Today's Refashion.

This week has been busy. Christmas parties, cleaning, decorating and the like. I was going to post a recipe since I haven't done that but it didn't get done. And it is hard to take a decent photo of our dinner when it gets dark at 4:30. Flash food photography isn't pretty. But my new dress is!

It started out looking like this.



I found it at our local thrift store for $2. I liked the sheerness. Is that word? Anyway, I started to go one direction with this dress months ago. But I just didn't like it. I cut the sleeves and tried to make it into a v-neck. It wasn't working. So, I just put it in my closet and then forgot about it. A friend of mine came by and (I was bragging about how cool I am that I refashion clothes) I was showing her some of my ideas and she was the one that said I should make it into a baby doll dress. And so that's what I did. I turned it around, so there is a little button in the back, and made it into an empire waist baby doll dress and I love it. I have worn it twice now. You can't tell in the picture but my tights are brown with flowers all over them. It looked really cute with my pink flower pin. I think that I am going to have to retire it for the summer though. I wore a sweater, tights and a slip and I was still cold.



Don't you think I just sparkled in it? Oh wait that's just the flash. And trust me this was the best picture. I think I need to figure out the timer button on my camera because this picture in the mirror thing just isn't working.

RE-fashion Friday on a Saturday.

"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair..." Not really of course, but I do feel a bit like little Alexander. It's just been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And I can't even explain why. Some days are like that I guess. So I know I am a little behind with this post. And I also promised you more blog worthy photos. I lied. Moving on.

Before



This dress really wasn't too outdated. I bought it because it was such a great color. It's so bright and cheerful. And I also knew it would be an easy fix. This dress took me all of an hour to refashion. I took off the collar, adjusted the length of the sleeves and the hem. And removed the awesome plastic silver buttons and replaced them with simple black ones.

After




I really liked the way it turned out. Even if my face looks awkward and scrunchy. And you can see my laundry in the mirror. I think if you look closely you can see the same laundry in last week's photo. It's like a virtual scavenger hunt. Can you find Waldo too? I digress. My bad mood is showing. I apologize. Come back next week.

If I'm not here, I decided to move to Australia.

Not a real post.

This isn't a real post because I don't have a real recipe. I don't have anything real important to say. And Jason says a baked potato isn't a real dinner. So. You get this picture of a potato. And I know that looks like an unholy amount of sour cream, but I assure you, the potato was heavenly.



Baked Potatoes
4-6 Idaho potatoes
1-2 T. kosher salt
1/4 c. olive oil

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Wash and prick your potatoes. Next dump the salt onto a plate and pour the oil on top. Take your potatoes and roll them around in the oil and salt until they are covered. Next, and this is the most important step, place all your potatoes in a cast iron skillet. It must be cast iron. If you don't have one, go out an buy one. Because no self respecting cook is without a well seasoned cast iron pan. Lodge is a really good brand, if you need to know. And don't even think about using aluminium foil, just place your pan, uncovered, in the hot oven and bake for an hour or until they are fork tender. The skin will be crunchy but that's what makes these so great. Crunchy and salty on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Serve them with all your favorite toppings. I added chopped, pickled jalepenos to mine and it was unreal. ;)

RE-fashion Friday!

First off wanted to mention the new Gatsbyesque header photo. If you are getting this in your reader, you won't see it. So click on over and tell me what you think. I found the photo op on our trip to Granbury. I love it. It's just creepy enough to be cool. And the word on the street is that they are doing a remake of 'The Great Gatsby' with Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick and newcomer Carey Mulligan as Daisy. Baz Lurhmann is directing and he is a GENIUS so I am excited.

Anyway, onto re-fashion Friday. I love to sew. And thanks to my mother, I know how. Her mother taught her. So I guess I am thankful for my Grandmother too. And fairly recently I was inspired by this talented lady and her blog. So while in Houston over the holiday weekend, I did a little thrifting. I found several dresses including this one.



I hope to make this a regular feature on the blog so I promise to have more blog worthy photos next time. Needless to say, this photo does not do the dress justice. It is a deep navy blue with vibrant purple and pink flowers. Here is how I wore it.



Though you can't see because of the sweater, I detached the sleeves, changed the neckline and the hem. I also took it in several inches on each side. I really liked the way it turned out. I feel it is still a little big at the waist and plan on bringing it in some more. I went with a bright pink tight which Jason questioned, but I feel turned out really well. I wore it on Wednesday to a sub job, and got quite a few stares from the kids.

But it's just because they never had a substitute teacher who dressed so cool. That's what my story anyway. And I'm sticking to it.

Aimless

I was going to post a recipe tonite but something happened instead. I took the dogs out in the front yard to do what dogs need to do and I looked up. I don't know about you but I often forget to do that. To just look up and marvel at creation. The stars. But it wasn't the stars I saw. First a preface.



This is a picture of me and my best childhood friend Carmel. We were born exactly one year and one day apart. It was like we were meant to be friends. We grew up in the same town but grew apart as our lives took us down different paths. We remained friends and every year I would think of her and sometimes talk to her on our birthdays. Almost 7 years ago Carmel had a heart attack and passed away.

One year when we were in our teens we took a trip to Taos. Our favorite thing to do was to take a blanket out late at night and lie down and stargaze. On one night we looked up and saw something different. It looked like a star but it was moving very slowly in an arc. We knew it wasn't a plane and it was much to slow to be a shooting star. Since we didn't know what it was, we named it an 'aimless wanderer.' It was childish and romantic and perfect. That is until my mom burst our bubble and told us it was just a satellite.

When I looked up tonite I saw one. An 'aimless wanderer.' And it made me miss her. But I know she waiting for me. And the day when I am called home and we can stargaze together again.

The Tooth Fairy, Pumpkin Bread and Homeschool.

How's that for random? I feel like I have a lot to say without wanting to really say anything. Do you ever feel that way? Anyway, first a story, then a recipe, then a question.

Emma lost her tooth on Thursday last week. She put her tooth under her pillow and was giddy with anticipation for the next day. When Jason went to wake up the girls that morning and found Emma face down on the couch, he knew. We are the most terrible parents. He walked up to check on her and she rolls over and slowly opens her hand. Inside is her tooth. Here's how the rest of the conversation played out.

"I can think of four reasons this happened.
One. The tooth fairy isn't real.
Two. My parents forgot to put the money under my pillow. Because the tooth fairy isn't real.
Three. When the tooth fairy came, I was awake so she couldn't leave the money.
Four. She couldn't find my tooth because it was under my pillow."

I don't know how Jason kept a straight face. Emma went to school and later that evening she lost another tooth. So Jason quickly set an alarm on his phone to remind us to set out her money. He left her 3 dollars. One for each tooth and a bonus dollar plus an apology note from the tooth fairy. We thought that should cover it. However, upon waking the next morning, Emma let us know how she really felt. Her exact words on finding the money, "This is pathetic." Okay then.

I have made this bread recipe for ages. It is just a simple pumpkin bread. Nothing fancy. No nuts, no chocolate chips, no streusel topping. But it is the best pumpkin bread I've ever eaten. The other day I decided I didn't want to wait the hour it takes to bake it and made it into muffins instead. This was a revelation. Because you have to watch the bread really carefully. There is a very fine line between an undone center and a dry and burnt bread. No such problems when you make them into muffins. They are dense and moist. And the best part? They are ready to eat in under 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Bread or Muffins
2 c. pumpkin (I just use one can of Libby's)
4 eggs
1 c. oil
3 c. sugar (This seems a shocking amount. It's not. Just go with it.)

3 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground cloves
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. ground allspice

In a large bowl, mix the first four ingredients. In a smaller bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. Add the dry to the wet and stir until combined. Pour into 2 well greased loaf pans. If you are making muffins, line your cups with paper. It's the easiest way. Bake this heavenly concoction at 350 degrees for 1 hour for the bread and 18-20 minutes for the muffins.

And now a question. Jason and I are seriously considering homeschool. That's not a question really but a statement. I know. But I would like your advice on this. We are at our wit's end with the school here. And being a small town, we have no other option. There isn't a private school, and if there was we couldn't really afford it anyway. So what do we do? I know if we pull them out without trying to make a change in the school first it could seem cowardly? Elitist? Avoidist? Is that even a word? I don't know what I'm trying to say. But I do know that trying to fight the entire school system is not easy. They have policies, curriculum, standardized tests, etc. etc. And all these things are failing my children. But I don't know if homeschool is the answer. I'm not even sure I could do it. But I can't sit idly by anymore. So. Thoughts? Advice? Any and all are appreciated.

What does your heart know?

First off, just a pretty picture. Because a post without one just isn't the same. I took this years ago, an old film picture, when I went to Boston to visit my dear friend. I kinda wish I was there today. Gosh it's beautiful there. I digress.

The point of this post is a quote I read the other day by Ann Voskamp.

"What a heart knows by heart, is what a heart really knows."

And then she wrote this post. And I have not been able to stop thinking about it. And what my heart knows. I have had moments lately where I question where I am, what I am doing and even who I am. But on days like those, the Almighty One is good, all the time. And all the time He is good.

This my heart knows for sure.

Where I want to be today.

I am dreaming of a place like this today. I can't even read the website cause it's in Swedish or whatever. But I know I want to live there. And at only $7.5 million, I think it's a bargain.

Anyone want to move to Sweden with me? I'm happy to split the mortgage.

What a 7 layer burrito should taste like.

So, sometimes I love Albertson's. Don't get me wrong. I love the HEB. But sadly we don't have one of those in my neck of the woods. We don't have an Albertson's either. I had to drive to Saginaw. But anyway, I digress. The other day, Albertson's had pot roasts that were buy one get one. And I am not one to turn down free meat.

I put said 'free' roast in the oven with a little salt and pepper, a sliced onion and some broth. Now at this point I still didn't know what we were having for dinner. And I don't usually cook like this. I usually have a menu plan. But I was trying to use what we had on hand. So, I scrounged around in the cupboard and found refried beans and a can of duck sauce. The PW (The Pioneer Woman) first turned me on to this sauce. It is actually called 'El Pato' but it has a duck on the front so that's what we call it. Next time you need refried beans for something take a can of the yellow (they have a green can too) duck sauce and just mix it in with the beans. I use about 3/4 of a can. Seriously good.

Instead of tacos, I decided to change it up and have burritos. And by the time all the toppings were added, we realized there were 7 layers. And because I know you want to know, here are the seven layers. Start with your tortilla (not a layer), smear on some beans, add the meat, then spanish rice (I used Zatarain's), then cheese, then lettuce, then guacamole and finally sour cream. I actually added some salsa too. But Jason said that wasn't a proper layer. Just a condiment.

Jason and I quite agreed that if Taco Bell was a gourmet restaurant instead of just fast food, this is what their 7 layer would taste like. Since it isn't, and since we don't have ANY gourmet restaurants in town, I cook almost every day of the week. "It's my lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's my life." (Name that movie.) But we eat well. And you will too.

For the burritos almost everything was homemade. So this is a bonus post. You will receive not one, not two, but THREE recipes. That's right folks! Everyone's a winner today here on hartbeats!



The Roast
Pot Roast (I think mine was a 6-8 pound roast)
1 onion-sliced
2 c beef broth
salt and pepper to taste

Place your roast fat side up in a heavy pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Add in the sliced onion and pour the broth over the top. I just use bouillon and water. Cover the roast and place in a 325 degree oven for 3-5 hours. Or until the roast is fork tender. When it is done, take it out and let it cool a little. Since we were eating this in burritos, I shredded the meat. I used to feel bad about using such a nice piece of meat in this way, but darn it it's just too good. And we ate this 2 or 3 times and I still had enough meat to throw in a pot of black bean chili. So just go for it!

The Tortillas
Jason has become quite the master at making tortillas. They are really easy and they are so good we hardly ever buy them from the store anymore. He started making them with a basic recipe I found somewhere, but has since modified it in his brain. I asked him what he did so that I could post it, but...

Our conversation went something like this.

Me: How do you make your tortillas? I want to blog the recipe.
Him: I just put some flour in a bowl. Then I add a little salt and some baking powder. I cut in the lard and then add some water. I mix them up and they're done.
Me: Do you have exact measurements? I want to blog this.
Him: No.
Me: Great. Just great.

So, I will provide you with this recipe. Which is basically the same. Just be forewarned. Once you start making your own, you won't go back to store bought. Oh, and use lard. It really is the best way to make them.

The guacamole
4-5 ripe avocados
2 T finely diced onion
2 T finely diced tomato
juice of one lemon
2 T chopped fresh cilantro
2-3 T chopped pickled jalapenos
1/4 t garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Start by dicing your avocados and putting them in a bowl. Next add in the lemon juice so they don't start to turn brown. Add in the tomato and onion. This is when I mash up the avocados. I like the onion and tomato to get a little mashed too. Now add in the jalapenos and cilantro. And then add your seasonings. Check the flavor and adjust as needed.

Now, I have had some really good and fancy guacamole. But this is how I usually make it. Just really simple, and really good. And a good tip on how to store your guac so it doesn't turn brown. Just cover it with saran wrap. Literally lay the stuff down right on top of the guacamole. Then put the lid on and you are good to go. You can now enjoy fresh and green guacamole for days.

Sunday with Mae 'Shel Silverstein' Hartman

"Dark"

Dark is quiet.
Dark is calm.
Dark washes around me on the silent street.
When the light goes out, all is Dark.

Written on 8/31/10

Man I love this kid.

Poisoned Apple Fritters

That got your attention I bet. And no I am not giving you a recipe for your enemies. The girls were watching "Enchanted" this morning. And in case you haven't seen it, there is an evil witch, a handsome prince, a beautiful princess and a poisoned apple. And they all live happily ever after. Except the witch of course.

I printed this ages ago. I had a couple of Granny Smiths wilting in the fridge and it's getting cooler here in the great state of Texas. So today it was time for Fall food!

I have fried food more times than I would like to admit. But to be honest, I have never been that good at it. I never get the temperature of the oil quite right. It's too hot and burns on the outside while being uncooked and gooey on the inside. Or I don't get the oil hot enough and it ends up being super greasy. Not appetizing at all. But today, the stars aligned for me. The oil was the perfect temperature and everything was golden brown. I didn't burn even one fritter. I may have to eat and cook fried food more often.

These fritters were so good. The exterior was super crunchy while the inside was moist and dense. The girls said they tasted like apple pie and I quite agree. I know PW says to dunk them in the glaze, but I found them cloyingly sweet that way. They only need a little drizzle on the top. With my espresso, it was a great way to start the day.

And I'm not a princess but I'm sure my day will end in a happily ever after. And yours will too. Especially if you make these for breakfast.

Pretzel Dogs

These were so good, I couldn't wait to blog them. Two posts in one week. It's almost like I'm a real blogger! Anyway, these were beyond good. I just wouldn't want someone to miss out on a opportunity for awesomeness. I know. I'm a true friend.

I printed out this recipe back in April. But she got the recipe from here. I don't know why I haven't made them before now. Probably because I thought they were going to be super difficult. But these were a piece of cake. Mostly because I didn't make the dough. Jason did. But even he said they were easy. And the dough goes together in an hour. Which for a yeast dough is really fast.

To make them into pretzel hot dogs is easy. When you roll the dough into long tubes make them 16 inches instead of 12. You'll need the extra length to go all the way around the dog. I had 12 hot dogs but we would have had enough dough for 14-16. Allow the rolls to rest for a few minutes and then take a piece of dough and start at one end and twist the dough all the way around the dog. Pinch the ends together and then set aside. When all the dogs are wrapped, boil 10 cups of water with 2/3 a cup of baking soda. This is the exact measurement you need. Don't cheat. I'll know. Next just boil the dogs for 1 minute. Transfer them to a wire rack to drip and then place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with an egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake them at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. You want them to be golden brown. Serve with a variety of mustard. But some of that nasty orange nacho cheese would be good too.

We used two kinds of hot dogs. Hebrew National and Earl Campbell Red Hot links. I wanted a little higher quality dog than Oscar Mayer. Jason and I agreed that the Hebrew was by far the superior dog. While the Campbells were tasty, it was too much meat to pretzel. We used good old French's, Gulden's Spicy Brown and Grey Poupon mustard. And we both agreed that the Grey Poupon really complimented the Hebrew. Whew. This is a long post. But this recipe is deserving of it.

Life.

I took this photo earlier this year. I was going to try and make one of those moving pictures, but I didn't want to fool with PSE today. So, you get this. I love their faces. Such unbridled enthusiasm to be silly and have fun. And it reminded me of this post. I read it awhile ago but the message is a good one.

I want MY greatest desire to be "to love my life while I'm living it." To live each and every day like it is my last day on earth. To have joy unbridled. To love unconditionally.

And now to clean and do laundry. But I must admit I am having a hard time loving that.

Calzones

Wow. So almost a month since my last post. So many things have happened and I just haven't made time to blog. Well, no longer. I made these two weeks ago I think. Jason was out of town for training and the girls wanted calzones. Ever one to give in to the demands of my children, I agreed. ;) Actually, they just sounded good so I got to work.

I wish I could tell you where this recipe comes from, but I have no idea. Jason used to be the master of all things yeast and this is one of his recipes. I used to be so afraid of yeast and Jason, being a loving husband, said I just needed to get over myself and refused to help me. So I got over it. And succeeded. Now I am the master.

This recipe is ridiculously easy and idiot proof so don't allow fear to control you and your menu planning. Make this today!

Dough Recipe

3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. warm water
2 T. yeast
1-2 T. honey (Just depending on your sweet preference.)
1/4 c. olive oil
1-2 t. salt

I mix this dough by hand. It is super easy and you don't have to get out your heavy mixer. And one less thing to wash is a good thing.

Start by pouring the warm water into a large bowl. I used to worry about this part. And Jason gave me some advice that has really helped. The water shouldn't be any warmer than you would feed to a baby. If it's too hot for a bottle, it will kill your yeast. Add the honey and salt and mix it up until it is well blended. Now add the yeast and mix it up a little more. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until the yeast gets all frothy. Add in 1 cup of the flour and the olive oil. Mix until it is well blended. Add the rest of the flour and mix well. If you want to add anything else to the dough do so now. I sometimes add in chopped garlic and black pepper.

Your dough should turn into a ball at this point. If it doesn't, it is either too dry or too wet. Add in either flour or warm water a tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. The dough should hold it's shape and be slightly elastic. Once the dough is balled up, I just knead it in the mixing bowl for about a minute. Doing this ensures that you build up the gluten which will yield a light and fluffy dough. Transfer this ball into a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm dry place and allow to rise until it is doubled or about 45 minutes. Now you get to show the dough who's boss. Give it a good smack so that it deflates and allow the dough to rise again for another hour or so. Now your dough is ready to use.

If you want to make pizza, transfer the dough to a floured board and cut it in half. Then roll out the dough and add the toppings. I usually use a little cornmeal on my pizza board so that it doesn't stick. Bake the pizza on a stone in a 450 degree oven for about 10-12 minutes.

If I am making calzones, I transfer the dough to a floured board and cut it into 8-10 equal pieces. Flatten out the rounds onto a board dusted with cornmeal. Add just a tablespoon of sauce and your desired toppings. My favorite is pepperoni, cheese, spinach, jalapeno and just a little fresh basil. Stupid good. Seal it up and transfer to a pizza stone and bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Just tap the top. If it sounds hollow and the outside is nice and brown they are ready to eat. Enjoy!

While my Cat is away...

With the hubs out for the day and with it being the last days of summer I decided to make pancakes for breakfast. I have several recipes that I use depending on my mood and what I have on hand. The Joy of Cooking has a really excellent recipe. But today I had some buttermilk I needed to use. The other day my good friend mentioned that she rarely uses her cookbooks anymore. What with the ease of the internet and the sheer volume of recipes at your fingertips it is really easy to overlook all the books on your shelf.

But not today! I pulled out one of my favorite vintage cookbooks. The 1963 version of the Pillsbury FAMILY cook book. I love old cookbooks. From their tattered covers, to the AWESOME artwork (I'm thinking of the dutiful housewives cooking their work weary husbands a fabulous meal. In pearls and all.) and the sometimes questionable recipes. They are a look into our not so distant past. And I love it. But I digress. The recipe.

These pancakes were somewhat dense while being light and puffy at the same time. The recipe couldn't be simpler. The most difficult thing to do is beat egg whites. And if you don't have buttermilk, just sub in milk with a little vinegar splashed in. I think the exact ratio is 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Just be sure to let it sit for 5 minutes or so. I served these with scrambled eggs and some Jimmy Dean. With my espresso, it was the perfect way to start the day. And I wish I could say that I didn't clean my plate, but that would be a lie.

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 c. buttermilk
3 eggs, separated
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla

In a large bowl mix the flour, soda and salt. Stir in buttermilk, vanilla and well beaten egg yolks. Stir in butter and beat until the batter is smooth. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Bake on a hot skillet until done.

I served these with homemade syrup. I haven't bought syrup from the store in over a year. And I don't miss it. So, here is a bonus recipe for you. Next time you run out of syrup, don't panic. Just make this instead. You can thank me later.

Homemade Maple Syrup

1 c. boiling water
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar (sometimes I use half light and half dark)
1-2 t. maple extract (I use Mapeline. Which I think is best. You can find it at Wal-Mart in the blue and white box.)

Pour the sugars into a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the sugar and stir until smooth. Add the extract and serve hot. I store the leftovers in a bottle in my fridge. It keeps forever.

Butter Chicken

This recipe is so tasty! And that's where I first heard of the recipe. The PW posted it to her Tasty Kitchen blog. I made it for the first time and Jason and I about died it was so good. I serve it over plain rice. I always mean to serve it with Naan but forget at the last minute to make it. And I always mean to serve it with a veggie but can't think of what would be good with this. Steamed green something.

I make a few changes to the recipe. I use 6 chicken breasts instead of 4. There is always a lot of sauce and it will go to waste. And you don't want that. I have used a lemon instead of the lime that it calls for and have come to prefer it that way. I can't BELIEVE this recipe calls for a pint of heavy cream. There is just no way it needs that much. I use maybe a tablespoon. I just splash some in until it looks right. And I would NOT substitute half and half. I have found that when using it with tomatoes the half and half tends to curdle a little. I think the extra fat in heavy cream doesn't do that. It's not that much, so just use the good stuff! You won't be sorry.

Once everything is mixed together I take the breasts out and slice them and then put them back into the sauce. It makes the chicken go a little farther and it is easier to eat. If you like Indian food give this a try. And don't be like me and forget to make the Naan and veggies!

Things to do before I turn 36.

My birthday breakfast made by my sweet girls. The honeyed "banapple" was interesting. But it's the thought that counts. Right? I wanted to make a list of 35 things to do before I turn 36, but that proved to be too difficult. I am another year older after all. The brain doesn't work as well as it used to. I made it halfway to 35 so I'm proud of that. What's on your list?


1. Learn how to ride a bike and enjoy it.
2. Take more pictures.
3. Allow more pictures to be taken of me.
4. Blog once a week.
5. Give up sugar. Again.
6. Have a family portrait session. By the lovely and super talented Tara Whitney perhaps?
7. See the final Harry Potter with Carrie M. on opening day.
8. Travel to California to see my beautiful friend and the beautiful city of San Fran.
9. Refashion more clothing. Like she does on this blog.
10. Kiss my husband goodnight. Every night. No matter what.
11. Run a half marathon. Or maybe a full.
12. Go to a county fair and ride the Ferris Wheel.
13. Take the girls roller skating and strap on some skates myself.
14. Laugh more.
15. Live more.
16. Love more.

I WILL be a better blogger.

I will be a better blogger, I will be a better blogger. This is my new mantra. I promise to take the time to blog things from my life. And to the three people who read this blog, you can hold me accountable. So, for today, a recipe.

I came across this recipe the other day and since I had frozen chicken in the freezer, I thought I would try it out. I pretty much followed her spice suggestions but next time I would leave out the curry. I found it overpowering.

But this post is really about the buns that I made to go with the chicken. I did some searching for homemade hamburger buns but nothing looked really good until I went to the King Arthur site. I think this will be my go to site for anything bread. The directions are easy to follow and these buns turned out amazing. The only change I made was subbing one cup of wheat flour and only adding 5 cups of flour total. Just play with the texture of the dough. It should be pretty soft but not sticky. I will be making these again. In fact, we are going to eat these with mini "Juicy Lucy" sliders tonight. Thanks CRZ for the recipe on that one!

The next Shel Silverstein

So, it's been awhile since I posted. Life is crazy. I'll learn to fit blogging in there somewhere. I know that it is almost Easter and that this has very little, if anything, to do with that. But Mae wrote this on Tuesday and it made me smile this week. So I am going to share it here as well. Enjoy!

Oh, it's Christmas Eve
And there are lots of chills.
But my parents don't care,
Cause they're paying the bills.

I feel like a mouse in a house
With a cat.
My mom won't let me have a hot donut,
Cause she thinks I'll get fat.

There's no log for a fire.
And we can't go buy some,
Cause our car lost a tire.

I think I might freeze,
My sisters are catching some z's.
Oh, it's a horrible Christmas Eve.

The End

The Workshop.

I thought I would post a few photos from the workshop. I am loving the workshop so far. For those of you who don't know I am attending a workshop given by the lovely Marta Locklear. I am able to attend because back in January I was the fortunate winner of a giveaway hosted by The Creative Mama. You can read about the giveaway and see my submission here.

I feel a little out of place among the other members. Most have already started on this journey toward a photography business. And their work is incredible. But we all have to start somewhere. Right? I feel like I really made a breakthrough the other day. I was able to capture the light in a way I have never been able to before. I feel like for the first time that I might actually be able to do this. That I have the talent and now am beginning to learn the skills I need to take me down this road. I'll let the photos do the talking. And you can let me know what you think.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow. I'll love ya tomorrow."

Emma and I went on a road trip this weekend. I hooked up the DVD player so that she could watch a movie. She decided on "Annie." Her favorite. I could hear her singing along from time to time and it made me smile.
And then,

"MOM!"
"Yes, baby?"
"I AM SOOOOOO GLAD I AM NOT AN ORPHAN!"
"Me too Emma. Me too."

And I am laughing until I cry.

Hello.

Who am I?

A wife. Friend. Mother. Daughter. Sister.

A photographer. Crafter. Writer. Baker.

A blogger?

We'll see.