DIY Burlap Bubble Wreath

My hairy armed companion shows off my progress with my burlap bubble wreath. While it was intimidating at first, after I found a few tutorials I was quickly on my way to making a fabulous bubble wreath. I experimented while making this one and found that a combination of 3" and 4" pieces worked best.&nb...

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Baking Bread at Home Finale!

Baking Bread at Home III      Earlier this week we baked whole wheat bread and learned about the science that is baking. For our Grand Finale, we're going to bake a nifty little loaf of Earl Grey Bread and make Homemade Corn Bread. This post is all about the recipes, let's hop in.  Earl Grey Tea Loaf Rule 3: Quality ingredients create quality baked goods.    Moist and lightly spiced, this loaf is perfect...

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Baking Bread at Home Week Cont'd

Making Bread at Home II      When we last visited this subject, I showed you how to bake whole wheat bread at home. Today, as promised, we will be visiting some of the science behind baking. It'll hold you over for the Homemade Corn Bread and Earl Grey bread being featured this Saturday. Warning: CONTAINS SCIENCE      I'd like to take a moment to talk about baking ratios. I, embarrassingly, first became aware of baking...

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Baking Bread at Home Week

Making Bread at Home I       I don't think there is anything better than walking into a house where fresh bread is being made. The savory and sweet smell of toasting grain and melted butter on a cold day, what could be better?     ~ If you have been following my blog for the last three months after transitioning to my new site, you've probably browsed over my Sunday Brunch post. If you are looking for an excellent focaccia...

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Sunday Brunch

If I plan on a Sunday gathering, I like to make a casserole to minimize my time in the kitchen. There are many  options for a breakfast casserole, but this is my favorite. If your family and friends have some spare Sunday time, why not invite them over for little brunch party?  Today, we're going to make Foccacia Breakfast Casserole, Super Simple Fruit Salad, and a pitcher of Basil Bloody Mary's (still delicious without alcohol).  Foccacia...

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Pickled Pepper Rings

      Pickling at Home may seem like an intimidating task, but the job requires minimal materials and investment. If you're already growing an item you would like to pickle, the cost is reduced further. In my case, I had several hot pepper plants which were producing more fruit than I could use at one time. The solution was clear: pepper rings. Basic Equipment for Pickling/Canning:  white vinegar  non-iodized...

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Make your own Taco Seasoning

Making your own spice blends means experimenting. Luckily, I have done the experimenting for you in this case. You may be asking, "Why make my own taco seasoning? I can buy the stuff in the supermarket for $0.99!" The answer is simple: SALT. Spice blends you purchase at the store have an inordinate amount of salt content. You miss out on a lot of the flavor of your dish when there is too much salt. So let's get started! You'll need: 1/2 t....

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