Fall is here...time for pumpkin bread.

This time of year is such a busy time for my family. Getting used to the school schedule, enjoying the last bit of leftover summer weather and harvesting the last from our summer garden. There is always something that needs to be done. I look forward to the slower days of fall, once fall is officially here.

For me, the smell of a loaf of pumpkin bread baking is a sure sign that fall is here! The aroma of the pumpkin and spices filling my home is a wonderful "Welcome Home" for my husband and kids after a long day at work or school. It's sure to make them happy to be home.

This fall, I decided to tackle making a recipe that was all my own. Using flours that I knew I liked, even one that I'd not used very often. This recipe has been a work in progress and well worth the effort! My family has been enjoying this wonderful bread. It makes a great snack and also a quick breakfast on the go.

A couple of weekends ago, my family and I took a day trip to visit Mount St. Helens. Such a wonderful day it was, beautiful weather and a beautiful view inside the mountains crater. Spirit Lake was so blue and from Windy Ridge we could see for miles!

That morning, we left the house really early. I think we were out the door by 5:30 AM. It's quite a drive and we wanted to enjoy as much of the day as we could on the mountain. Breakfast and lunch were both packed into the cooler and we were off for a wonderful family day!

Why do I share this random family outing with you? Simply to tell you that this bread recipe is also a very great breakfast on the go! A slice of this bread, a piece of fruit and a cup of coffee makes a great breakfast. We also snacked on it throughout the day. It stayed moist and held together very well.

Maybe you don't care for pumpkin? Not to worry, applesauce would work nicely in this recipe as well. Just replace the pumpkin pie spice with apple pie spice or any combination of spices that appeal you your taste. I would suggest that you try this recipe first though, even if you don't care for pumpkin. It does not have an overwhelming pumpkin flavor. To me, it tastes more like spice cake or loaf.

Another great option would be to add a streusel topping. Even better, make muffins and add the streusel topping to them. YUMMY! The "fall" flavor of this bread or muffin will let you know that fall is indeed here and it is so good! All of the aromas that come from your kitchen will scream fall! It will smell so good, you might just decide that fall is your favorite time of year!