Thursday Funny - Billy's Balloon

Dedicated to my brothers. They will know why.

Bagels: BBA Challenge #3 (#bba)

The idea of making Bagels scared me. Terrified me. Bagels are one of those things that are made by professionals, not me. I read and re-read the recipe to make sure that I had all the steps down and began the task.

Bagels: BBA Challenge #3, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

A few weeks prior to my bagel making adventure I stumbled across this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Spread on Pinch My Salt. Being a BIG fan of Pumpkin Spice anything, I couldn't wait to try it. So when decided about the type of bagels to make I decided to try my hand at making Cinnamon Sugar batch. I followed the recipe precisely and was oh so pleased when they came out of the boiling water looking very bagel-like. I then coated the top with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and baked them. They were delightful, especially with the Pumpkin Spice spread. And I was SO proud of myself for conquering the terrifying bagel recipe and for making up my own variation and having it turn out perfectly. This is a huge confidence booster for me. Hopefully from this point on I won't be so damn afraid of every recipe turning into a disaster.

Quizzical Wednesday: Direction

You Are North

Like a Viking, you are assertive, decisive, and dominant. You seek power and destroy those in your way. People admire that you are so confident and independent. You seem to have the world figured out. Sometimes you come across as pushy and aggressive... not that you mind! You like being seen as tough. You make a fairly good leader, especially in times that require grit and ruthlessness. You are a warrior.

Are You North, South, East, or West?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Artos (Greek Celebration Bread): BBA Challenge #2 (#bba)

The second recipe in the BBA Challenge is Greek Celebration Bread. Reinhart gives several different variations to try, I chose the basic Artos to begin with. I'm still feeling the need to stick with the basics and not venture off too crazily and didn't want to create a Greek Disaster Bread.

Artos (Greek Celebration Bread): BBA Challenge #2, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

The above picture is the bread right out of the oven. I really loved this recipe. I loved creating the barm starter and I loved the savory scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice penetrating the house as it was baking. It was really beautiful once it had been glazed and the sesame seeds were added, I wish I had taken a picture but I forgot.

This is a recipe that I could see myself making again and think it would be fabulous for the next time (or rather first time) I decide to host a brunch or shower.

Next up... Bagels. Still scared.

Anadama: BBA Challenge #1 (#bba)

In October, I started the BBA Challenge. I completed a recipe weekly until mid-November when I decided to take a break for the holidays. I have completed the first 5 breads but haven't completed the blog posts yet so I will be catching up over the next few days.

I spent the first week after purchasing the book reading the 100+ pages of background and education at the beginning. I was fascinated by it and in the end was glad that I took the time to read it. I loved reading about Peter Reinhart's adventures in bread making and took to heart that bread making should be a distraction free experience so that you can really experience it. I set out to pick up the ingredients for the first recipe with an incredible amount of enthusiasm.

Anadama: BBA Challenge #1, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

Anadama is a solid grainy bread with roots in New England. It takes two days to complete the process but the task for the first day is simply preparing the sponge (a mixture of cornmeal and water), the rest of the work is done on the second day.

My biggest fear with baking bread is that it won't rise. Every time I leave a recipe to proof (rise) I cross my fingers that it will actually rise. I don't know where this fear comes from because I have never made a recipe that didn't rise. The initial proofing worked marvelously with the Anadama but I didn't do an adequate job of punching it down so the final loaves were bigger than they should have been and had some air pockets. I'm still struggling with beating the air out of the bread that just an hour or so before I had been hoping and praying would rise. I hope this stupid fear will go away with time and more experience.

I liked the end result and used it for sandwiches and toast throughout the week. Looking forward to next week's challenge which is Greek Celebration Bread and dreading recipe #3 which is Bagels. Scary.

2009 in Cities

I guess this is an annual thing now that I've done it twice, you can read last year's list here. The following cities are places I have visited for long day trips or overnight trips in 2009:

• Seattle, Washington (home)
• Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Sequim, Washington (see pictures)
• Sequim, Washington (day trip for Easter dinner)
• Orlando, Florida: twice (see pictures)
• Yakima, Washington
• Lihue, Hawaii (Kauai)
• Koloa, Hawaii (Kauai) (see pictures)
• Kapaa, Hawaii (Kauai) (see pictures)
• Lake Wenatchee, Washington (Telma, nearest city)
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Cannon Beach, Oregon (see pictures)
• Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (see pictures)
• San Francisco, California (see pictures)

I was "out of town" for a total of 31 nights in 2009, that is 8% of the year. 2009 was filled with adventures and amazing experiences. Here hoping that 2010 is filled with many more!

Never a Year Like '09

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Happy New Year!

Six blocks from the Space Needle and we can't see a damn thing thanks to the weather. It was still a great celebration with friends! :-)

Quizzical Wednesday - Holiday Cheer

You Spread a Lot of Holiday Cheer

During the holidays, you represent the true spirit of Christmas. You give freely, and you enjoy this special time of the year. There's a good chance that you spread cheer every time of the year... not just during the holidays. You're kind, upbeat, and generous. Anyone who crosses your path is lucky.

Do You Spread Holiday Cheer?

Thursday Funny - Last Christmas

I'm pretty sure that my Christmas is going to be EXACTLY like this...

Quizzical Wednesday: Santa's reindeer

I named 9 reindeer in 30 seconds

Pies!!

Christmas cooking began tonight with brine prep and pie baking. Made 2 Pumpkin, 1 Apple, 1 Bourbon Pecan and 1 Cranberry Mincemeat for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations this week. The house smells amazing!

Thursday Funny - Song for the Mormons

Quizzical Wednesday - Wrapping Paper

You Are Dependable and Trustworthy

You approach the holidays with drive and determination. You're usually the one who does all of the organizing and work. You love being in charge of Christmas dinner, decorating the tree, and picking out presents. You know that everything will be perfect, as long as you're the one behind the wheel. Of all the types, you're the most likely to search far and wide to find the best deal on the gifts you give. You're also the most likely to have a very detailed system for how you wrap and label presents.

The Wrapping Paper Test

Thursday Funny - School Answering Machine

Quizzical Wednesday - Christmas Lights

You Are Gold Lights

Your holidays are a time of abundance and riches. Even if you don't have a lot during the rest of the year, this is the time that you splurge a little. Your holidays traditions tend to be a bit old fashioned and dignified. You like old holiday movies, properly wrapped presents, and family recipes passed down over the years.

What Color Christmas Lights Are You?

Happy Birthday Don!

Lessons in napkin folding, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

Since there is no rule about revealing a man's age and because you outed my age on my birthday, I have no guilt in telling the world that you are 38 today! :-) Thankfully you still know how to act much, much, much younger as demonstrated in the photo above (taken on our vacation in Kauai in July 2009).

Thank you for all you bring to my life! I can't wait to celebrate with you and hope the coming year is filled with great many, many, many wonderful adventures and dreams come true.

Thursday Funny - Christmas Cards

Happy Someday Kat!

Magic Kingdom, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

For the last 5 years Kat and I have been having this When Harry Met Sally inspired conversation.

Kat: But I'm going to be 40!
Me: When?
Kat: Someday.
Me: In _____ (fill in appropriate time frame year/month)

"Someday" has arrived and today is Kat's 40th Birthday! Happy Birthday! I can't wait to celebrate with you tonight and for the next week or so! You bring so much joy to my life and I am so lucky to know you. I hope that the coming years are filled with great joy, amazing successes and lots of laughter!

"The first forty years of life give us the text:
the next thirty supply the commentary."

- Arthur Schopenhauer

Quizzical Wednesday - Mexican Food

You Are Nachos

You are outgoing and generous. You love to share you life with other people. You are carefree and light-hearted. You try to always make the best of things. While you enjoy being with other people, you also value your alone time. You like to reflect, think, and pick things apart. You like to study everything carefully.

What Mexican Food Are You?

Thursday Funny - Happy Thanksgiving

Quizzical Wednesday - Pilgrim or Indian?

You Are a Pilgrim

Like the pilgrims, you've felt persecuted for your beliefs from time to time. You have a strong sense of right and wrong. Your morality sometimes makes you feel out of step with the modern world. You may not go as far as moving across the world, but you still identify with the pilgrims. Well, except for the whole stealing land and killing Indians thing.

Are You a Pilgrim or an Indian?

Thursday Funny - Lashisse

Lashisse from Molly Sims

Quizzical Wednesday - Thanksgiving

What Your Thanksgiving Meal Says About You

When it comes to the holidays, you follow and love the big traditions. You look forward to them every year. You see the holidays as a time to be close to loved ones. It's a good time to reconnect and make memories. You like the more adult aspects of the holidays - parties, cocktails, and having time off from work. During the holidays, you are likely to feel comforted. At your worst, you feel a bit over-indulgent. You consider yourself to be a bit of a purist, and you're proud of it. You tend to spend you holidays taking care of others. Holidays are one of the times you like to give.

What Does Your Thanksgiving Meal Say About You?

Homemade Ravioli

My first attempt at making homemade ravioli. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.