A table and some bread

We love having people at our house. 

We love food.

And we love cooking food for people! 

Our current dining room table can seat 6-7 people but we wanted to have a place to fit more of our friends. Michael decided he wanted to build a huge table for the deck. 

He had to build it on the deck because there is no way we could get a 10 foot table up there. 

This is before we stained the benches. I love the lights! 

We can now seat 14 people around the table!

Here is the first big group of people enjoying the table. 

Our one regret is making the table right before winter! It is a little too cold to enjoy now but come spring, we will be out here all the time!

Another recent project for me is bread making. 

I, by no means, have a clue what I am doing. I have friends who are becoming experts in the bread making world. They know all the tricks and secrets. They can make bread that is gluten free, sugar free, dairy free, vegetarian, pescatarian...(Ok, a little sarcasm ;) I am not one of them, maybe one day. I just wanted to see if I could make a simple loaf in the oven. So here is what I did:

- Package of Yeast

- 1.5 Tablespoons of salt

- 3 cups of water

- 6.5 cups of flour (I used all purpose, but I have also blended this recipe with whole wheat and bread flour)

1. Mix all the ingredients together. I mixed it all in a big pot because I needed something with a lid and big enough for the dough to rise. 

It will look something like this...

2. Place the lid on the pot/container but make sure you have a little gap to let air out or a lid with a hole in it.
3. Let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours.

(This is in the refrigerator. After I let it sit out for 2 hours I refrigerated the extra dough - just showing you how I loosely placed the lid)

This was the texture of the dough after sitting for a few hours. If you use different types of flour it won't  look like this!

4. Ok, some websites say use scissors and cut a big piece of the dough. I found it easier to use my hands. Pull/Cut off about 1 pound of dough

5. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
6. While it is preheating, spray a pan and place the dough on the pan. It is suggested to let the dough sit on the pan for 40 ish minutes before cooking.
7. You can cut knotches on the top if you like.

8. I placed the pan on the top rack and then put a brownie pan full of water on the bottom rack. 

8. Cook for 30-35 minutes

Ta-da! Some tasty bread. 

Here is my first whole wheat loaf. I used a loaf pan for this dough. I also added honey to make a honey wheat loaf. It was not as 'slimy' as the all-purpose dough so it as a lot easier to cut the notches at the top. You could also brush egg whites on the top before backing. Or dust some flour on top. 

So now it is time to experiment with honey, wheat flour, all-purpose, bakers flour, rosemary, etc. 

It is amazing that all you need is flour, yeast and water to make bread. 

We'll see if I can perfect it.

It is so simple. 

Go make a loaf and your house will smell delicious! 

Taste and see

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!"
So maybe the Psalmist did not intend for this verse to be about delicious cooking concoctions, but
I love food and I really love good food and I think God loves that I love food!
I believe He cares about our senses and seeing us so excited about the things we experience. 
We were given the ability to feel so many textures. And there's the smell of garlic and bacon cooking or Anthropologie candles! And some people cry over a pretty harmony in a song or a beautiful sunset

(I could not take my eyes off this sunset, pretty amazing!) 
But for me, I cry over good food. Yes, I am having a little Pocahontas "Colors of the Wind" moment,

 But I think life is so much sweeter when we enjoy our senses.
I think that is why I enjoy traveling so much, because everything looks different, the language sounds different, there are definitely unique smells, and of course some interesting flavors. I am so aware of my senses which seems to makes life fuller and more beautiful.
So when flavors go so well together and there is the perfect blend of yummyness and texture, I have been known to shed a few tears. I am very happy that God decided to make cabbage, kale, basil, vanilla beans, tomatoes, and strawberries (to name a few).
He is the most creative Creator.
And thanks to Him, here are some creations Michael and I made over the last month:
Now go and enjoy whatever makes you happy cry! :) 

 

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Michael and I enjoyed having turkey for a week after Thanksgiving. We made:

1. Handmade buttermilk biscuits with Turkey and a yummy sauce Michael made. 

2. Fried turkey with green beans and some leftover pomegranate molasses glaze.

3. Turkey onion cabbage wraps with a honey soy sauce. I also took the left over mashed potatoes and fried them into crispy medallions.

4. Barbecue turkey with oven roasted red potatoes and green beans and a cream sauce.

5. Pulled turkey and sweet potato gnocchi with a sage and butter sauce. We made a lot of gnocchi dough and have made it throughout the last two weeks with a different sauce to change the flavor. Delicious!

We had so many ideas but of course there is only so much turkey to use. Next year we will have to come up with a whole new set of ideas. What did you do with your leftover turkey?

First Two Months

I decided that because I am young, crafty and a newlywed, I should give blogging a shot.

The first two months of marriage have been packed full of adventures and projects:

1. It all started off with the world cup. 30 days straight of soccer games and vuvuzleas and handmade t-shirt

2. It was so monumental that we decided to get a rabbit and name him Donovan

(after the US soccer player)

3. We are having the best time cooking and using all of our wedding gifts. We both feel that a recipe that requires all of our new appliances it will be an excellent meal.

(Our first attempt at homemade mushroom ravioli)

4. Michael is making a pipe out of a block of wood

5. I decided to get into jewelry using wire and glass beads. We even bought a butane torch to help with the welding process.

6. FABRIC FABRIC FABRIC! I was inspired to make a quilt. I did not have a pattern, an expert or experience. My friend and I just went for it using incredible fabrics found on etsy! (amy butler, heather ross, denyse schmidt, etc)

I will put more pictures up once I finish the quilt!