Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas Morning
Thanks Santa
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Day 22
This picture taken at 1:30 in the afternoon. I have never seen fog so thick before. When it is 18* outside the fog puts some awesome ice on everything!!
Creating New Traditions
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Pizza Dough
Ingredients:
1 cup warm water (110F)
1 (1/4 ounce) envelope active dry yeast/(I used 2 1/4 tsp of bread machine yeast)
1 teaspoon sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
- In the bowl of your heavy-duty mixer (like a Kitchen Aid), stir together the water, yeast and sugar; let sit until the mixture is foamy, which takes about 5 minutes.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the oil and salt into the yeast mixture and, using the paddle attachment
- When smooth Switch to the dough hook.
- With the machine running at low, add remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time; make sure each addition of flour is incorporated before adding the next.
- Once all the flour has been added, turn up the speed and let the machine knead the dough for about 3 minutes; it should be very smooth and perhaps a bit tacky. For me not all the flour took to the ball so I drizzled in a couple tablespoons of water and kneaded a little by hand.
- Grease a large mixing bowl with a little olive oil; form dough into a ball, and place into oiled bowl, turning dough over to make sure all sides are oiled.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap or cover with towel and place in a warm, draft-free area to rise; the dough should nearly double in size, which will take about 60 to 90 minutes.
- When dough is ready, lightly punch it down and knead it a bit, still right in the bowl. Lightly flour your work surface and place dough ball on it; let it rest for 10 minutes.
- This makes one large pizza
- To stretch dough I used a rolling pin. Then I tossed it a little bit. Use your knuckles and not your finger tips or it will tear.
- I use a pizza stone and put the stone in the oven while it is preheating. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 475F.
Recipe adapted from here
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Day 15
Day 14
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
In need of healing?
Day 7
Monday, December 6, 2010
Day 6
They have been so snugly and sweet.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Day 3 (a day late)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Day 2
Christmas decor is almost done. We have inside lights, stockings hung, manger out, garlands strung, but no tree yet. Colorado is a dry dry state, so we are holding off a little - we don't end up with a tree that bursts into flames on Christmas morning. Tomorrow we are doing the outside lights and hanging Christmas cards around the inside of the house.
My mom started my favorite tradition (you can see a little in the pictures here) - EVERY SINGLE card I recieve is dated on the back, attached to ribbon and hung around the ceiling of the house. I remember my mom's would go through every room in the downstairs and up the stairwell. So cool. Right now my measly collection will probably only fill my great room when hung.. but I look forward to the days when I will fill the house with the loving thoughts of family and friends from years past :)
Weaving
Early Schooling
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Granola
1 1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 F. In a bowl mix the oats, almonds, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. In a saucepan warm the oil and honey. Whisk in vanilla.
Carefully pour the liquid over the oat mixture. Stir gently with a wooden spoon; finish mixing by hand. Spread granola in a 15x10 inch baking pan.
Bake 40 minutes, stirring carefully every 10 minutes. Transfer granola-filled pan to a rack to cool completely. Stir in raisins or cranberries. Seal granola in an airtight container or self-sealing plastic bag. Store at room temperature for 1 week or in the freezer for 3 months.
Recipe from here
Project 365: Day 1
My girlfriend Brooke has decided to pick up her PROJECT 365 blog entries and I have decided to join her. Basically it is just a photo from my everyday life, everyday. Sounds simple (I don't know that I will be able to keep up, but I hope so!) and fun. Besides I miss playing with my camera and this gives me an excuse to pick it up EVERYDAY!