Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Bread and Butter

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I used this recipe last night. It's by far my favorite one--there are some days you want something fancier, but this is a fantastic basic basic recipe. I'm assuming in this recipe that you have a KitchenAid (or a mixer with a dough hook) and a vague understanding of making bread. If you have questions, write them in the comments (where Marianne can answer them!)

Bread

Pour 1/2 cup warm water (like 100 degrees, think really hot bath water. It's hard to get it to hot if you are getting it out of the tap) into mixer.

Add 1 TBsp active dry yeast and 1 TBsp sugar. Let sit until creamy, about 5 minutes. Add additional 2 cups warm water.

Add 6 cups white flour and 1 TBsp. salt. Mix with dough hook, slowly at first and then on a medium speed once flour is incorporated.

If the dough does not come together, add more flour, 1 TBsp at a time. (I usually end up using 6 1/2 of flour) Mix for 10 minutes. Add 4 TBsp butter (at room temperature) a tablespoon at a time. The dough will come apart as you add the butter, but keep beating, it will come back together. When butter is fully incorporated, remove bowl from mixer, cover with a towel and let rest for 1 hour.

Punch down dough, divide into two pieces. On counter roll into a rectangle about 9x12, roll up and place, seam side down into bread pan. Place in cold oven and let rise 1 hour.

Turn oven on to 375. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until browned and the loaves sound hollow when tapped. Remove from oven and immediately remove from pans. Let them cool on wire racks so crust crisps on all sides (if you set it on the counter it will sweat and the bottom will turn soggy)

Once completely cool, keep bread in brown paper bag or wrap airtight and freeze.

Butter

Fantastic homemade bread screams for honey butter. Mine has a secret ingredient--powdered sugar! This is not health food, people!

Combine 2 cubes real butter, (close to room temp- works best when slightly chilled. I take it out of the fridge for about 20 minutes), 2/3 cup honey and 3/4 cup powdered sugar

Just place it all in a bowl and beat with an electric hand-mixer for about 30 seconds. Serve at room temperature. Your butt won't fit in your jeans, but at least it was worthwhile.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Potty Training: Not For the Weak.

Did you know Blake hasn't been a part of potty training yet? Colin was potty trained when he was deployed to the Middle East (women trying to teach a boy to pee standing up = hilarity)

So he's not down with the constant potty talk, the dances, the potty talk, the rewards, THE CONSTANT POTTY TALK.

Do you need to pee?

Are you peeing right now?

YAH! You PEED!

I'm pretty sure my raw sex appeal has never been higher.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Bullets don't kill people, I kill people. Or throw cups at them.

  • Let's jump right in. Do you backup your computer files? Because dammit women, you should. My computer imploded a couple weeks ago and I was thanking the heavens above that I had backed everything up. I use Backblaze--you should too. It's awesome.

  • Computer imploding = no new pictures for you. All pictures in this post where taken by Natalie Norton. Because what is a post without pictures?

  • Oh yeah, we're moving. Not off island, just to a different part. The drive/expense of the area we live in has taken it's toll. Question: Is it harder to move cross country or twenty miles? The Jacobson are about to find out. If you'd like a free* Hawaiian vacation, come help us move.

  • This picture captures my family perfectly. No one is doing was they're supposed to except Blake. Welcome to my everyday.


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  • I hate all my clothes. Can I start over? Discuss.


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  • I got so mad at the dog next door (which I refer to as "That Damn Dog") after it barked for an hour at 3 a.m. that I literally ripped the screen off my window and threw a cup at it. I totally hit it too--take that 3 a.m. barking! If you are my neighbor reading this, I'm not even sorry.


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    *Free Hawaiian vacation does not include airfare, but does include cheapo pizza on moving day.

    Thursday, March 5, 2009

    Winner! Winner!

    You guys are so sweet. Some of you actually thought I would wait days until going to Target. It's like you don't know me at all.

    I was there opening day 19 minutes after it opened (delayed only because of that pesky first born of mine that had to be dropped off at school) It was glorious. There are no words and there might have been weeping involved.

    Target, you've come back to me.

    Oh yes, and the winner is ANDREA! Woman, you WIN! Email me at whereisharmony@hotmail.com and we'll get your prize to you.

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