Best French Bread Ever!

This is, so far, the best french bread recipe the wife has come across.

It comes from the Heritage Cookbook by the Junior League of Salt Lake City, Inc. 

(On page 56 under Fabulous French Bread, for those who might own it.)

Ingredients:

• 2 packages dry yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 cups hot water
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 5 tbsp shortening or oil (I use canola oil)
• 6 cups flour
• 1 egg white

Instructions:

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and let stand 10 minutes.
2. Thoroughly mix 2 cups hot water, sugar, salt, shortening/oil, and half the flour in a large bowl.
3. Add the yeast to the mixture in the large bowl.
4. Add the rest of the flour to the mixture in the large bowl.
5. (This is where you might want a mixer) You allow the dough to sit for 10 minutes and then stir it really well. You repeat this process 5 times, or for 50 minutes. The dough gets really huge and fluffy during this time. Keep it covered; you don't want it to dry out.
6. Knead the dough on a floured surface 1-2 times.
7. Divide dough in half.
8. Roll out each half into 9'' x 12'' rectangles.
9. Loosely roll up each rectangle (hot-dog style) and pinch the the seams closed. 
10. Cover a large cookie sheet with a thin layer of corn meal. 
11. Place both rolls seam side down onto the sheet. 
12. Allow the rolls to rise for 30 minutes.
13. Brush a thin layer of beaten egg white onto the tops of the rolls. 
14. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes at 400 degrees F (my oven cooks hot, so I usually bump the temperature down to 380). You can tell they're done cooking if the loaves sound hollow when you tap them. 

The crust is so golden brown, and the insides are delicious!

Enjoy!

Halloween Preparations

Get ready annual trunk-or-treat

because this year the wife is going all-out 

for costumes and decorations!

The sci-fi adventurous and creative sides came together to create, once again,

some future space-faring medical officers and a shuttle pod. 

And if you don't have funds to spare, you say?

Cardboard, pen, paper, scissors, and glue will save the day!

It all began with an idea, some paper, a pen, and a pair of scissors.

Then the wife discovered she had glue, and gold and aluminum foil.

It looks fairly real to me! Perhaps a little more shiny, but it'll do.

A Quilt of Which Grandma Would be Proud!

Nearly 10 years ago the wife sketched and colored-in a quilt design on paper. 

She hoped it would reflect something about revelation, restoration, hope and love.

It's even got a little palm tree in it. 

She can't help it; sunny California has left it's mark!

Here's the finished picture:

Now all it needs is some batting and someone to cuddle with.

Anniversary Day

It's that time again!

The anniversary of the two peas.

Lately they've been taking hikes and walks to celebrate.

Here's the day in pictures from a beautiful nearby park:

Forests!

Beautiful clearings with gorgeous wild flowers....

And mushrooms....

And Assassin Bugs!

What a beautiful day!

Oh, this poor yard!

The two peas have been working hard to clean up 

this sad, neglected, over-grown, weed and vine ridden backyard. 

Whew!

Here's some pics for updates,

since pictures speak faster than I can:

These vines are ridiculous and run shallowly under the soil for 10's of feet. 

Resetting the stones....

Filling in the sides with fresh cedar mulch. It smells so good!

Clearing out even the tiny weeds. Believe it or not, but most of those little leaves on the ground by the pot are from several tiny tree shoots we had to cut out.

A few potted flowers here and there to brighten it up a little.

Donating Hair!

Two years ago the wife chopped off most of her hair with the intention of donating it.

Yeah...the key phrase being intent.

So, this year the wife chopped it off again.

This time it's going in the mail!

Here's the damage:

It was so long!

My stylist did an awesome job!

Creamy Soy Alfredo Sauce

The two peas love Alfredo sauce, 

but not the fact that a serving (1/2 cup with noodles) is usually 600+ calories. 

So, the wife whipped up this version instead, and it tastes pretty good.

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Light Original Soy Silk (you can try using almond milk)
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 6-8 tbsp Parmesan Cheese (based on using the powder kind; you can also grate your own)
• 2 tbsp corn starch (thoroughly mixed with 2 tbsp cold water)
• Black pepper, salt, and garlic to taste
• Dash of ground nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Sautee 1-2 cloves of garlic in butter. (You can use garlic salt or garlic powder to flavor the sauce instead).
2. Add soy milk to pan with butter, and heat it until the milk starts bubbling. 
3. Add parmesan cheese one tablespoon at a time and mix thoroughly with a wisk into the milk. 
4. Add the corn starch mixture and thoroughly mix into the milk and cheese sauce immediately.
5. Allow sauce to thicken and simmer over medium to low heat for about 3-5 minutes. 
6. Add seasonings to taste and the dash of nutmeg.

The recipe serves 4 people. 

With a serving of noodles, the total calorie count is about 400-440 (depending on whether you use 6 or 8 tbsp of parmesan cheese).

Enjoy!