12 posts tagged “baking”
I'm all done with baking banana and zucchini bread. I haven't made as much of those as pumpkin (more tomorrow) or friendship (more next weekend), which is fine, because my freezer probably couldn't handle more. However, the freezer is almost empty of bread now...I mailed off several loaves this morning. Hooray!
I think that next year instead of getting myself in a baking frenzy, I'm going to knit as many prayer shawls as possible. There is a shawl ministry at my church, and I know they'd love to receive some. I figure if I start in November next year, I can get 2-3 done by the first of the year.
I really should get away from the computer now and start tackling the TiVo. I think it's about to pop! I know I've got about 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies to watch...I'm so sad that it got canceled!
I'm currently in Christmas baking mode. I've been baking mini-loaves of banana, zucchini, friendship, and pumpkin breads. Whew. My freezer is full of carbs to be given away! They're being given out locally & through the mail. Some regular readers of this blog will be getting some, whether they know it or not!
I chose quickbreads this year because while I like them, they aren't tempting to me the way yeast breads are. I still salivate when thinking of yeast breads. Best to stay away for now. I'm considering making some fudge, too, but that might have to be put off until another year as well. As it is, it really feels like the Christmas season to have so many wonderful aromas in my apartment. I'm currently immersed in pumpkin. :)
Quick poll: Which iPod nano color should I choose when I buy myself one for Christmas?
Today I started my holiday baking. I got the starter going for the friendship bread, and have made 2 mini-loaves of banana bread and 2 mini-loaves of zucchini bread. I still have to figure out how I'm distributing the loaves (and there will be many more mini-loaves to come!) but they freeze well and it'll be great having impromptu gifts on hand.
If I wanted to be really productive, I could start addressing Christmas card envelopes. That would mean finding the Christmas cards that I bought last year but never even got around to opening...
Today was one of the worst college football days I've had in a long time. Sigh. I need to just focus on the fact that yay, I got to go to the game, but still...the game was a let down.
So happy stuff... I can feel muscles in my arms and legs. Seriously. It's amazing and awesome and makes me want to exercise even more! And today I jogged for 6 minutes straight. Woo hoo! As I was telling a few friends today, I sometimes feel like I've been body-snatched or something. It's strange feeling so energized about exercise, but I love it!
I'm heading to the Nashville area on Thursday to babysit my little sister and her puppy. Here is a picture of Sandy, now about a year and a half:
Isn't she beautiful?
I just walked into my kitchen to turn off the light, and could smell the bananas on the counter. Yep, they're really ripe, so I'll be baking banana bread tomorrow. I think I'll bake a couple of mini loaves and freeze them for Christmas presents. Then buy more bananas to make a couple more mini loaves. I haven't decide what other baking/candy-making I'll do if any. I should figure that out before buying more bananas, huh?
For those looking for more post-op updates...I had my first band adjustment on Thursday, and can really tell a difference. I've lost 26.8 pounds so far since September 4, and my surgeon is pleased with the progress. My next adjustment is on November 20.
Good night!
I realize this is my second update today, but I realize that lately I've mostly been talking about kittens. So here are some of the other things that have been going on lately...
* I'm about to make friendship bread again. I haven't made any since 2005 and I had to clean up the mess from the mass suicide of starter. I'm hoping for better luck with starter this time...and I don't plan on keeping it around for long.
* A friend reminded me of the song "In the Sun" by Joseph Arthur. I hadn't heard it in awhile, so I bought it on iTunes last night. It's so sad, but such a beautiful song.
* I'm not quite done with Christmas knitting yet. And I'm kind of in denial about how much I still have to knit. I should be able to get it done this weekend. That's the plan, anyway.
* I have failed miserably on the Christmas card front. I bought them. I have a list of who will get cards. But I haven't even opened the boxes to start writing in them (again with the denial...). Instead, either those will be New Year's cards or I'll send valentines. Or "baby" announcements when the kitten comes home. So for those who have already sent a card (and I've received some fantastically lovely cards!!!) know that I'll send you a card, too. Later.
* Why is just the thought of dating really hard? Sorry, that was random. No, I'm not dating anyone, but there is someone I'd like to date. I just don't know if he would date me. I don't think I told him about my blog, but I'm going to stop now in case I did...
* I might just have to watch the Grammys this year. I haven't actually watched in a long time, as I usually don't know the music. However, this year, I know a decent bit of it. I'm most excited about the "best alternative music album" category...both Lily Allen and Arcade Fire are nominated!
* This past Monday I jogged a quarter of a mile on the treadmill at the gym and didn't die. I know that's not a long distance, but it's the most I've done in *years.* Possibly the most I've done since high school. And it felt awesome. :)
* For some reason about half of my Netflix queue is "short wait." Including, of course, Doctor Who season 3. Now that I'm caught up with stuff on TiVo, I'd like to watch more DVDs, please.
* Speaking of DVDs, my catsitter loaned me Twin Peaks season 1 to watch over Christmas break. Can you believe I've never seen that show?
* Yes, I'm now on Christmas break. The library doesn't reopen until December 31. I cannot express to you how happy I am to have a week off.
* Last night my iPod died. It's a pink mini that I bought in May 2005, just before going to San Antonio for MLA. When I turned it on I just got the sad iPod face. Very sad, indeed.
* If I get some Christmas money this year, I think I'll buy an iPod shuffle. I primarily used Pretty Pink iPod for working out (and some during travel) so the shuffle should work fine for me.
* I think Wednesdays will be my download-pics-and-blog-about-them day. I let pictures just sit on the digital camera for too long. I've been thinking about (and actually *writing down*) some daily schedule stuff for myself in an attempt to be better organized with my time and complete various projects.
* My sourdough starter seems to be losing some umph. Anyone with sourdough bread experience, I may need your help in the near future. I have a couple of ideas that I'm going to try this weekend first.
* I'm really looking forward to seeing a few out-of-town friends in December. Yay holiday parties!
* I'm hungry. It must be time for my apple & string cheese snack. :)
...because I can't seem to get a coherent post together in my head. ;)
* It's sourdough time!!! I mixed up some starter last night using the Joy of Cooking recipe that I've been using for years & years. Hopefully, this will be the same starter that I use when making loaves for Christmas presents. In the past I haven't made it far enough in advance. Good bread, but not v. sourdough-tangy.
* I've been really into housekeeping lately. I know I've always strived to keep things tidy, but this is a new level of tidiness for me. I love it!
* I've also been really into exercising lately, which is great. I don't look forward to it every day (yet!) and often have to bribe myself into going. But it's a start, right?
* I had a bread epiphany tonight. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls aren't trying to be croissants. They're just rolled up yeast roll dough (or something like it). This is what I was thinking about when gently kneading dough that will soon be homemade crescent rolls.
* There are currently 6,453 people ahead of me on Ravelry. I'm really antsy to get my invitation to join.
* I'm about to continue my reading assignment for EfM tomorrow night. I can't believe I'm already in Year Three!
* I've started reading The Golden Compass in preparation for the movie coming out soon. At first I thought it was just meh, but I'm starting to enjoy it more.
* There is a Gossip Girl book waiting for me at the public library right now. Shush.
* A few updates on my 101 things:
-I'm planning to take a cake decorating class sometime next summer (#53)
-I have a short story started (well, it's my abandoned NaNoWriMo from last year...) (#46)
-Fattypants and I have decided to see a ballet (#28) when I visit Seattle (#16) one of these days. I imagine that Bagelmonkeys will also join us. :)
* As far as football this past weekend: Geaux LSU Tigers Geaux!!! Of course, I was disappointed in Tennessee's loss. However, they played a good game and never gave up. The defense needs a little work (strike that--a LOT of work) but I think they'll play well this weekend at home against Southern Mississippi.
* Work is going well. I'm working on a project that I'm enjoying, and just turned in an edited paper for publication (hopefully later this year). And I'm working on yet another paper. I will be prolific yet, even if it is just in medical library journals.
I just realized that it's been a week since I've updated, so here we go...
Gotcha. You thought I had something really cool to talk about tonight. Nope, it's been the same old stuff around here. Work is good, life is good, Daisy is good. I'm going to visit my dad, stepmom, baby sis, and the puppy this weekend.
Here are a few random things:
* June is going by way too fast. Last year I started making Christmas presents in August and that worked out really well. Now I've only got a month and a half to make more stuff for me/learn some new skills before starting presents. If I decide to make presents again this year. Well, I'll be making something...not sure if it will be my traditional gift of loaves of bread (I've done that a few times) and/or fudge and cookies and/or knitting/crocheting things. I like giving (and receiving!) things made by hand. I wrote out my list today, and pretty much the only "for sure" thing is that I'll be making is for my grandpa: a pair of wool socks and/or a hat.
* I got a new cell phone! Same number of course, but this newer phone makes it so much easier to text. Yay! Oh, and probably the most important thing (besides that there were enough credits/in-store rebates that it cost me nothing): it's PINK!
* I made the best cheddar bread tonight that I've ever made. Everything turned out about as close to perfect as I can imagine it. I'm taking a loaf to my dad's (a Father's Day treat!) and leaving the rest of the other loaf for my catsitter.
* I got a sample of a new cat food, Cat Chow Naturals. Daisy loves it! And they carry it at my local grocery store, so I might get it for her next time.
* I've started watching the American version of The Office on with the Netflix "watch now" feature. I can't believe how funny this show is, and that I haven't been watching it all along!
* There are probably other little things that I could write about, but that would then qualify this blog for one of the most boring ones around. So I think I'll stop for now.
Ever since Een posted her croissant-making experience, I've been wanting to give them a try again. I've never had a true French croissant, so I don't know if mine even come close. But after eating one tonight, I may not ever be able to eat a Pillsbury Crescent Roll again. They were super flaky and buttery and so very good. I'm going to have one with tea for breakfast tomorrow...what a treat!
I used the recipe in an old edition of Joy of Cooking. It took several hours, but the final product is worth every minute.
Below is a picture of them just out of the oven, still swimming in butter.
