pinned it. did it. {with meg}

Meg is back with another Pinned it. Did it. post. And I LOVE that she's sharing another quickbread. Making breads like this one really is an easy way to feel grounded in the kitchen + fill the house with that something good is coming out of the oven soon smell + indulge just a bit. This time Meg's sharing about how Pinterest inspired her to slightly tweak her family's pumpkin bread recipe. 

Our intention with these posts is to spotlight the real, everyday ways we are using Pinterest to fill our lives with a little more beauty. Read on and then let us know how you are using Pinterest these days. And if you share your own Pinned it. Did it. post, come back and tell us all about it in the comments.

*****

This time of year, pumpkin recipes and products are every where you look. Pinterest is filled with them (in fact I have a whole board dedicated to pumpkin - yum!), people are buzzing about Pumpkin Spice Lattes from famous coffee shops, candle shops are filled with the fragrance of pumpkin desserts... And I will admit that I happily participate in the pumpkin frenzy each year.  

Every year of my childhood, I would get really excited when I could smell pumpkin bread baking in the oven. Still to this day, when I smell it, I am immediately overcome with a sense of holiday excitement. The cinnamon and cloves, the pumpkin, and all of the warm goodness that comes with them... It smells like Thanksgiving and Christmas and it’s one of my favorite things ever. My family has always used a Betty Crocker recipe and in my whole adult life, I’ve only ever eaten one other version of pumpkin bread that comes close to being as wonderful (from the famous coffee chain previously mentioned). But I want our family recipe if I’m going to indulge. And with nearly 3 cups of sugar in the recipe and white flour I rarely eat, it’s a huge indulgence. 

So when I started pinning other pumpkin bread recipes, I always pinned them thinking “yeah, those look nice, but I’ll never sway from the one recipe that I truly love...” Until it hit me this weekend. I could use the recipe I love and modify it or add to it from others that I’ve seen that look good. I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, I could improve upon it! So I scrolled through my list and found a recipe that adds a streusel topping and I was sold. (I also have hopes of trying a recipe that adds chocolate chips and one that adds a ribbon of cream cheese and oh my gosh one that has pumpkin buttercream frosting, but one indulgence at a time). 

So I used my family recipe (which you can find here), made my loaves of delicious pumpkin bread, and used a pin from Pinterest as my inspiration for adding to something I already love. I added streusel topping to a couple of the loaves. And I am so glad I tried it. I kept a couple loaves au naturale because I do love it that way too. But it was so fun to realize I could just use simple tweaks or ideas to add upon things I already like. 

As I sat and enjoyed a slice warm from the oven, I smiled at how even a tiny bit of inspiration from a Pinterest pin has opened up so many ideas to try with something that is near and dear to me. Big or small, Pinterest is constantly bringing good to my world and I am having so much fun sharing these bits of good with you. 

Are you a pumpkin lover? Leave a link in the comments or tell us about your favorite pumpkin recipes. I am always on the hunt for new favorite pumpkin ideas! 

Meg Brothers is an artist, photographer, mama, and dreamer. She loves cooking, tattoos, and sporadic dance parties in the kitchen. She prefers dark chocolate, black coffee, and flip flops when weather permits. She is a lover of Pinterest and truly believes in integrating ideas and inspiration - big or small - into normal life. Meg lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dustin and son, Julian. Meg writes about photography, family, and creative inspiration at megbrothers.com. Find her on Pinterest here and on Twitter here. 

***

Note from Liz: Over here in my corner, I'm trying to "use Pinterest for good." I really see it as a community of people trying to see the beauty and possibility in their lives. I'm adding a few new features here on my blog inspired by or directly about Pinterest as a way to invite others to look for this beauty within a social media community. Connect with me on Pinterest here. Read other "Pinned it. Did it." columns here.