Whats the Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?

Whats the Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?

Homemade freshly baked Bread, that you get to slice yourself!  This is my answer!

We were given a bread making machine for our wedding 5 years ago.  Thanks Rhonda!  About a year ago we needed to buy a new one.  Now a Thanks to my parents they gave us a new one for Christmas last year.  I have probably made more loaves of bread in the last month, then I have the whole year as of yet.  There is something magically about adding in ingredients, waiting 4hrs and the smell in that last 45mins is truly amazing!  (I have 20mins left on today's loaf as I'm typing, Yummy)

I love how there is only 7 ingredients, much less then store bought bread.  I also love knowing all those ingredients, and to know there isn't anything else added that shouldn't be.  French Toast, Sandwiches, Garlic Bread, all taste so much better on bread you make yourself.

I know some of you are saying "But she has a machine she didn't really make it herself."  On one hand I can agree, true I didn't knead the bread, wait for it to rise, knead again, ect.  But you also have to admit that my machine baked bread is alot closer to Handmade then any store bought bagged loaf....Right?  :-)

Angelina helps nearly every time I bake, and making bread is her favorite.  I used to just let her pour in the ingredients after I measured, she was satisfied.  It didn't take long before she wanted to help more.  I then let her scoop the ingredients, then I would scrap with the knife to make everything perfect, then she would pour.  This last time I decided to let her use the knife and scrap to measure perfectly, and she just lite up and felt so proud that I would let her help in that way.  She even shared with Daddy what she "got to do" when he got home.  My heart sure felt warm, just allowing her to do something so simple, sure meant the world to her.

I hope she keeps these memories with her as she grows up, and the smell of freshly baked bread brings her back to her childhood!


I thought I would share the recipe as well, in case any of you are looking for a super simple, easy, and tasty Bread Machine recipe.

This is for a Large Loaf, no mixing necessary and I add the ingredients in this order to the machines pan.

3 1/2 Cups of Flour 

(I use Bread Machine Flour, from mom...so thats all I know about it, lol)

1 tsp. Salt

2 Tbsp. Dry Milk

2 Tbsp. Butter

3 Tbsp. Sugar

1 1/2 Cups (12oz) of Water (room temp)

1 1/4 tsp. Dry Yeast 

I set my machine to a Large Loaf and Med Crust, push start and relax for 4hrs.  :-)

I always like looking at pictures, so in turn I like to share them!

Ingredients all ready, almost closing up the lid

Love opening the lid and seeing a perfect loaf

Out of the pan, cooling down before we slice

101 Things I Want to Accomplish

http://www.dayzeroproject.com/

A friend had shared that link a couple of months ago, she had made her own list.  Since then I have wanted to make MY list, but have not taken the time to do so.  I have thought of a few items, but no where near 101.
The idea is to make a list of 101 "things" you want to do in 1001 days.  Thats one mighty long list!  But I think I am finally ready to write my list, and actually start doing them!

I usually have so much going on in my head, from Wife and Mother duties, the grocery list, the bill list, my work schedule not to mention things I want to get accomplished, and or try someday.  Its time to get some of this out of my head, onto a piece of paper, to clear my head for other grand ideas. 

Now don't get all excited, as I don't have my list ready to share, bummer I know.  But in the up and coming days I'll have it for you.  I won't leave you hanging as I will post a few of my ideas at the end of the post. 

Is anyone else willing to try this?  I am trying to get my husband on board, but he's a bit leery.  Maybe after he reads this post he'll be game.  *Hint Hint*  I'm excited about this, there is something powerful about actually putting an idea to work, and sharing it with others.  Thanks for allowing me to do just that!
Hugs

-To buy a pair of Red High Heels and actually wear them
-To sew a whole outfit for Angelina (Dress, or skirt/pants and a shirt)
-To find an old item of clothing of mine and make it into something new
-Lose 50pounds
-To read a book with the Authors Last Name beginning with each letter of the alphabet (I'm on letter D)
-To make something thats worth selling
-To run a 5k Race

Thats what I have so far.  I want this list to be full by Saturday the 11th.  Wish me Luck!!!

Me and My Health

Me at the Beach

I have blogged for 9 days straight, and I thought it was time to dive into another aspect of this blog.  My Journey of Weight Loss and Getting Healthy.  I'm not going to share my whole 29 years of life with you, that would be boring to read, even for me.  But I am going to start with the latest 2 years.  Its short, trust me!

May of 2008 I went to the dr with sever stomach pains, those pains had been effecting me for months at that point.  I'm very stubborn when it comes to drs for myself.  Aren't all mothers?  :-)  Well at that dr appointment I learned that I was diabetic.  I tried to tell myself that I was only "PRE" Diabetic...but I wasn't being truthful.  I read, researched, and even went to an educational class, all said that I could live a healthy life, but I just had to gain control.  I was very hopeful!  (The stomach pains were stressed related, I later found out)

For those of you who don't know, the basics about Diabetes is your blood sugar (BS) count.  Or Glucose Blood Sugar Number.  In real simple terms, people with Diabetes 2, they can't use the glucose taken in via food as efficient as someone without Diabetes.  There are different specifics about diabetes, but I'm going to keep it at the general level for this post.  So in the end, I have more sugar in my blood that can't efficiently leave, so there is a raise in my BS.  I do have a way to check this multiple times a day, so I know what sort of effect different types of foods have on my BS. 

That brings us up to last year May.  At this point I had lost almost 50 pounds.  I never saw it as that big of a deal though.  (I am now in a different mindset, which is very important to me, and I see that 50 pounds as a whole lot!!!)  My BS had come down, but no where near what a normal person is. 

I have currently gained back 15 of those pounds in the course of this past year.  They say weight gain sneaks up on ya, and thats 100% true, I just wish the opposite was true instead.  I have gone to a Diabetes Specialist twice in the last 4 months, and hes keeping a close eye on me.  I am proud to say that I have lost 8 pounds and my BS is slowly creeping down.  All good things, but there is much more work to be done.

Me and My family have taken steps towards being more healthy.  My Post Pantry Full of Crap shared with you one of those major steps.   I will admit that our day trip to the ocean set me back a bit, Starbucks, Mc D's, Snackies, and Chinese food.  But I chose to enjoy the day to the fullest :-) 

I was reading a book tonight that explained a bit about Diabetes.  I always knew exercise was important, 30mins a day.  But especially for ME!  They explained it by having all this extra glucose in your blood, not able to convert over to energy.  The best way to get "rid of it" is to MAKE your body use it up, ie. EXERCISE!!!  Sometimes being told something in the simplest form, just makes sense.  A light bulb went off in my head tonight, a visual of seeing all that sugar just floating around.  Its time to put it to work.  I want my body to be a powerful EFFICIENT Machine!  I deserve that, we ALL deserve it!!!

Pictures Galore

Our day trip to the beach couldn't have been any better then what it was.  The weather was a perfect 67degrees, sun shinning, not a cloud in the sky.  Here at home it barely reached 60, with rain....I just had to laugh!
Angelina was so thrilled with the beach and ocean water.  I don't think I remember her ever being so giddy before!  I loved every minute of it! 
I apologize that this post today is going to be short, we are all very tired, and bed time is nearing very quickly here.  Every time I walk down the hallway this evening, I dreamt of the time of night where I can lay down on the crisp chilled sheets and pillows, cover up and close my eyes!  But I promised some pictures, and pictures you get!
Enjoy!!!

Ocean Shores in Washington State

Angelina Flying Her Kite High

Angelina and Daddy Made a Sandcastle Fit for a Princess

My Lovely Daughter

Angelina Loved to Jump Over the Waves

So Very Fortunate That A Passerby Took this For Us!

We Are "B-B" Beach Bound

In approximately 14hrs we are packing up our vehicle and heading to the beach!  We were supposed to go camping last night and tonight, but due to work related issues, we were not able to continue with those plans.  Instead of being bummed, we decided to make a FULL day of it, and enjoy the ocean scene on Saturday instead.
Our plans are to leave "When Starbucks Opens" and drive the 3hrs to Ocean Shores.  Angelina has yet to see the ocean beaches so we are all very excited.  This morning I had the following conversation...

Me: Guess what we get to do tomorrow Angelina?

Angelina:  I don't know  (Her go-to answer for just about anything)  (I'm sure in years to come this is going to be accompanied by an eye roll) 

Me:  We get to go see the Ocean!!!!  (Yes I was really this enthusiastic)

Angelina:  Boring!  (My bubble just burst, rain on my parade... you get my drift)

Me:  You don't want to go play on the beach?

Angelina:  Yeah!!!!  The BEACH!!!  Can I bring my bucket and shovel?

I just laughed...Apparently she didn't know that seeing the ocean meant being on the beach.  Silly me!  So after that conversation we spent a little time talking about the ocean, beach, waves, ect.  Now we are all on the same page, and just as excited about out trip tomorrow!

Its going to be a full day of driving, eating, exploring, sand castle making, kite flying, and memory making!  I can't wait!!!

Enjoy your Friday evening and Saturday Everyone!  Pictures of our day will be up tomorrow evening!

A Cute Angelina Story

This happened a few weeks ago, but its too cute not to share.  And all you mommies out there will get a crack out of it, hopefully, well at least maybe a chuckle, or a smile.  :-)

We have a small dirt path right outside of our deck, it goes the whole stretch of the back porch and window area.  Angelina LOVES to dig out there, I'm not sure our apartment management team feels the same way, but they have yet to say anything.  So we encourage it by buying buckets rakes and shovels, lol!

Well one evening, Angelina had asked to go out digging, it just so happened to be after a bath, but being the nicest parents we are, we said Go For It!  Actually I'm sure Big Brother was on, and I told her yes just so I could get back to my show. 

About 5mins later it hit me, I just told her to go play in the dirt after a bath.  I was hoping at the least she had shoes on.  I then yelled through the window (during a commercial)

"What do you have on your feel Angelina?"  In that motherly tone I have. 

 Praying she says, Tennis Shoes, Flip Flops, or even Dancing shoes. 

Well she yells back the most obvious answer from a 4 1/2 year old....

"Dirt!"

Yep you guessed it, my sweet Angelina outside playing AFTER a bath with nothing on her feet except for DIRT!

Mae's Smashin' Cauliflower

Here is a good recipe for anyone that wants to add more veggies in their own diet or in their family's diet.  Maybe without them knowing :-)

This I'm going to call,

Mae's Smashin' Cauliflower

I am always looking for a way to "hide" veggies, and these resemble Mash Potatoes.  The following are the ingredients you will need

1 Whole Cauliflower

Water

Green Onions

Garlic

Pepper

Butter

Milk

First Step: Cut the greens off of the cauliflower.  Cut the remaining parts into big chunks.  Put it into a sauce pan with enough water to be able to boil the cauliflower.  (Like my measurements?)

Second Step: Boil until the cauliflower is soft.  In the mean time you can cut the green onions, and garlic.

Third Step: Drain the cauliflower, and smash it much like you would when making mash potatoes. 

Forth Step:  Add in about 1 tablespoon of butter, and enough milk to your desired consistency. *

*Helpful Hint, don't add too much milk (like I did) it became soupy and cooled the cauliflower down too much.  I put them back on the burner which was no problem, but made dinner a bit later then I wanted. 

Fifth Step:  Add in the green onions, garlic, and sprinkle pepper. 

Final Step:  Enjoy!

As I was writing this I had some extra ideas.  Using a bit of sour cream, also adding in some bacon bits.  Pretty much use the motto "The Skies the Limit!"

Let me know if you try this recipe.  It had a "Make it Again" review in my home!