1/2 Whole Wheat Artisan Bread

Beautiful Loaf

Last week I shared a YouTube video demonstrating how to bake Artisan Bread from the authors of Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a day.

Today I decided to try the bread with 1/2 whole wheat flour.  It turned out GREAT!

In case you missed the video, here it is:

So to recap:

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
3 cups warm water
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups all-purpose flour

Combine all ingredients in large bowl.  Stir with wooden spoon until flour is mostly worked in.  There is no need to knead or overwork the dough.

Allow to rise for 2 hours.

Today we divided the dough into two large loaves.  Work dough into round loaves.  Place on cornmeal covered wood working surface.  Allow to rise an additional 40 minutes.

The cornmeal on the wood surface allows the bread loaf
to easily slide onto the stone in the oven

While bread is rising, heat oven to 425 degrees.  While heating, place cooking stone (if you have one) in oven.  About 10 minutes before placing bread on stone, place the additional cooking pan (for water) in the oven to heat up.

After 40 minutes, place bread loaf on stone; pour water in baking pan below the stone.  This should steam.

Cook about 20 minutes or until nice golden brown.

Fresh out of the oven

The kids love fresh baked bread!

Maybe next time I'll try 100% whole wheat.

Enjoy!

Anniversary Date Night- $ Does Not Buy Happiness

I hate to say I'm a "cheap date" because those words just sound wrong, but in actuality, I guess I am!

There was a time in our lives, before kids, where we would fly to San Francisco for our anniversary or plan some elaborate get-away.  Those were the days of two incomes, a lot of time, and not a whole lot on the calendar.  Now just getting away for a couple hours is a rarity, but a HUGE blessing!

I love our home life just the way it is and wouldn't change a thing!  We're so blessed by our kids and the memories we're creating together.

For our anniversary this year we decided to head to Disneyland sans children and just wander around with no plans. Prior to heading out we ordered teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up nibbling on it along with them.  After eating we headed to California Adventure.  It was a chilly SoCal night!

California Adventure has a TRON 3D experience we had not yet seen.  It's a 3D movie trailer.  After watching it I realized I remembered very little about the TRON movie.  I wonder if I fell asleep while watching?  Give me a bucket of popcorn, a cozy chair in the dark, and two hours and I'll probably fall asleep.  Guess I slept through some of it.

This is the entrance to the Hollywood Backlot and Electronica.

Next we headed over to FLYNN'S.  It's a video arcade filled with video games of the 80's.  Here you'll find 40-somethings reliving the glory days of videoing while "Juke Box Hero" plays in the background.  I did hear a song I hadn't heard since the New Wave days of the 80's.  This is the mostly English version.  It brings back memories and shows the wackiness of the early 80's.

My date exchanged a whopping $5 for video coins and we went to town!  It's amazing how long $5 lasts when only two people are playing!  We tried a number of games, but trying to find my Donkey Kong Junior skills proved to be just too hard. My sweetheart excels at Galaga.  He's so cool!  Centipede is my game.  I hogged most of the coins for my favorite.  My sweetheart just let me play.  He's so good to me!

He takes this very seriously!

I was really bad at this game!

See my score?  I almost got to post my initials!

Flynn's

He's really good at this one!

Tap-tap-tap...I wish you could see the instantaneous firing!  It really was impressive!

After Flynn's we headed out to Downtown Disney where I asked my sweetheart to treat me to a dessert of Bread Pudding (totally not paleo) from Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen.  We cozied up to a little table and shared our dessert together.

Happy Anniversary to us!  This year was one of our best anniversaries yet!  I think we just may be discovering contentment.  It's not about having the fanciest or most elaborate celebrations.  It's about being together, having family, and making memories.

We came home to a house that was immaculately cleaned by three smiling children.  They're so good to us!  I couldn't ask for more!

And we only spent $10.50!!

Happy 19th Anniversary

Tomorrow my sweetheart and I celebrate our 19th anniversary.  I can't believe how quickly the years have gone by!

For fun, I made him a little video.  I love that he loves me just the way I am.  Goofy!

Baking Artisan Bread

Why do I do this to myself?  I'm trying to be a faithful, fit paleo-eater, but I REALLY want to be a baker creating beautiful desserts and baked goods.  I'm impressed by disciplined Crossfit athletes, but I'd love to cook like Paula Deen feeding family and friends all sorts of home-cooked-with-love delicious meals.  Cooking and baking makes me happy.  It relieves stress.  But just looking at it and not eating it is utterly the pits.  Oh well.  It's the life.  I continue to dream and bake for our family.

One cookbook I've been eyeing, but not buying is Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day.  It's on my wish-list, but hasn't made it to the "buy" list yet.

Thanks to the gift of YouTube, I was able to find a great recipe and tried it.

It was so easy and I was so happy with the results!  I think our kids were pleased with it too considering one loaf was gobbled up in minutes.

Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 tablespoons Kosher salt
3 cups warm water
6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Bake at 450 for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Add yeast to large bowl

Ingredients

Add salt

Add flour

Stir briefly until flour is mixed in

Cover and let rise

Allow to rise 2 hours

Looking good!

After 2 hours

They suggest shaping a grapefruit-sized ball into a loaf

Allow loaves to rise 40 minutes

on cornmeal covered wood surface

Forming more loaves

Little cuties!

Cut before baking

Ready for the oven

The stone is HOT! 450 degrees  Bake for 20-30 minutes.

Done!  The kids are already requesting bread bowls for soup.

Buttered up and ready to eat!

So easy with GREAT RESULTS!

Modern Day Eye Openers

The thing about volunteering to be an audience member on the Dr. Drew Lifechangers show is you basically have no idea what the show will be about until you arrive and are getting "warmed up" by funny guy, Roger.

I have to be honest. There are a lot of things I know nothing about.  I wouldn't say naive, just unaware.  As a stay-at-home, homeschool, sports-minded mom,  there's not much time to watch television.  I find it nearly impossible to keep up on the latest programming, celebrity gossip, fashion trends, and the like unless it's part of news talk radio updates I catch in the early morning.  I don't know who is on Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, or Survivor.  I've never watched any of them, but I do know Lindsay Lohan evaded another trip to the clink.

I hoped the topic of discussion on Lifechangers would be something I could relate to.  After visiting Dr. Drew's website, I was a bit nervous to learn what the episode would be about.  I secretly hoped we'd be sitting in on a talk about finicky eaters or quick wardrobe fixes and not a topic familiar to the set of Jerry Springer.

I was hoping.

Well, when we arrived Roger told us we'd be part of a taping following up on the "Bunny Ranch."  I'm thinking 4-H, lopped-eared, little hoppers.

I looked at my friends.  I don't think they knew anything about it either.

Once again I felt like, country girl in the Big City.

Huh?

As it turns out, the bunny ranch is nothing sweet and innocent like I was thinking. It's apparently a place, in Nevada, where women go to become prostitutes.

Sad.

Dr. Drew followed two gals who were considering going into this age old profession to earn big bucks to support their families during this season of economic downturn.

Seriously?

The owners of the "ranch" talked about it like it was Disneyland or something.  "It's so fun!  So glamorous.  So exciting!"

Give me a break!  Such lies!

Dr. Drew, knowing the price that would actually be paid if either of the girls chose this profession, did his best to talk them out of it.

One gal opted not to seek a life of prostitution and said she'd continue on as an in home nurse.  Thank goodness!  She has a three year old.

The other gal was questionable.  There was a distinct strangeness about her.  One minute she'd sit crying her eyeballs out and the next she's checking herself out on the prompters, messing with her hair, lips and dress.  Something was just not right about her and her family.  She left telling Dr. Drew she was going to "give it a try." Yikes!

So...what came to mind watching this?

Well, first off...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?????

There is NO money in the world worth making this type of decision!  Money will never buy happiness, peace of mind, purity, or fill the voids of life.  The cost of making a decision to live the life of selling your body will never be matched by dollars.  My momma heart wanted to walk up to the stage, give those girls a hug and say, "Don't do it!"

I couldn't help but think of International Justice Mission.  They go around the world rescuing girls from the terrible life of prostitution and yet these gals were willing to walk into it.  They made it sound like it's all about money.  So sad!  Around the world young girls are being sold into sexual slavery- all for money.  Fathers sell their daughters.  Young girls and young women are unknowingly captured or persuaded into the slave trade in the hopes of providing for the family.  This is SO wrong! This is why people from organizations like IJM are risking their lives to help these girls, yet here in Nevada, we have beautiful young women willingly walking into the same deceptive trap. Heartbreaking!

So what to do?

Recognize the reality of the world.  Prostitution is nothing new.  Even in Jesus's own lineage he had a prostitute, Rahab.  As we learned with Rahab, there is a renewed life of blessing for those willing to live lives surrendered to God.

Support International Justice Mission or similar organizations that fight against these evils.

I heard Mark Driscoll once talk about Annie Lobert and Hookers for Jesus.  These gals have experienced the life of prostitution and escaped it.  They have found a new life through Christ.  I read Annie Lobert has also been on Dr. Drew's Lifechanger's program.  Too bad she wasn't there for this episode.

Reading Annie's story reminds me there is always hope.  Hope for something better. Hope for tomorrow.

I hope these gals figure out there are other options in life than seeking out the lies leading down the road of destruction.

Paleo Dinner: Spicy Meaty Chili

It's a rainy, chilly day in Southern California.  This is a perfect day for a big pot of spicy chili to warm the bones.

Rainy Day Paleo Spicy Chili

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

1-28 oz. can whole tomatoes with juice, slightly chop tomatoes with kitchen shears before adding

2- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes

1- 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with jalapenos and chile peppers

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons Emeril's Baby Bam (see recipe following)

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Brown ground beef.  Drain off fat.  Add garlic, onion, green pepper, and onion. Cook for a few minutes until vegetables are slightly softened.  Add tomatoes and seasonings.    Stir well and allow to simmer for about 30 minutes.  Stir occasionally so tomatoes don't stick to bottom of pan.  Enjoy!

Hearty!  Meaty!  Paleo!  Yum!

Baby Bam

from Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Combine and place in airtight container.

Bucket List: Live Like You Were Dying

A number of years ago Tim McGraw came out with his song, "Live Like You Were Dying."

Even though some may listen to the song and think it sad and depressing, when I hear it I think, "Make the most of everyday!  It's a GIFT!"  I try to never take for granted waking up to enjoy another morning.  I cherish every night falling asleep holding the hand of the love of my life.  Daily, looking into the eyes of three precious children and watching them do what kids do is a gift!  I never want to pass up the opportunity to hug one of our kids or let them play with my hair.  As I type right now, one of them is sitting on the same dining room chair with me with his head on my shoulder.  Love it!

The days pass much too quickly and at the end of this blessed life I hope to say I did the best with what I had.  My mom gave me a quote by Erma Bombeck.  I have it hanging in my office.  It reads:

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'"

Now I could get all hung up with the fact that I don't have any recognizable talent.  I can't play an instrument.  I'm not very coordinated or athletic.  I CAN'T sing!  I can't dance, unless you consider the jerking motion displayed by Elaine Benes dancing. But this "idea" of talent may not be what real talent is.

Webster defines talent as, "A natural ability or power."

Natural ability or power.  Hmmm...  Natural abilities.  I like that!  We all have some natural abilities to share with others.

One ability could be the art of exploring, experiencing and having fun. Remember...make the most of and appreciate every day?

Organizing outings seems to be a natural ability.

I'm beginning to formulate a bucket list for Southern California.  One item on the list is:

VIEW A LIVE TAPING OF TELEVISION TALK SHOW

I've been trying, without success, to get tickets to The Ellen Show.  I'll keep trying.

In the meantime, last month I received an email asking if I'd like to attend a taping of the Dr. Drew Lifechangers program.  To be honest, I thought it was junk mail.  I had never watched the Dr. Drew show and actually never heard of it.  I've seen Dr. Drew Pinsky before, but didn't know he had his own program.  I deleted the email.

This month, I received the email invitation again.  I looked into it a bit more.  It sounded interesting.  I went ahead and responded requesting four tickets.

This week two friends and I went to a taping.  It was an experience to say the least!  For the last two days since the taping, I've been thinking of how to blog what we saw and heard.  So many thoughts have swirled around my brain.

I think I'll have two more posts following with the events of the shows.  One show was about the Octomom, Nadya Suleman, and the other was about the growing number of women looking to pursue careers in prostitution apparently as a result of the economic downturn.  Needless to say, with an afternoon on those two topics we had plenty of conversation for the three hour LA traffic mess on the way home.

My brain is still swimming with thoughts.  Until the next post...

Making History: Guinness Book of World Records

As a child I remember spending countless hours laying on the living room floor looking at the crazy photos of the World Record holders featured in The Guinness Book of World Records.  Who could forget images like these:

The long-time world record holder for nails:

The world's tallest and shortest man meet:

World Record Holding Heaviest Twins

I could continue to look up these interesting and sometimes mind-boggling world record holders, but for today we want to celebrate the fact that yesterday (11/8/2011) we participated in a world record holding event!  Thankfully, I did not have to grow freakish nails for the last 30 years, or gain an obscene amount of weight, or attempt an obscure feat.  All we had to do was what we love...go on a field trip, spend time together and learn about HISTORY!

We were part of what we hope was the world's largest history lesson.  It is estimated that 20,000 third graders attended!

It was a well-planned hour of Orange County history.  The event was complete with entertainment, audience participation celebrity appearances and leaders in the community including:

Caroline Sunshine from Disney's "Shake it Up"
Stan Oftelie, author of Nothing Rhymes With Orange
Gail Eastman, Anaheim Councilwoman and historian
Bill Habermehl, Superintendent of Public Schools
Jose Mota, former baseball player announcer for the Anaheim Angels
Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture and former head of the Peace Corps
And what Orange County event would be complete without a visit from long time resident, MICKEY MOUSE!

One of the interactive question games

Caroline Sunshine

Stan Oftelie and Gail Eastman

Gaddi Vasquez

Jose Mota

Bill Habermehl and Mickey!

The Guests

In addition to the dancing, guest speakers, and interactive learning the students were able to see a comparison of Orange County growth using doves.  One dove represented Orange County's earlier population of 13,000 people.  The many doves represent the O.C.'s current population of over 3 million!

The doves flying away

At the end of the program a helicopter was flying over.  Suddenly it came closer and closer!  It landed on Angel field!  We all anxiously waited to see who was inside.

The helicopter held a representative (complete with English accent) from Guinness Book of World Records.  He was certifying the event as a new world record.

Attending students received a tote bag with a copy of Nothing Rhymes with Orange by Stan Oftelie.  Our kids immediately opened the book to read it following the event and continued to share tidbits throughout the day.

Our 3rd grader with a friend

The volunteers

Tote bags in hand...CLASS!

The Krispy Kreme outing that followed the field trip.  Fresh chocolate donuts!

Here's the news article from the OC Register:

http://www.ocregister.com/news/history-325829-orange-county.html

What a GREAT morning of learning the history of Orange County!