Cinnamon Swirly Banana Pumpkin Bread

      With our move coming up, I thought I would clear out the bananas I had stocked up in the freezer.       I usually do just a simple banana bread, but decided to try a new recipe.  So here ya go...

Recipe from The Messy Baker

What you need:

2 cups white whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 ripe bananas
3/4 cup brown sugar
4 TBsp unsalted butter (melted)
1/3 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pecans (toasted and chopped, optional)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Grease and flour a 9x5inch loaf pan.
In a small bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.
In a large bowl, add the pumpkin puree and bananas, mash together with potato masher.
Add the brown sugar, melted butter, and yogurt, whisk to combine.
Add in the eggs and vanilla, whisk to combine.
Fold in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until well combined.
Fold in optional pecans.
For the cinnamon swirl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon.
Add half of the batter to the pan, top with the cinnamon swirl mixture.
Top with the remaining batter and place in the oven.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool, before turning out on a wire rack to finish cooling.
Slice it up and ENJOY!

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

     Today, was officially declared a Snow Day in Las Cruces.  The LC is normally known for it's green chile's, hot air balloons, and desert life.  Well, today we were far from the hot heat and dryness we have come to known.  This morning I woke up to a text from Liam's school administrator letting the parents know that the weather was "fierce."  Fierce?  What did she mean?  So I get up, look out the window and..... SNOW! Snow?  Where did that snow come from?  And not just a dusting, it was coming down in HUGE beautiful flakes.  Our streets were covered in glistening white snow.  I love watching it snow, playing in the snow, making snowmen and snow angels, having snowball fights, but Hate and I mean HATE driving in it.  Since living in Colorado where we would have snow every winters, some harsher then others, I had to drive in it.  At least Coloradans know how to drive through it.  Here, unfortunately, New Mexicans DO NOT!  With all those crazy drivers out there plus the snow plus the ice, I was not going to attempt taking Liam to school.  Good thing he wasn't feeling very well, which is true.  I've caught a cold which I think he had picked up which of course, turned into Croup.  Later that day, the administrator let all the parents know that school was called off and to enjoy the snow.  Which, we planned on doing!
     I bundled up the kiddos and out we went. We couldn't resist!  After some fun out in the snow we warmed up with some hot cocoa!  Such a great day!

Pretty in Pink

     Before the Christmas holidays I had the pleasure of taking some photos of this sweet little lady.  Let me introduce you to adorable little Emmalyn.  This was my first time taking pictures of an infant, so it was another great learning experience for me.  Looking forward to capturing more special moments of her soon!