annie blog

The Friday Rundown
Let me begin by saying that I feel quite a bit of satisfaction with the fact that I’ve already played in the snow this morning. It isn’t my favorite thing to do, so I figured that I’d get it out of the way. The added bonus, of course, is that sweet E had a great time and I got a good workout hauling his precious 40 pounds around on the sled. Maybe hauling his precious pounds will reduce my not-so-precious pounds? I can only hope.

Speaking of precious E, yesterday, he was awoken from his nap by his brothers coming home from school. And he didn’t want to be done with his nap, so he led me off to lie down with him on my bed for a few minutes. So, as we were lying there, he started doing one of his little acts where he pretends to be the host of a TV show. He started gesturing with his hands saying to the invisible audience, “Hi out there, everybody, I’m E, and this is my brother, Mommy!” I started laughing…it seems like everyone is a brother around here.

I made lots of bread this week, including a yummy 10 grain bread. It was great. As much as I love brioche and artisan bread, a wheat multi grain is my favorite everyday bread. Jon said that it was his favorite homemade bread I’ve made yet…so I’ll blog the recipe on Monday.

Meanwhile, I’m almost done with the slipcover and, after fixing a few minor things on the hem, I’ll be moving on to the cushion. I bought the foam for it yesterday. I know that it looked funny — I was carrying a 7 foot section of foam around the fabric store while pushing a cart that contained a tired 3 year old boy. You know that you’re buying a gigantic piece of foam when no less that 3 fabric store employees make sure that you want the whole thing while looking at you like you are crazy. I kept wondering what they would think if they knew that it actually wasn’t long enough. Well, I think I’m going to need a 7 foot sofa for my future! I estimate that I’ll have 4 six footers before we’re done.

Everybody have a good weekend!

The Friday Rundown
Let me begin by saying that I feel quite a bit of satisfaction with the fact that I’ve already played in the snow this morning. It isn’t my favorite thing to do, so I figured that I’d get it out of the way. The added bonus, of course, is that sweet E had a great time and I got a good workout hauling his precious 40 pounds around on the sled. Maybe hauling his precious pounds will reduce my not-so-precious pounds? I can only hope.

Speaking of precious E, yesterday, he was awoken from his nap by his brothers coming home from school. And he didn’t want to be done with his nap, so he led me off to lie down with him on my bed for a few minutes. So, as we were lying there, he started doing one of his little acts where he pretends to be the host of a TV show. He started gesturing with his hands saying to the invisible audience, “Hi out there, everybody, I’m E, and this is my brother, Mommy!” I started laughing…it seems like everyone is a brother around here.

I made lots of bread this week, including a yummy 10 grain bread. It was great. As much as I love brioche and artisan bread, a wheat multi grain is my favorite everyday bread. Jon said that it was his favorite homemade bread I’ve made yet…so I’ll blog the recipe on Monday.

Meanwhile, I’m almost done with the slipcover and, after fixing a few minor things on the hem, I’ll be moving on to the cushion. I bought the foam for it yesterday. I know that it looked funny — I was carrying a 7 foot section of foam around the fabric store while pushing a cart that contained a tired 3 year old boy. You know that you’re buying a gigantic piece of foam when no less that 3 fabric store employees make sure that you want the whole thing while looking at you like you are crazy. I kept wondering what they would think if they knew that it actually wasn’t long enough. Well, I think I’m going to need a 7 foot sofa for my future! I estimate that I’ll have 4 six footers before we’re done.

Everybody have a good weekend!

The Friday Rundown
Let me begin by saying that I feel quite a bit of satisfaction with the fact that I’ve already played in the snow this morning. It isn’t my favorite thing to do, so I figured that I’d get it out of the way. The added bonus, of course, is that sweet E had a great time and I got a good workout hauling his precious 40 pounds around on the sled. Maybe hauling his precious pounds will reduce my not-so-precious pounds? I can only hope.

Speaking of precious E, yesterday, he was awoken from his nap by his brothers coming home from school. And he didn’t want to be done with his nap, so he led me off to lie down with him on my bed for a few minutes. So, as we were lying there, he started doing one of his little acts where he pretends to be the host of a TV show. He started gesturing with his hands saying to the invisible audience, “Hi out there, everybody, I’m E, and this is my brother, Mommy!” I started laughing…it seems like everyone is a brother around here.

I made lots of bread this week, including a yummy 10 grain bread. It was great. As much as I love brioche and artisan bread, a wheat multi grain is my favorite everyday bread. Jon said that it was his favorite homemade bread I’ve made yet…so I’ll blog the recipe on Monday.

Meanwhile, I’m almost done with the slipcover and, after fixing a few minor things on the hem, I’ll be moving on to the cushion. I bought the foam for it yesterday. I know that it looked funny — I was carrying a 7 foot section of foam around the fabric store while pushing a cart that contained a tired 3 year old boy. You know that you’re buying a gigantic piece of foam when no less that 3 fabric store employees make sure that you want the whole thing while looking at you like you are crazy. I kept wondering what they would think if they knew that it actually wasn’t long enough. Well, I think I’m going to need a 7 foot sofa for my future! I estimate that I’ll have 4 six footers before we’re done.

Everybody have a good weekend!

We Shall Try Again, On Another Day
In other words, the potty-training mentioned in the previous post did not succeed yesterday. Or, as #4 said, “My acorn isn’t working!” (Yes, he named his you-know-what an acorn. Hilarious in the extreme.) And, really, I should have known not to even attempt it. From the first, it just didn’t bode well. And, after missing the all important first try of the day because of the blankety-blank dog, along with some unrelated stress, I mean even optimists like myself need to know when to quit. He does know what to do, now. And, thankfully, he was not stressed by the whole experience. Precious little boy.

We Shall Try Again, On Another Day
In other words, the potty-training mentioned in the previous post did not succeed yesterday. Or, as #4 said, “My acorn isn’t working!” (Yes, he named his you-know-what an acorn. Hilarious in the extreme.) And, really, I should have known not to even attempt it. From the first, it just didn’t bode well. And, after missing the all important first try of the day because of the blankety-blank dog, along with some unrelated stress, I mean even optimists like myself need to know when to quit. He does know what to do, now. And, thankfully, he was not stressed by the whole experience. Precious little boy.

We Shall Try Again, On Another Day
In other words, the potty-training mentioned in the previous post did not succeed yesterday. Or, as #4 said, “My acorn isn’t working!” (Yes, he named his you-know-what an acorn. Hilarious in the extreme.) And, really, I should have known not to even attempt it. From the first, it just didn’t bode well. And, after missing the all important first try of the day because of the blankety-blank dog, along with some unrelated stress, I mean even optimists like myself need to know when to quit. He does know what to do, now. And, thankfully, he was not stressed by the whole experience. Precious little boy.

Good White Bread
1/2 cup warm water
4 t. instant yeast
1 t. sugar
1 1/2 cup warm whole milk
6 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 T. honey
3 large eggs
5-6 cups all purpose flour divided (maybe even more)
1 T kosher salt
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Place water yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook. Wait 5 minutes then add the milk, butter and honey. Mix until blended. Add eggs, 3 cups of flour and salt and mix on low for 5 minutes. Add 2 more cups flour hwile mixer continues on low. Raise speed to medium-low and add a bit more of the flour — until dough doesn’t stick to sides of bowl, sort of. Then, continue mixing for 8 minutes, adding flour as needed.

Dump dough on floured surface and knead briefly (until smooth and elastic). Put dough in buttered bow and then flip so that the top is lightly buttered. Cover and let rise — about 1 hour.

Grease 2 9X5 loaf pans. Divide dough in half and roll each piece into a loaf shape and place in prepared pan. Cover with damp towel and let rise another 1 hour (until double in bulk).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brish tops with egg white and bake 40-45 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing — if you can.

I got this recipe from one of the Barefoot Contessa recipe books. I can’t remember which one. I altered the recipe in several places and the bread that resulted was really great. The dough was so easy to work with and required almost no kneading. This makes great toast. I’ll definitely make it again….probably later this week.

Good White Bread
1/2 cup warm water
4 t. instant yeast
1 t. sugar
1 1/2 cup warm whole milk
6 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 T. honey
3 large eggs
5-6 cups all purpose flour divided (maybe even more)
1 T kosher salt
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Place water yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook. Wait 5 minutes then add the milk, butter and honey. Mix until blended. Add eggs, 3 cups of flour and salt and mix on low for 5 minutes. Add 2 more cups flour hwile mixer continues on low. Raise speed to medium-low and add a bit more of the flour — until dough doesn’t stick to sides of bowl, sort of. Then, continue mixing for 8 minutes, adding flour as needed.

Dump dough on floured surface and knead briefly (until smooth and elastic). Put dough in buttered bow and then flip so that the top is lightly buttered. Cover and let rise — about 1 hour.

Grease 2 9X5 loaf pans. Divide dough in half and roll each piece into a loaf shape and place in prepared pan. Cover with damp towel and let rise another 1 hour (until double in bulk).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brish tops with egg white and bake 40-45 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing — if you can.

I got this recipe from one of the Barefoot Contessa recipe books. I can’t remember which one. I altered the recipe in several places and the bread that resulted was really great. The dough was so easy to work with and required almost no kneading. This makes great toast. I’ll definitely make it again….probably later this week.

Good White Bread
1/2 cup warm water
4 t. instant yeast
1 t. sugar
1 1/2 cup warm whole milk
6 T unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 T. honey
3 large eggs
5-6 cups all purpose flour divided (maybe even more)
1 T kosher salt
1 egg white, lightly beaten

Place water yeast and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough hook. Wait 5 minutes then add the milk, butter and honey. Mix until blended. Add eggs, 3 cups of flour and salt and mix on low for 5 minutes. Add 2 more cups flour hwile mixer continues on low. Raise speed to medium-low and add a bit more of the flour — until dough doesn’t stick to sides of bowl, sort of. Then, continue mixing for 8 minutes, adding flour as needed.

Dump dough on floured surface and knead briefly (until smooth and elastic). Put dough in buttered bow and then flip so that the top is lightly buttered. Cover and let rise — about 1 hour.

Grease 2 9X5 loaf pans. Divide dough in half and roll each piece into a loaf shape and place in prepared pan. Cover with damp towel and let rise another 1 hour (until double in bulk).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brish tops with egg white and bake 40-45 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing — if you can.

I got this recipe from one of the Barefoot Contessa recipe books. I can’t remember which one. I altered the recipe in several places and the bread that resulted was really great. The dough was so easy to work with and required almost no kneading. This makes great toast. I’ll definitely make it again….probably later this week.

Content is Forthcoming
I plan on giving y’all lots of content here this week…like pictures of the slipcover, pictures and recipes of successful bread-making endeavors, and a great recipe for loaded baked potato soup…but not today. Why not today? Because I decided that I have purchased my last package of diapers. So that means that #4 will have to be potty trained, soon. So, we are starting that today. Hopefully he will figure it out quickly. We didn’t get the best start this morning and have already had accidents (both #4 and the dog have had accidents, dang that dog) so I’ll be otherwise occupied today.

Here goes….