Making Scarecrows...

The kids and I made scarecrows at Green Valley Nursey the other day. It was a blast. It was either 2.99 for just the kit (bring your own clothes) or 7.50 for everything...

I opted for the 7.50 and wow, did I make out lol.

I got Tommy Hilfiger overalls for my one scarecrow.

I am going to save them to reuse every year!

since then, we have gone to my moms and the nieces, sisters, and my mom and the kids and I....made more scarecrows....

Now we have five in our yard! lol

Photos and Recipes storage

Again, it has been awhile!

I just wanted to share my thoughts on sharing recipes. If you have a private family recipe, and say, you are the only one who has a copy, or your family is scatterbrained, and does not keep good copies of things....and say, God Forbid, you have a house fire or other disaster that you lose everything in your home....that family recipe could be gone forever.

I feel, the more people I share it with, the better. I know, if anything happened, someone else has a copy of that cherished recipe. So what if they are making to too. It's good, right?

Another thing I have been doing is, I made a private Yahoo Group. It's a yahoo group that only I belong to, and I would welcome my family and friends if they wanted to join, but its just a nice place for me to store my recipes. Should there be a natural disaster and all of my friends lose my recipe too lol...hey, it could happen....Its online. I have not added them all yet, but I love it, because my friend will ask for a recipe and I will say, I will email it to you...and I go on my group, in my files there and copy and paste it to them. Should my hard drive go, or anything, the recipes are there.

I have also been doing this with myspace (although I rarely use it anymore) and facebook with my pictures.

It's just a little extra padded protection for the things I love and cherish.

Almost everything else is replacable (material things, of course not my kids or hubby)...

artisan bread in 5 min a day

This is an excellent book. I was skeptical, but thought, heck, I will try it. it was terrific...the family loved it!


What you do is...make a master dough recipe (and there are a few types to chose from).

Some of the recipes can make anything, bread, pizza and even donuts.

Each master recipe makes 4 loafs. You can double triple etc. You mix the dough NO KNEADING, just easy mix and let it rest on the counter for 2-5 hours. Put it in the frige for 3 hours or up to two weeks! Anytime you want to make bread, etc...you get it out, cloak it with flour (dust the top) and cut off a piece. throw the rest back in the frige, and the piece you cut off, shape and let proof (for bread) for 40 min orrrr if its pizza, just shape, top and bake.

As you can see, it takes more than 5 min some days....but you are only physically doing the work for 5 min....the resting time is not a problem....just walk away.

check out their website
www.artisanbreadinfive.com

My family loves it and I will be making many more doughs from the book. I can't wait to try the calzones, pizza and the cinnamon raisin bread!

It's been ages

My niece came over today and said, I read on your blog......omg...I have neglected this thing lol

I am making bread today from a book I got called Artisan Bread in five minutes a day. I will let you know how it turns out.
I am also making chicken pot pie in my pressure cooker.

Hi Devynne.

Amish Friendship Bread and starter recipe

I have made the bread twice now.....It is so good. starter recipe at bottom if you lose your starter or have no one to get it from.
Yes I know the amish do not use instant pudding...this is a variation recipe, if you google, you will find recipes that do not use it....I like mine with banana pudding and walnuts.


Amish Friendship Bread
Important: Do NOT use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing. Do NOT refrigerate. If air gets in the bad, let it out. It IS normal for the batter to rise and ferment. The date lines below ccan be used to help keep track of the date or day you are at in the process.
Day 1- Do nothing, this is the day you receive the bag, unless told otherwise.
Day 2- Mush the bag
Day 3- Mush the bag
Day 4- Mush the bag
Day 5- Mush the bag
Day 6-Add to the bag: 1 c flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk and mush the bag
Day 7- Mush the bag
Day 8- Mush the bag
Day 9- Mush the bag
Day 10- Mix and divide the starter. Directions below.

Dividing directions: Pour the entire contents of the bag into a non-meal bowl. Add 1½ cups flour, 1½ cups sugar and 1½ cups milk. Mix. Then measure 1 cup of the batter into each of four Ziploc bags. Keep one for yourself and give the other 3 starter bags away with a copy of the recipe instructions.
Note: Starter should be passed to a friend on the 10th day. Be certain to tell the recipient what day the bag is at when you present it to her. If you keep one starter yourself, you will be baking every 10 days.
This bread makes a great gift.
Baking Directions: To the remaining batter in the bowl add:
3 eggs 1 cup sugar ½ tsp salt
1 c oil 2 tsp cinnamon 2 c flour
½ c milk 1½ tsp baking powder 1 large or 2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding
½ tsp vanilla ½ tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 325°. Grease two large loaf pans. Mix together and additional ½ c sugar and 1½ tsp cinnamon. Dust greased pans with half of this mixture. Pour the batter evenly into the pans and sprinkle remaining sugar on top of the batter. Bake for 1 hour. Cool until bread loosens from the pan evenly (about 10 min). Turn over onto serving dish. Serve warm or fool.
Options: Add 1 cup chopped nuts, raisings or chocolate chips. You can also use chocolate pudding instead of vanilla if you prefer. ( Its really good with banana and walnuts)
If the starter turns green or gets an awful smell discard and start over.
It should have a beer like smell, that is normal.


Amish Friendship Bread Starter
AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD (STARTER)
1 pkg. active dry yeast1/4 c. warm water1 c. flour1 c. sugar1 c. warm milk (110 degrees)
Mix all and divide into one cup portions in Ziploc bags.
Follow the directions for the amish friendship bread as it needs to be fed and tended to or it will die. If it turns green discard.

My newest sunflower opened

My boys in front of our sunflower....Alex is 5 feet 8 inches tall..... and Brian is a smiley kid.

Journey

I love Journey, miss Steve Perry, but wow, look at this story....this guy is just as good.

I am going to see them at the end of the month in Hershey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89_2UivtEhs

this new song is awesome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SswnbpA2qZ0