Monday, November 14, 2011

Best Homemade Bread -- New York Times.

I made this bread over the weekend! That wonderful homemade bread smell filled the house - it was so yummy and fresh! Mark Bittman from the New Your Times shares tips from the Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, NY. It's the best and easiest recipe I've found yet! If you want to jazz it up, try poking in a few roasted garlic gloves and rosemary sprigs after the rising process. 
Have fun cooking! You'll love this recipe!


Ingredients:
3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
1¼ teaspoon (8g) salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)
    Equipment:
    Two medium mixing bowls
    6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic)
    Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
    Plastic wrap
    Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)
      Process:
      Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).
      Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

      Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.

      Friday, November 11, 2011

      DIY: Cake Stands!


      This is such a lovely tutorial for DIY Cake Stands! 
      Click here to learn how!

      Thursday, November 10, 2011

      DIY: Bow Hairclips



      Make a bunch of these super cute little bow hairclips, via Ruffles and Stuff - tutorial here

      Kina Grannis 'In Your Arms' Jelly Bean Music Video

      I saw Kina Grannis 'In Your Arms' music video for the first time today. It's simply amazing - literally a work of art! It took almost two years with the work of 30 people, and required 288,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans. Mmmm I love Jelly Bellies (my favorites are Pear and Root Beer)! Director Greg Jardin and his team assembled every bean, in every 2,640 frames and shot them individually! Yikes! Basically he created a music video with the same concept as the flip book.  Props to Greg and his extreme patience! Check it out. P.S. the behind the scene's clip is great too!



      Tuesday, November 8, 2011

      Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Tastes Like Starbucks!

      Every year around this time the world seems to go crazy for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
      Guess what? I've found a wonderful recipe to make your own at home! I made these for the ladies in my Bible Study last Sunday and they loved them.

      You know what's so great about the homemade version? You use real pumpkin puree instead of the fake sugary pumpkin syrup that they use at Starbucks! So yay for choosing a healthier latte this holiday season!

       
      Pumpkin Spice Latte

      1. Make coffee (a pot, a cup, in whatever fashion and however you prefer making your coffee. The stronger the better)

      2. Make Pumpkin Milk
      1 c milk (I used almond milk but use any kind you want from half and half to rice milk)
      1/4 heaping cup pumpkin puree (more if you really love pumpkin)
      2 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend, or to taste
      1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste
      1 tsp vanilla extract
      sweetener of choice, to taste ( 2 tbsp brown sugar or a pinch of stevia to taste; or try honey, maple syrup, etc. to taste)
      Optional: pinch of ground nutmeg, ginger, garam masala, cardamom, or other warming spices to taste

      Directions: Combine all Pumpkin Milk ingredients in a blender and strain through a fine mesh strainer.

      Optional: Warm the finished pumpkin milk mixture in the microwave or on the stove top (I do a quick nuke of about 1 minute)

      3. Pour 1 c of brewed coffee into a mug and pour half the pumpkin milk mixture over the top of the coffee and enjoy. (Optional: Finish by garnishing with real whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon on top)

      The other half of the pumpkin milk mixture is for the refill you know you will want. If you truly don’t want a refill, refrigerate it for up to a few days and use for your next latte.

      Notes:
      The spices will not “blend” or entirely dissolve. This is to be expected and normal. If this bothers you, this may not the recipe for you and you may want to experiment with other recipes or techniques.
      *I suggest using a strainer to get rid of any gritty spices that bother you (after you let it heat on the stove or in the microwave)

      Recipe adapted from Love Veggies and Yoga Picture by blisstree

      Monday, November 7, 2011

      Update On Our 1920's House

      Here are some recent pictures of the progress on our house!


      Danny and Doug added a dormer.
      I'll have to update the photoshop image of our finished house. The dormer wasn't in our original plans, but no sweat...I think is looks goooood.

      Cleared out the backyard!


      Dan ran all the electrical wires throughout the house.

      Danny and Doug painted the cupola! We hoisted it onto the roof and the three of us walked out into the street to get a better view. We basked in the glory of our faux brick cupola! It's pretty classy stuff.

      I'm so proud of these guys. They are an excellent Father/Son team.

      Friday, November 4, 2011

      Etsy Love

      Here are some great finds from Etsy!
      What do you think? I love em!
      Click on the pictures and it will take you to the shops.

      Asymmetrical Shawl Collar Sweater- Organic Cotton


      beige camel winter coat cashmere coat with belt jacket long coat maxi coat brown chocolate coat custom designer coat FM076

      IKAT Print - Kisslock - Clutch Purse - 8 inch wide - Designer Fabric - Blue - Bag - Clutch Bag - Clutch Purse with Frame

      Khaki Lace floral applique cocktail dress wave collar tank dress slim fit geomatric

      Royal Blue, Turquoise  and Aqua Blue CZ Gold Earrings

      Couple on Bikes - Bicycle Silhouette As Seen in the WALL STREET JOURNAL

      CUSTOM Order for Courtney Succulent Cork Magnets


      TULIP Light Green quartz stone GOLD RING

      Pretty Birdie's Soy Wrap

      Paper Mache Bowl Brown and Gold - The Moon

      Pretty Pastels Mason Jar Chandelier Swag Light Hanging Lighting Fixture - UpCycled Rustic Eco Friendly  Wedding - BootsNGus Lamp Design

      Emerald green turquoise 24 karat gold pendant necklace

      Tahitian Glow - Coconut and Gardenia Moisture Scrub - 2 oz Travel Size

      The Peach Delight Tunic

      Wineberry Creme  Lip Tint Lip Icing  .15 oz  double the color

      Round Butterfly Vase- Robin's egg blue