Our Daily Bread

I've been obsessed lately with baking bread. Yesterday I didn't get out of my pajamas for A LONG TIME because I downloaded these two books onto my Kindle. My husband was leaving for work and he asked me if I was going to get dressed. Since it was Snowing at that moment, I looked outside and said, maybe not today. BUT since I had to hit the treadmill due to eating the bread, I did get dressed eventually.

I made this huge batch of whole wheat dough for the week, and last night I used it for pizza. It was delicious! This morning it is rising on the counter for today. So when my husband called to say goodnight he asked me what I was doing and I said that I was reading about sour dough starter. He said, "Weren't you doing that when I left this morning?" My friends tease me about having enough time in my day to read about the intricacies of bread making, but I for one am learning a new skill. Might as well jump in with both feet! It saves me from thinking about my son's driving skills. I'm trying to keep the "what if's" from ruining my day.

Our Daily Bread

Trying to Eat a Little More Local and Organic

Ratto Brothers Beets (It's fun to know where your food comes from!)
Aren't they beautiful?

Heres how to roast 'em!

There are two things I hated growing up: corned beef hash (you can just call it like it is ie: dog food!) and beets. Well guess what? Heck no, I am not eating hash, BUT it turns out I love beets. Beets that have been roasted in my oven, NOT slid out of a can or at an all-you-can-eat salad (salmonella) restaurant! ICKK!

AND I am addicted to orange marmalade as well...CRAZY! You put those two together, and you have just created the world's best salad!! I hate eating lunch at home, but if you make a salad like this it is worth it! Yummm...
I think it is nice to know where your food is coming from! Eating Local (as we can right now) and Organic works for me and my family.

I used:
Organic Spring Salad Mix with Herbs
Ratto Brothers Beets (Central California...I grew up there. ok not local NOW but I feel a kinship to Central California)
Yellow Peppers
Avocado
Chopped Beet Greens from the "tops"
Haystack Mountain Goat Cheese (from Longmont Colorado!)
Candied Walnuts (put 1 cup of sugar in a heavy bottom skillet and melt on med-high, throw in some walnuts and stir quickly, it will burn quick, so watch it every second.... when the sugar turns a caramel color, take of the heat and toss with Kosher Salt....EASY!)
You could add Grilled Chicken or Steak for more of a meal.


Salad Dressing: (I threw this together without measuring...it is Salad Dressing...do what you want!)
1 tablespoon Orange Marmalade
1 teaspoon Brown Mustard
2 or 3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar
1 tablespoon (or more) of your local honey
Pinch of Kosher or Sea Salt
Olive Oil.....(I didn't use any this time)

Homemade Bread

My kids would fall out of their chairs and feign death if I tried to feed this to them for dinner. So save it for someone with a more mature palate!

Trying to Eat a Little More Local and Organic

Yellow

(image from All Things Thrifty.com)
(don't know....sorry!)
(no clue, sorry again!)

Have you noticed the plethora of yellow side tables across the internet? I sure have! I love the yellow and gray combination and have noticed a lot of yellow in my wardrobe lately too!

I wore my posy pin today from The Pleated Poppy (this is a picture of the matching headband, she's sold out of the pins, keep checking back!) whileI gave my girlfriends a quick tour of the G-Dub today.

Anyway....back to the yellow tables. When I was little my dad made these side tables and my mom painted them the exact color of yellow! So weird, everything comes back again. Remember those yellow tables mom?

I can't decide if the yellow tables are cute or not cute....what do you think?

Yellow

Earth Day

I started picking up Pyrex at my local G-dub because I'm trying to cut down on using plastics in my home. "Back in the day" we had glass containers in our refrigerator and yes I'm sure some things got broken but all in all it worked out fine.
But who would have guessed that there is the Pyrex sub-culture out there! I had no idea that it was collectible and highly sought after. Ladies, just go to the G-dub, there is plenty to go around! (Just make sure that you elbow those people that stand in front of the bins coming out! I swear it is like World Wrestling Federation some days.) When did junk get so popular? When I picked these up, there was this nice lady in the front that saw me looking at the Pyrex, so she just kept handing them back to me. I got a ton more that day, but the second batch was in the dishwasher, and I haven't taken photos yet.

Earth Day

Thrifty Thursday

Look at these little lovlies that I just picked up!

Thrifty Thursday

Love is Gone

My son is a sophmore playing varsity baseball. I was worried about him hanging out with the older seniors because well, you know they're SENIORS! That is kind of scary to a mom. The team came to our house for dinner, and they put together this little dance number. I'm no longer worried. It turns out that they are still little boys, in big boy uniforms....We don't have fences in my neighborhood so my neighbors were calling and texting about the dance club we had going on in the backyard. The little girl next door came running out and was doing the dance moves right along with them. I didn't think that the boys would want that on you tube, but I thought it was so cute. (Yes that's me calling out the moves) There is something about my house that calls for a dance party. This was by no means the first!
*My son is the one on the right (that seems to be cut off) he keeps running in to change the music.

Love is Gone

Yes, Please

I'm pretty sure everyone knows that dolls come to life and try to bite you in your sleep. That is why I have to avoid/run panicked through that aisle of the toy store.
HOWEVER a Don Draper Barbie. Bite me.....hard.....(is that too much for a Monday morning? oh good I didn't think so.)

Yes, Please

No Knead Bread and Why My Pants Don't Fit Well

I gained a few pounds over the winter, and although my pants still fit, they are a little snug. So I do what every person in this situation should do. I eat s'mores all day and bake fresh bread. Dang! I've even had to resort to walking with my husband and dog in the morning and the treadmill at night. Still tight. Dang, dang, dang!

So since misery loves company I would like you to bake this bread also. It is sooo easy and the most beautiful loaf comes out of the oven, you will be so impressed with yourself. You just need flour, water, yeast, salt and a covered cast iron pot.

http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html

(found the recipe here...cutest blog post ever!

No Knead Bread Recipe

No Knead Bread Recipe is adapted from Mark Bittman of NY Times who got it from Sullivan Street Bakery. When the recipe first came out, it was the blogging community who took the bread to new heights, especially Rose Levy Beranbaum, author of The Bread Bible. I followed Rose’s experiments through the weeks and learned from her recipe adjustments and the why’s of how this bread works.

Yield: one 1 lb loaf

3 cups bread flour (I like Harvest King bread flour)

(I used 2 cups Organic all purpose flour and 1 cup White Whole Wheat flour)
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
3/4 tablespoon kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon table salt)
1 1/2 cups warm water

Covered pot (five-quart or larger cast iron, Pyrex, ceramic, enamel…something that can go into a 450F oven.)

1. Mix dough: The night before, combine all ingredients in a big bowl with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. It will be a shaggy, doughy mess. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 12-20 hours on the counter top.

2. Shape & preheat: The dough will now be wet, sticky and bubbly. With a wet spatula, dump the dough on a floured surface. Fold ends of dough over a few times with the spatula and nudge it into a ball shape. You can use your hands if you like, just keep your hands wet so that the dough does not stick. Generously dust a cotton towel (not terrycloth) with flour. Set dough seam side down on top of towel. Fold towel over the dough. Let it nap for 2 hours. When you’ve got about a half hour left, slip your covered pot into the oven and preheat to 450F.

3. Bake: Your dough should have doubled in size. Remove pot from oven. Holding towel, dump wobbly dough into pot. Doesn’t matter which way it lands. Shake to even dough out. Cover. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover, bake another 15-20 minutes or until the crust is beautifully golden and middle of loaf is 210F. Remove and let cool on wired rack. If not eating right away, you can re-crisp crust in 350F oven for 10 minutes. Best way to eat it? Smear a warm slice with some good butter, honey, orange marmalade, jelly, plain........

Here it is ready to go into the oven.

Turns out that pot is HOT! Don't put in on a plastic cutting board.

Look at the logo left on the board....Oooops!

What? That is the most beautiful bread ever!
I lined my pot with parchment just to make sure it wouldn't stick.

The picture above is after baking with the lid on.

Ahhhh...can't wait to try it.

This was after my husband and I tried it, and tried

some more....and then had some more with lunch.

(notice how I'm trying to look dainty as I shove a s'more in my mouth)

Today was my husband's birthday so we made s'mores by the fire pit after lunch...I kept thinking how funny it would be if our boys knew that we make s'mores while they are at school! Sneaky!

Do you think this could be why my jeans are too tight?

...hmmm let me think about it.

Oh and will you tell me where the "remove crow's feet" button

is located in Photoshop? Thanks

I'm off to watch The Office on the treadmill!

No Knead Bread and Why My Pants Don't Fit Well

S'more Please!

Those cute ridges in the first picture sort of baked out in the oven. I couldn't let the dough chill long enough because I was so excited to eat them! I have some dough left over in the freezer, so I'll see if the ridges stay next time.

Just fire up your grill pan, (or any pan) and toast away!!


Yuuhuhuh...ummmm


My son asked if we could make s'mores in the fire pit the other night. Well, it was too cold to sit around the fire pit, but it did put a little idea in my mind.
I decided to make indoor s'mores, but then I decided to kick it into high gear and make homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers. I couldn't figure out how to make homemade chocolate so I melted some dark chocolate chips out of the bag. Yummmmmmm!!

Okay here's where the drama kicks in. I was making marshmallows with Smitten Kitchen's recipe. My kitchen was a disaster, there was marshmallow all over me and in my hair, I finally get them in the pan, and I cannot tell you how excited I was for my younger son to try them........drumroll.....then he says, "I like the ones from the bag better." What? Guess what...I got the same response from the homemade graham crackers.....

So I decided these S'mores are adults only. BUT then I realized I really couldn't get any adult excited about eating s'mores at 3 o'clock in the afternoon for no good reason. Dilema. I decided to eat one instead of dinner, and let me tell you it was the best thing EVER!!

Give those taste-bud lacking children the cheap store bought stuff and make yourself and your significant others something yummy!! (Older boy hasn't tried them yet, and he has never actually met a food he doesn't like.) My husband goes on girly diets every once in a while, so we'll see if he's eating sugar this week. I'm not the dieting kind of gal. That's because I eat everything in moderation. That doesn't work for him.

The recipes are on Smitten Kitchen:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/05/graham-crackers/

http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/06/springy-fluffy-marshmallows

Come on.... try it!!

(I'm a s'more pusher!)

S'more Please!

MomMeTV.com Real Moms Tell the Truth about Parenting | Viral/Other | SPIKE.com

I used to be on MomMeTv.com as a mommy Vlogger that were way ahead of thier time! (2006) Wow my hair was looonngg! I'm a little Bitter Betty over it because my friend Missy who is a television producer created the website and it launched back in 2006, before it's time in terms of advertising and seeing Mommy Bloggers as suitible marketers! Dang them! Now SpikeTV.com is running it? And putting hoochie ads in front? What?

10 things about me

I won this very sweet award from my cyber-friend Heather of PixieDust. I have to tell you 10 things about myself, and give it to ten other bloggers. Here goes:



1) I have a bionic nose. It is a curse. Someone ate cigars and cat litter for breakfast? I will sit next to him on a plane.


2) I have crazy prophetic dreams. When I did this neurological testing and profiling due to my head injury, they asked me if I had thoughts that foretold the future. I said NO! so I wouldn't do the mandatory 48 hours in the "hospital".


3) I am the second fastest reader on the planet. The first being my cousin Lisa. (LeeLee) My elementary school had this speed reader program where you would put a book behind this screen that would slowly close over the page of a book. You would try to read faster and faster to beat the screen. (California in the '70's what can I say) I loved that game and subsequently devour books. When you are an English major it comes in handy. (I'm a little slower now since the accident, but I'm improving. Right after the accident I couldn't read at all. It sucked.)


4) If there is a Limbo contest, I will win it. I won the last one on vacation in Mexico. (I'm 42, but very bendy!)


5) Spiders? no problem. Snakes? not too scary. Mustaches? forget it. I swear the hair is standing up on my arms just typing the word. I swear they make me gag! My husband loves to terrorize me by shaving his "vacation beard" into a disgusting mustache. Terrifying. No Lie. (my husband can grow a full beard in 4 days....he's gifted.)


6) Our home was featured on HGTV for our batting cage built into the basement. It took forever to shoot and was really boring if you ask me.


7) I love to mow the lawn.


8) I married the second Jewish person that I had ever met. (I'm from a small town, what can I say.)


9) Both of my children are named after athletes, and I had no idea until later.

10) I lived in 5 states in 5 years, the first 5 years of our marriage!


Now I have to give this award to 10 blogs that I love:


1. http://buzzingsofaqueenbee.blogspot.com/
2. http://raisedincotton.typepad.com/ (my mom was raised in cotton too!)
3. http://themeanestmom.blogspot.com/
4. http://www.oopsicraftmypants.net/ (best blog name EVER)
5. http://spoonwithme.wordpress.com/ (best food pictures and sweets)
6. http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ (beautiful inside and out)
7. http://blog.cjanerun.com/ (everyone deserves a sister like her)
8. http://partyperfectblog.blogspot.com/ (loooove a good party)
9. http://www.inthefunlane.com/ (makes me want to paint everything I own white)
10. http://www.eddieross.com/ (you didn't think I was going to leave HIM out did you)

Thank you Heather!!

10 things about me

Goodwill Chair Re-do

I found this cute chair at the G-dub, just waiting for a re-do!
I primed it first....

I also found some of this Shabby Chic fabric for a dolla! (G-Dub) But I didn't really like the color of the chair....now what..

Painted it a darker gray and found some fabric I love! (JoAnn) now I didn't like the chair color again....

Ahhh.....Satin Black my favorite. I just keep going back to it. I want to like lighter colors, but they just don't do it for me.

Perfect!!

Third time's a charm.

Goodwill Chair Re-do

Wall to the What?

Walmart? Whaaaaat? My husband assures me that if I bring one more throw pillow into this house he will change the locks. Whatever.

Wall to the What?

Cross your fingers....

Today is the big day. My son takes his driver's test. Just for complete transparency I think I hold the record in Clovis, California for the most consecutive failings of the drivers test. Not the written, but the actual driving. Once I failed in the parking lot backing out of the parking space. Yes I did. My dad didn't even make it into the building to wait when I was there saying "failed again." I was taking my test in my dad's giant yellow Caddy and it turns out that I had cranked the steering wheel so hard the tester was afraid that I was going to hit the car next to me. Dang it. Then there was the rolled stop sign, yeah rolled. Um....I think there were a few speeding in a blind intersection infractions. (What the heck is a blind intersection anyway?) At the time I didn't really care considering my boyfriend had a car....why did I need one? Did I mention that I'm one of the young ones at school for my grade so I was a Senior before I finally passed! Weeeeee!!! I had the cutest red Karmann Ghia waiting for me in the driveway (for a year). My younger brother LOVED it because turns out he was joy riding in it every night. So I guess it did get some use! (he was 13 and could drive a stick better than me turns out)

So hopefully this apple falls faaaaar from the tree and passes on his first try. He had a lot of practice driving me for the six months after my accident and I wasn't allowed to drive due to some tiny, little "executive functioning" problems. (that means you leave your children places and have no memory of it.)

Keeps your fingers crossed and stay off the road!

*UPDATE: PASSED (I'm sure he updated facebook, and tweeted this already!)

Cross your fingers....

Over it...

Growing up my family went to Lake Tahoe to ski every Christmas Vacation. I loved the snow and we skied like maniacs. (that's how kids ski that don't take lessons.) Oddly enough, my favorite part of Lake Tahoe was the grocery shopping at Ralph's on the first day of our vacation. I just could not believe that the parking lot was full of cars and that people actually LIVED in Lake Tahoe and were able to enjoy the snow EVERY DAY! What!? You know how when you're in a vacation destination you can't believe that people actually live there?

They go to the grocery store in the snow? WOW! I thought that it would be so great to live IN THE SNOW!!

Well I grew up moved all over the US then ended up in Denver. I would pull into the King Soopers parking lot and think, "Wow, here I am living in the SNOW! I feel like I'm on vacation! This is GREAT!"

That was 10 years ago.

It is April, please stop snowing. I'm officially over it. My 16 year old will be driving in it this week......no.......thank.......you.

Please stop snowing. The End.

Over it...

Divide and Conquer!

When you have more than one child sometimes you have to divide and conquer. While boy #1 went with my husband to the West Coast to play baseball, boy #2 came with me to Washington DC for a vacation and to meet up with my parents and niece.

Cherry Blossoms and an unwilling hugger!

Ahhhh the family!

Boat tour of the Monuments and Cherry Blossoms. It was a beautiful day!

Me and my identical twin--I mean mom.

Lunch at the Roosevelt Hotel.....a MUST if you are visiting DC!
Ladies who Lunch...Doesn't my niece Anna fix up cute!!

I seriously crack my mom up! I was trying to give her lessons on how to smile for the camera...It's not my fault she didn't practice in the mirror every day of her childhood like I did!

See she listens to me!

We'll take our dessert in the private library sir.

(How many deals have gone down here?.....)

It was amazing!

Divide and Conquer!