If anyone wants to try it at home this is the recipe:

Pumpkin  Pecan Bread    

Ingredients     

                        10 T. unsalted butter melted                     1 1/2 cups flour

                        1/2 cup packed brown sugar                    1/2 tsp. baking powder

                        1 cup granulated sugar                              3/4 tsp. baking soda

                        3 eggs lightly beaten                                  1/4 tsp. salt

                        1 cup pumpkin puree                                 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

                        3/4 cup  chopped pecans                          1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

                              or chopped walnuts                              1/4 tsp. allspice

                                                                                                  1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven 375    Grease and flour 9x5 inch loaf pan 

Mix together butter, brown sugar, sugar, and eggs.  Add pumpkin puree and mix well.  Mix all dry ingredients together then add to batter.  When everything is well blended add nuts.

Put mixture in 9x5 inch loaf pan.  Bake 30 - 35 minutes.

After the shower the real fun started in Newport, RI. There were 14 girls and we all had a great time from cake pups to a lingerie line to Seaman!! A few pics from the weekend:

From G rated

To PG-13

(please don't be upset future sister-in-law).

Next up what do you get when you mix all these ingredients together:

Until next time...stay creative!!