Whole Wheat Bread

A few months ago I decided I should make my own bread. I consulted with the domestically amazing Melissa, who gave me some suggestions, tips and encouragement. I've been making my own bread ever since. This may be silly, but I find great satisfaction knowing I haven't purchased bread for months. I always make whole wheat bread because Jason doesn't care either way and I love whole wheat. So, here's the recipe I use:

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup honey
• 5 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
2. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
3. Punch down, and divide into 2 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.

Froufrou Cupcakes

I made these froufrou cupcakes for book group last month and promised I would post the recipe. So, here it is:

Raspberry coconut cake:
1 stick BUTTER, softened
1 cup SUGAR
3 EGGS
1/2 cup all -purpose FLOUR
1/4 cup self-rising FLOUR
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded COCONUT
1/3 cup SOUR CREAM
5 ounces frozen RASPBERRIES

Cream cheese frosting:
5 tablespoons BUTTER, softened
12 ounces CREAM CHEESE, softened
2 teaspoons COCONUT EXTRACT
3 cups POWDERED SUGAR

Decorations:
1 cup FLAKED COCONUT, toasted
15 fresh RASPBERRIES, halved

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin pans with paper baking cups.
2. Beat butter, sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.
3. Stir in sfited flours, coconut, sour cream and frozen raspberries. Divide mixture among baking cups; smooth surface.
4. Bake about 40 minutes. Turn cakes onto wire rack to cool.
5. Make cream cheese frosting by beating butter, cream cheese and coconut extract until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in sifted powdered sugar.
6. Remove baking cups from cakes; spread cakes with frosting (sides and tops).
7. Decorate cakes with coconut and raspberries.

I find my flaked coconut at the local grocery store. It is Red Mill brand and it is the only I've ever seen. I got this and many more fantastic recipes from Cupcakes by Pamela Clark.

I really like the simple look of strait stitch embroidery. I think it is clean and even and I really like that. For the most part I embroidery onesies and burp cloths for Calder. I think they are my favorite things to put him in.

I also dyed these onesies. Thanks Lorraine for teaching me how. It is a skill I'll use forever.

*Please excuse the drool on a few of these. Sometimes it is a matter of seconds after putting on a shirt that the drool hits it. I also love the stunned look in most of these pictures.

Make It Monday Coasters

Well, I had a great domestic week. I did some embroidery and some sewing and of course some baking. I had some leftover fabric from a skirt I made so I thought I would make some coasters. I think they are absolutely adorable. Unfortunately I don't have a need for any more coasters so I'm offering them to you! If you think they're cute and would make a great addition to your house, just leave a comment. Next Monday I'll announce a winner.

Peanut Brittle

Ah yes, another recipe. I promise you'll get something crafty at least every other week! As the winter drags on I've been thinking a lot about comfort food. Of course soup is always on my winter list but certain sweets also make the cut. Peanut brittle is one of those. I don't make it often since Jason's not a fan but it always makes me feel warm on a cold day. And it's easy to boot.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup peanuts
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

DIRECTIONS

1. Grease a large cookie sheet. Set aside.
2. In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, over medium heat, bring to a boil sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peanuts. Set candy thermometer in place, and continue cooking. Stir frequently until temperature reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), or until a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.
3. Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter or margarine and baking soda; pour at once onto cookie sheet. With 2 forks, lift and pull peanut mixture into rectangle about 14x12 inches; cool. Snap candy into pieces.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Raisin Cookies

I LOVE these cookies. I have a soft spot for anything with oatmeal for some reason. I had a really hard time finding that perfect recipe, so I made some modifications. They are pretty substantial and freeze very well.

Yields 18 large cookies

1 1/2 cups FLOUR
1/2 teaspoon SALT
1/2 teaspoon BAKING POWDER
8 ounces (2 sticks) UNSALTED BUTTER, softened
1 cup LIGHT BROWN SUGAR, packed
1 cup GRANULATED SUGAR
1 large EGG
1/4 cup APPLESAUCE
3 cups OATS
1 1/2 cups CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1/2 cup RAISINS

1. Preaheat oven to 350 degrees, and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Whisk flour, salt and baking powder together in a medium bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, by hand or by mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add sugars and beat the mixture until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and applesauce.

4. Stir dry ingredients into butter-sugar mixture with a wooden spoon or a large rubber spatula. Stir in oats, raisins and chocolate chips.

5. Place dough onto parchment-lined cookie sheets by large spoonfuls (about 2 tablespoons each), leaving at least 2 inches between.

6. Bake until cookie edges turn golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Slide cookies (on parchment) onto cooling rack. Let cool, and store in airtight container.

Make It Monday

domestic /dəˈmɛstɪk/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [duh-mes-tik] –adjective

1.	of or pertaining to the home, the household, household affairs, or the family.

I am so excited to announce that I am going to start featuring something domestic every week. It could be a recipe, a tutorial on making a duvet cover or a creative way to arrange a photo collection. I can't say I'm anywhere close to being an expert on any of these subjects, but I thought it would be a fun way to keep track of the creative things I'm doing this year. Especially since doing more creative / domestic things was one of my resolutions. So, check back on Mondays to see what I've been up to.