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10 pounds down 32 pounds to go!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

"I don't know what you're after but get me one too"

I just baked the best baguette I have ever baked.  it's also my first baguette and I'm hoping the process only improves.  it's from the five minute artisan bread cookbook via king arthur flour and it honestly couldn't have been easier.  you mix the ingredients in a very large bowl, or bucket.  I used my largest cooking pot.  You knead it for literally 2 minutes and let it rise on the counter in the bowl.  and then you put it in the fridge overnight.  You can keep it for up to a week, pulling out a pound at a time to shape and bake.  this must be what french farm wives do, make it up once a week and bake a little every day.  It all makes me feel very smug.  I'd love to keep it up and bake fresh bread every few days but we'll see how long that lasts.  least of all I don't need to eat that much bread.  If you love bread baking and want to impress the crap out of your family, give it a try.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

wedding progress report:

Today I received most of my wedding ensemble.  unless i hate it when i try it on of course.  I got a sweater that is very vintage looking and actually looks just like my bouquet.  I'll post pictures when I find time to try it all on.  it could be fantastic...it could be way too matchy matchy.

I also ordered a belt for my dress which is not matchy matchy so hopefully it works out.

I have a few pairs of shoes that go with my belt, or vice versa, I'm not sure which ones i love the bestest but i get to try it all on and see what i like best.

I ordered two sets of wedding cake toppers today.  two sets?  yes, i'm a jerk.  I couldn't decide and since they're actually salt and pepper shakers it's not like I can't use them.  I have a pair of very adorable vintage black swans who make a quirky goth heart when put together.  I also have a pair of pewter birds i can't remember the name of, pheasants maybe.  they are very graceful with long tails.  So I have a quirky option and a gracefully beautiful option depending on the mood.  I can of course use them both on my table all year for any occasion and I just couldn't resist losing them at their super cheap prices.

I have a few more things to buy for matt's ensemble and a few small things that I know i will want for one of my wedding related parties that I will purchase as funds allow and then I am calling it quits on the shopping.  if you keep shopping you keep finding things you like better and second guess your choices and i'm just done with that.  i'm burnt out on decision making and i really have a lot left to do so some things really have to get settled on the quick.

Monday, October 03, 2011

"if you start seeing with your ears or whatnot...get to a doctor"

I really need to get my scale back.  Judging by how huge my engagement ring is I have lost one thousand pounds.  I really have to see if i can get it sized.  but then i might lost more weight.  and then i'd just have to do it again.  this is how i think, really.  That is how lazy I am.  there should be a study.

This weekend I baked everything in the whole world.  I made chicken soup and biscuits for my sick boyfriend, I made banana chocolate muffins, peanut butter biscuits for knox's birthday! and an apple pie.  The pie came out great, my crust recipe is really improved.  The peanut butter biscuits got no complaints from the doggies and knox was so eager to help me with the taste testing he ate four banana chip muffins with wrappers.  hopefully he doesn't have regrets about that.  I certainly do, they were really good and definitely not meant for doggies.

Matt and his dad agreed the soup came out well and matt's dad asked me an interesting question i've never thought about before.  how do I know it's good if i never taste it?  80% of the things I cook I never taste.  I've never eaten my own chicken soup or pot roast, beef stew or meatloaf.  I have no idea how they taste.  I remember what my mom's recipes taste like and I cook them the same way my mom did.  He asked me how I season things and i said I guessed and he laughed.  I suppose it's more like instinct that guessing.  I don't know if it's impressive that I can feed matt without tasting anything or if i'm missing huge areas I could learn and grow as a cook.  I guess there's not much I can do about it unless I go back to eating meat, I suppose I should just be happy matt is happy.  if I was a terrible cooker of meat I'm sure he'd take over.  or divorce me.