Fall is a beautiful season, full of things to do, smell and see. But sometimes the elderly in our community can't get outdoors to enjoy the beautiful colors of nature. You can bring the fun to them by baking loaves of FamilyCares Pumpkin Bread and delivering them with a fall foliage sun-catcher, to elderly or handicapped shut-ins.
Contact your local Meals on Wheels, senior center, nursing home, or senior nutrition program to find someone that you can help--or you can give your gifts to a neighbor or relative who is ill or bedridden. Next, whip up a few loaves of FamilyCares Pumpkin Bread and keep fresh until ready to deliver. Then make the sun-catchers. Finally, deliver the loaves of bread with the sun-catchers. (You could also find out where the recipient would like the sun-catcher hung, and put it up for him or her.)
FamilyCares Pumpkin Bread Recipe
Materials Needed:
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons softened butter
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ¾ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/3 cup milk
- ¾ cup raisins (optional)
Steps Involved:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and set aside.
- Using a mixer, combine first three ingredients. Mix until fluffy. Add pumpkin.
- Next add the dry ingredients, combining alternately with the milk. Add the raisins.
- Pour into a greased 9x5 loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes
Fall Foliage Sun-Catcher
Materials Needed:
- Wax paper
- Iron and ironing surface
- Brightly colored leaves in good condition
Steps Involved:
- Collect beautiful colored fall leaves. If your area doesn't have colorful fall leaves, collect different sizes and species of green leaves.
- Cut wax paper into 8 1/2 x 11 pieces. You will need two pieces of wax paper for each sun catcher.
- Arrange your leaves on the waxy side of one sheet of paper and place the second piece of paper, wax-side down, on the leaf arrangement.
- Using an iron on low heat - ADULTS ONLY - lightly iron the wax paper until the wax melts and seals the leaves. You may want to put an old towel on top of the wax paper for ironing.
- After the paper has cooled, use tape to create an edge or frame.
