Homemade Artisan Bread (...in 15 min of work)

Getting tired of buying the yummy, yet expensive ($4), artisan breads from the grocery store? I did too. I turned to HyVee (grocery chain) and their cooking demos. I lucked out and happened to attend one of their sessions with a dietitian on "How to bake bread". Yes! So, today, I made my first loaf of bread. This recipe only takes 10 minutes to measure the ingredients and mix. THERE IS NO KNEADING INVOLVED! It was hearty, warm, and flaky. My 4 year old ate all her bread AND all the clam macaroni (with spinach, Parmesan, and mushrooms) that was served with it. Double YES! Even better? It only cost me .83 cents to make a loaf. OK, all the supplies cost me $11, but I didn't use them all...and the portions I did use, would cost about $3.32...divided by 4 since it makes 4 loaves.  :) 

Here's my step by step (sorta):

1. Mix yeast and salt in 100 degree F water, then add all the other dry ingredients. I did add 1/2 cup of  Flaxseed flour/meal to the mix and decreased my all-purpose flour by 1/2 cup. Not very scientific, but turned out great! 

2. Mix (I used wet hands to mix the last little bit of flour in) Dough will be sticky!

3. Cover dough (I used wax paper...you don't want it airtight) and let sit 2 hours.

4. After it has risen properly, it will be flat on the top.

5. Once risen, you can throw entire bowl (covered) into fridge for up to 14 days.  Use it whenever you need bread. However, I was hungry so...You can quarter the dough to make 4 (1 lb) loaves. A quarter of the dough is about a "grapefruit" sized amount. Make sure to flour your hands and use floured parchment paper underneath (parchment paper ISN'T necessary, but handy). Here I have just pulled the sides down and under to give the top a round shape. This will make a "boule" style loaf. Shape anyway you please. Baguette (will cook in half the time), wreath, etc.

6. Next, for the boule loaf, I cut slices about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch down. Let rest another 30 minutes.

7. While my oven preheated, I placed my pizza stone in there as well...and a pan of water underneath. Once it was at temp, I slid the parchment paper and bread into the oven to bake. I use a gas stove,  so the humidity/steam from the water pan below is critical to getting a nice crusty crust.

8. Its done when the internal temp reaches about 200-210ish degrees F. I let it cool a bit before serving warm with dinner. MMMM! 

RECIPE FROM HYVEE:

Kicking Cancer to the Curb...Advent style!

Thanks to my sister and CuresRock!, my mom set forth on a very domestic project for a friend that will be in the hospital for a while. My sis  wanted to do some sort of advent calendar that could hold messages, treats, goodies for her friend as a "pick-me-up" during her hospital stay. My sis emailed all her crafty friends for ideas...and we all attacked Pinterest in true crafty style. My mom, preferring the old school method of craftiness, just headed to the fabric store where she found some adorable "Tree of Life" fabric panels. And so it began...

She purchased two panels so one could be cut up for the "pockets", some side panels, ribbons, iron on numbers (for the days), thread, and some glittery buttons and baubles to accessorize the advent calendar. If you are looking for the same fabric, try this link:
http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=3c66c922-3dea-4276-9576-6f33c61d4222

Thought I'd post this idea for my Mom who is just too clever for Pinterest.  hehe. Nice work Mom! And thank you CuresRock (http://www.curesrock.org) for your great blogs and links.

Together, lets ALL kick cancer to the curb!

Those Problematic Pit Stains

Ok, totally not glamorous to even mention this, but ... I will anyway. I love my white shirts and cute white tees, but I really don't like the fact that after a couple months of wear and tear, the armpits begin to yellow. Thinking it was just my sweat, I was grossed out. I tried adding bleach to the whites load, to no avail. UNTIL...I learned that it is actually the deodorant that discolors the shirts and that bleach is one of the worst things for deodorant stains. A little Oxyclean and some detergent, and VIOLA! Shirt as white as new! Really easy, use the measurements as a guide, not a rule. You really can't go wrong. Here are some pictures of my most recent wash. The lacey white shirt was actually in the "to donate" pile since I didn't appreciate the yellow pit stains...and now its saved!  Love stuff like that.

HOW TO WHITEN THE YELLOW STAINS:
1. Mix about a tablespoon of Oxyclean granules with about a tablespoon or two of regular fabric detergent (any liquid detergents will work) in a cup (I used the soap cup that came with the fabric detergent). Stir.
2. The mixture will get slightly warm. Don't wait to use this stuff...it will harden within the hour.
3. Once stirred, spoon/slather/wipe the mix onto the armpit areas that are yellowed.
4. Let it sit for 20 minutes or so. I accidentally left mine unattended for about 3 hours, and nothing bad happened.  :)
5. The mix will harden on the shirt. Wash off in a sink until most of the soapy bubbles subside.
6. Throw in with the next load of appropriately light to white colored clothing.
7. Wash. Dry. and be WOWed!

Rainbow Dash (MLP) Cupcakes

I came across this clever idea for a My Little Pony themed cupcake (thank you to all the 4 year olds and college students that are still fantasizing about these fillies)...can't remember where, but I loved the simple idea. The MLP rings I purchased for about $4 for 12 (free shipping) via Amazon.com.

1. Headed out to the local mall's candy shoppe for the rainbow sour ribbons. They were a little on the flimsy side, so in hindsight, I'd double up the rainbows to give a bit more oomph. Then again, your candy shop may have thicker ribbons that don't bend so easily.

2. Made confetti cupcakes and baked according to the box.

3. Used a can of cream cheese frosting, of which, I mixed in blue food dye (a few drops does the trick--you can always add more later). I then spread that onto the tops of the cooled cupcakes.

4. I made a small batch of cream cheese frosting using a package of cream cheese and half bag of powdered sugar. I wanted it thick like playdoh...so if you need to, add more powdered sugar. I dumped this in to a baggie and used the baggie like a pastry bag (just cut the corner off to squeeze frosting out). This white frosting was used for the clouds. 

5. Once cloud piles are in place, I cut up the sour ribbons in to 3 inch sections and stuck one end in a cloud and the other end, in the other cloud.

6. If needed, reinforce edges of rainbows with frosting "clouds". 

7. Place in the refrigerator until needed.