My New Favorite Recipe!

If you know me at all you know that I have a personal desire to cook everything I serve for my family from fresh ingredients. I like to cook as homemade as possible as often as possible. So my new recipe follows these guidelines perfectly.

Bread has not been my friend in the past. Rolls and I get along quite nicely but for some reason Bread and I haven't been able to come to a common ground. But I have found a new recipe that is starting to change my view on the subject. It is a very simple french bread recipe that - get this - takes ONE hour from start to finish. So here is the recipe let me know if you like it.

One-Hour French Bread
1½ cups warm water
1 tablespoon honey
1½ teaspoons salt
1½ tablespoons Active Dry Yeast
3 - 4 cups flour (any combination of white and whole wheat)

Preheat oven 450º. Combine water, salt, honey, and yeast in a medium bowl. Let sit 5 - 10 minutes, until bubbling. Add flour, stirring with a wooden spoon, until dough is no longer sticky (I'll sometimes dump the dough out onto the cutting board with what flour is in the bowl and roll it around,adding a bit more flour, until it's not sticky). Roll dough into a 12 - 14" roll (or you can divide it in half and roll it into two long skinny baguettes). Place dough roll(s) on a cookie sheet (this won't work in a bread pan), greased or sprayed with non-stick spray, cover, and let sit 20 minutes. Make diagonal slits, 1/2" deep, on top with a razor blade. (Optional: spray with salt water). Bake 20 minutes.

You could even add Rosemary or any other herb you may fancy.

ENJOY!

Lights of Christmas...Forgot to post the pics:(

We go to The Lights of Christmas in Warm Beach every year with my in laws. It is fabulous, magical and yum. First stop on our journey is always for mini doughnuts then onto Bruce the Spruce. I can't tell you how much fun we have. This year we went the Sunday after Christmas so we missed seeing Santa he had already left for a vacation somewhere warm I am sure. All and all a fabulous trip and a wonderful. Thanks to the Unit for a spectacular outing!

The Rumblings Have Now Turned Into Bumps...

Sometimes I wonder why when some doors are opened you feel like you shouldn't even let yourself rest in the threshold. Opportunities arise yet your heart and reality tells you that those opportunities are merely just that-opportunities. I know that now it seems I am talking in riddle or some sort of code however i still can't say much because i am still not sure what God wants me to do. I know what I want to do, but sometimes my wants are merely just that-wants. The Angry Blueberry is being given a chance to expand in a large way. But is the timing right. I am trying to strip my heart of all of my emotions especially fear and look at the bare bones of the situation.

When the decision is made you will be some of the first to know the outcome. Thanks to those of you who prayed for me I felt it.

To The Inconsiderate Dog Owner

So I have been running again.....OUCH is all I have to say at this point.

However what I am writing about is the disturbing experience I had last evening. I will remind you that it was raining last night, I love running in the rain. Something about it is quite therapeutic and relaxing. Not sure why it just is. So there I was about 1/2 mile out running down Grover starting to really get in the mood and setting my pace quite well I might add, the music was playing in my ears and the rain had really slowed down to a mist which is simply blissful. I was just starting to get into the idea of my run when bam I step in the largest pile of dog poo you have ever seen:( I stop dead in my tracks and look behind me to make sure I wasn't mistaken about what I had just experienced and no I hadn't there was a ginormous pile of poo right in the middle of the sidewalk. I then glanced around thinking I might be on Candid Camera or something. Nope not on Candid Camera. I was bit frustrated and used another word for the word poo but after wiping off my shoe I continued on. Don't know why I am sharing this? Consider it a public Service Announcement I guess.

And to the Inconsiderate Dog Owner....I could have slipped in that and really injured myself. Do me a favor and carry a bag next time!

Welcoming 2010

Tried out a new restaurant with a bunch of our regular buddies on New Years Eve. Three of my Four sister in laws were around and being as they are a bunch of fun they joined us as well. Milagro was great, delicious and fabulous. If you like Mexican food I highly recommend it. It is in Fairhaven.
Don't have much to say because it was a while ago now.... I would have posted about it sooner however my camera is not communicating with computer for some reason. This makes it a bit difficult to get my pictures put on the computer. But I have a new method so expect more picture updates.
Lame Post I Know. I Promise More Excitement In The Next Post:)

Rumblings in the World of the Angry Blueberry

Oh man. I can't say a lot about the subject besides that The Angry Blueberry has some huge possibilities. I don't do this often however I am certain that it is warranted. If you have time would you please pray for my business. I was presented with some things today that, God willing, could make some of my goals more obtainable. I have felt Gods presence and provision in every decision thus far and I will be praying that His will will be evident.

Mystery Woman I long to be like you......

Here is another thought conjured up from a video that I watched during Bible Study this morning. May I again share that IMO (in my opinion) Beth Moore is a genius, a truly wonderful woman who loves God and is humble enough to share her shortcomings as well. Altogether making herself out to be someone to admire and love.

Well this morning we again were studying the different things that come up in our live that make being a woman quite tough. Now remember these things are not brought up to make us feel sorry for ourselves but rather help us overcome and move forward. Enough rambling! Anyway she highlighted Proverbs 31:10-31. First of all I am going to write (and/or ramble a bit) then I will share the passage. The woman the passage describes is one I can relate to in part however much of what is displayed I can only long to be. She is a Mystery Woman. I can admit in all honesty that I pull the covers over my head when I hear the first rustlings upstairs out of a bit of fear in knowing that this bit of noise means I will need to get out of the warm cozy nest I call my bed. So cross out the part they says about getting up while its still dark I don't do that purposely in effort to provide for my family it is more out of necessity (shame on me I know I am just not much of a morning flower:). But now moving on from what I am not I would like to say that this passage encompasses a lot of what I long to be especially in regards to being a wife. This past year was full and at times quite heavy. In fact there were quite a few times where I had to hand the reigns over to my husband and hope and pray that he could handle doing my job and his at the same time. I can report to you that he did a marvelous job and most often times surprised me in all that he was able to do. But then he would pass the reigns back and ever so humbly and gently tell me he didn't mind helping out but he wouldn't want my job (thanks babe). I will also admit I stink at asking for help and often realize I should have asked when its to late. So asking my husband for help is something I hadn't done a lot in our marriage. I truly believe God used the times when I had no choice to let go of my normal job title and assume others to teach me how to be a supportive wife and to bring Brian good not harm. I had to hold my tongue and realize things would get done maybe not my way but everyone would be okay in the end so what did it really matter if the kids didn't match when going to school or if he got the kids ready for the day in the opposite order from me. So much of the last almost 8 years have been filled with being a mommy that sometimes I have forgotten how important it is to be a wife. Brian even made the comment the other day that he felt so much more a part of our daily lives around here in the last year. There are many reasons for this but I suspect one of them is that I have needed him to be but also because I have stepped aside and let him figure out how to do things his way. It is a bit humbling to admit these things out loud however I can honestly say I hadn't really realized the result of my actions. And I don't think that Brian would say he missed out on anything or that he even felt slighted. I just think there is way more to this wife business then I ever thought of. So now that I am done diapering and nursing and all of the other things that come with being a mother to a baby or toddler that needs you every second I am going to go back to my first job after being a child of God and that is being a wife to my husband. I love this man more that anyone on the planet and I want to honor and respect him a way that helps him to be able to accomplish and experience all of the many goals and things that God gives him. I know that God is the ultimate provider and he is calling me to be a supporter.

So in saying all of this I will again admit that I am a work in progress and as long as God keeps working I am okay with this. I would also love to meet this Mystery Woman, this Wife of Noble Character and I hope that when I do I am wise enough to sit on the edge of my seat and soak her up the best I can.

Proverbs 31:10-31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10-A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11-Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12-She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13-She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14-She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15-She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16-She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a
vineyard.
17-She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18-She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19-In her hands she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her
fingers.
20-She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21-When it snows, she has no fear for her
household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22-She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23-Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24-She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25-She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26-She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27-She watches over the affairs of her
household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28-Her children arise and and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29-"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30-Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to
be praised.
31-Give her the reward she has earned
and let her works bring her praise at
the city gate.