i'm a bread maker!!!

i have just found my newest love! as i have wanted to make healthy, preservative free bread for a while i was looking for a good bread machine. however, i've now realized [thanks to my work mentor] that the bread machine isnt needed! buy the book [see below] artisan bread in 5 minutes a day and you too can have amazing bread!!!! my next book is healthy bread in 5 minutes a day to try healthier bread but i'll start with this gorgeous loaf of bread first!

my first loaf of bread from scratch! what a fun way to start the day! 

first time using the dough hook from my mixer

freshly mixed dough! 

dough after two days of being in fridge

on the corn meal peel & ready to go

part 2: name that plant

time to name this plant! this is a ground cover height plant that is purple. anyone know what it is?!?! 

Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Thomas & Sallie were in town this past weekend and Saturday morning I made a yummy new breakfast bread! It was a hit & the boys loved it too! 

what you need...½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp. lemon zest or more — zest from 1 large lemon
7/8 cup* + 1 tablespoon sugar**
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour (set aside 1/4 cup of this to toss with the blueberries)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
½ cup reduced fat buttermilk

* 7/8 cup = 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons
** This 1 tablespoon is for sprinkling on top

what to do...

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cream butter with lemon zest and 7/8 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Meanwhile, toss the blueberries with ¼ cup of flour, then whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.Add the flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk. Fold in the blueberries. 

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (or something similar) with butter or coat with non-stick spray. Spread batter into pan. Sprinkle batter with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 45 minutes. Check with a toothpick for doneness. If necessary, return pan to oven for a couple of more minutes. (Note: Baking for as long as 10 minutes more might be necessary.) Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

dove does it again...

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you ~ Song of Solomon 4:7

Check out this very impactful 3 minute video from Dove. We are often our biggest critics.

http://mashable.com/2013/04/15/dove-ad-beauty-sketches/

spring on up!