25 November 2007


Here's another peek. I didn't get a whole lot of decorating done today. I did put the lights up around my garage, front door and deck. I can't put any on my bushes till the tree drops it's leaves. My living room is a big wreck, with lots of containers partially emptied and the tree undecorated. Stuff is everywhere. It's too big of a task for now.

I slept for 10 1/2 hours on Friday night, and for some reason I just couldn't fall asleep last night. I finally turned my light on at 2:30 and read for a while. When I turned the light off, I fell asleep instantly. I wish I had done that sooner. I met Kit for coffee in the morning, then came home to bake. I decided to make American Sandwich Bread from Baking Illustrated.




You should have seen me! I'm kind of a 'detail' person anyway, and this cookbook was right up my alley. Following it's directions, I used an instant read thermometer to make sure the milk and water were 110 degrees before adding the yeast. I marked the dough's initial height in the bowl with a rubber band before letting it rise so I could tell when it had doubled. I used my thermometer after the bread had baked the suggested time to make sure it was 195 degrees. Now I have to let it cool so I can try it. Bread and butter sounds like a plan to me. Too bad today's the start of the diet.

So, another day of being tired, tired. I still have more stories to tell, but I'll save them for another time.

Thanks for reading! Seeing comments, and knowing I have friends here, really makes me happy. Just thought I'd share that with you.


Dangly ornaments I sewed onto the edges of my window treatments. Just because.

21 comments:

Andrew said...

That is the picture perfect loaf of bread! I am in awe. I always thought bread was hard to make and bake. Loving the Christmas stuff going up. I decorated my blog today. I added Christmas music, but it started to aggravate me so I took it back down. Hope you rest tonight and I was overjoyed to stop by and see a new post!

(M)ary said...

I love home baked bread when it first comes out of the oven. The butter melts on it and tastes so Yummy!

(M)ary said...

I love home baked bread when it first comes out of the oven. The butter melts on it and tastes so Yummy!

(M)ary said...

darn it...I have done this a few times today...double commented. My computer is getting slow so I hit the enter button too many times.

C.A. said...

The bread looks heavenly and I am LOVING the dangly curtain things! :)

Very nicely done!

Dave said...

I have absolutely no doubt that the bread at your house is far better than mine! The time it gets for me to get my bread cut and buttered is the amount of time it takes me to get to the grocery store, pick it up and drive home. Yours looks really good! :-)

Jen said...

Hi..I've been reading your blog for a couple of weeks now (I can't remember how I found it, but I did!) I just wanted to come out of hiding and leave a comment..I love your blog and I look forward to reading about your life every day!

-Jen

p.s.- I live in Maryland also! :)

Jen said...

Oh yeah..The bread looks yummy!!

Lena said...

WoW, you are one busy lady!! The mantle looks beautiful and I also loved the dangly ornament on the window treatment.

Bread looks yummy, I haven't baked bread in a l o n g time.

I think Martha better move over and make room for you!

Summer said...

When I was a stay at home mom I baked a lot of bread and made home made pasta and lots of cool stuff.

You *sewed* the ornaments in?????

Thanks for asking, the knee is feeling better, I'm just a little cranky. Enjoy your day off tomorrow!

Mo said...

Wow. You have been one busy bee haven't you?


Good stuff. Can't wait to see the rest and happy you broke the mixer in with some good ole fashioned bread.

CRUSTY MOM-E said...

I love the ornaments..Can I take you shopping and pay you to help me? :)
Always,
Crusty~

CRUSTY MOM-E said...

By the way, I love the picture of your kitchen..with the plant branch right there..and all that sunlight!! So WARM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Always,
Crusty~
It mimic's your personality!!

SOUL said...

that bread is killin me!!!!
i can almost smell it now!
how was it??????
ugh boy---do i see a mixer in my future? hmmmm

i know you will enjoy that machine for YEARS...and bread and butter---and who knows what---you'll have to keep us posted what all you make in it!

bonnie said...

Congratulations! I figured with all that research the mixer ended up costing somewhere around $100. I love your baking process. I'm kind of a wing it baker and bread never looks like double to me so I resort to prayer. The little cookbook that comes with the mixer has a great recipe for English muffin bread :-)

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Your house looks great and I am sure smells wonderful with freshly baked bread. Looks like you plan to have Christmas for the whole month.

fiwa said...

Yum - your bread looks so good! Wasn't it fun to make? Strawberry jam, don't forget that along with the butter.

I love your decorations, the tinsel trees and the bauble you sewed on the window treatment.

Hope you enjoy your day today!
lovins,
fiwa

josie2shoes said...

It's been years since I've made homemade bread, and after this luscious photo, I'm dying for some. Nothing smells better in the house than baking bread. And yes, warm from the oven, with butter... mmmm! Diet be damned! :-)

Leaking Moonlight said...

I am so in the mood for Christmas now, thanks to your glittery mantle! I appreciate you spreading the holiday cheer.

Moohaa said...

Looks yummy!!!!! I love that mixer! I think I would cook more with cool toys like that! ;)

I love your mantle... I can't wait to put up more decorations..

dawn said...

your mantel is beautiful & the bread, well, the bread is gawjus. someone hold her back. i see a lot of baking in her future.

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