High School Musical Jr

 

 You've heard me talk about our great experience with the musical this year.  Here are the photos to go along with it.

 

 

 

 Bugs is the crouching jock with white shoes.  Potter is the 'coach' in the white shirt.

Bugs was super happy to get exposure to theatre.  He did great!

 

 

Luckily, a friend with a great camera came on closing night and surprised us last week with these nice action shots. 

 

 

 

 

 

The depth of his emotion in acting astounds me.  He is truly gifted.

 

 

I cried every night as I watched my boys do something so great.

 

 

 

 

 Behind the scenes a bit:

 

 

 

 

 Our beloved Mrs Parker.  Love working with her.

 

 

 

(Bugs was already in the dressing room, dang it)

 

 

 

Hooray for another year of theatre!  Thanks to all the family members and friends who were in town and could support us.  We love you!

 

 

 

They're coming!

Two of my sisters are coming home for turkey day!

I am all set for shopping and relaxing!  Ash and I are Black Friday all-stars (starting years and years ago when my babies were tiny and when stores opened at 5 or 6 am on Friday, not Thanksgiving night).

Wendy is the master gamer.  And lover of all things pumpkin roll.

In her honor I cleaned and organized the game drawers and counted out full decks of cards to be ready for her arrival in three days.

 

 

Oh yeah.  And the pumpkin rolls are waiting in the freezer.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

Home sick

Today is:

 

 

reading

monopoly

toast

ice water

more reading

blankets

pillows

heater

snuggling

still more reading

pinterest-perusing

menu planning

christmas list making

 

 

 

 

 

And I think supper will be shepherd's pie.  You making anything good today?

 

 

 

 

Best bread recipe

Early in my homemaking career I determined my goal in the kitchen: to find the "best of" for each food favorite.  Best chocolate chip cookie, best chocolate cake, best meatloaf, etc.

I haven't completely achieved my goal yet but I am getting closer.  I present to you the best homemade bread.  Best.

Recipe from Everyday Food Storage.  (Recipe at the bottom of this post as well).  She has version for white and for wheat.  Both are excellent.  I usually make the white version, although that will change when I get a wheat grinder. 

The key are the dough enhancers (gluten, dry milk, potato flakes) that give the loaf great structure.  I love that I can throw the whole thing into my Kitchenaid bowl with the dough hook and walk away.  It's so easy!

The kids sure love it.  Even if Potter can't give me a straight face to save his life!

EZ White Bread

1 1/8 cups warm water
1 3/4 – 2 tsp active dry yeast
2 Tblsp sugar
3 cups flour
1 Tblsp vital wheat gluten (found near the flour in the baking aisle)
1 tsp salt
2 Tblsp nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 Tblsp butter/margarine or oil
1/4 cup potato flakes (yes, the cheapy nasty tasting ones)

Add the ingredients in the order listed into a mixer bowl (like a kitchen-aid) with a dough hook attachment and mix on low for 10-12 minutes. Or mix it on the dough cycle in your bread machine.
After all the mixing is complete, if the dough still seems too gooey and you are unable to handle it, add 1 Tblsp flour at a time, and mix after each addition until the dough is manageable with your hands.

Let rise 45 mins -1 hour, punch down and use to make bread, cinnamon rolls, cookie sheet pizza, rolls, or anything else you can think of! Let rise after you have made your creation and bake according to the direction of the recipe you are making.

If you are making it into bread, form into a loaf at this time, place in a loaf pan, let rise in a warm place 45 min -1 hour and bake 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when lightly tapped.

 

Snow day

Ok, not really.  The elementary kids are home today for end of term and parent teacher conferences, not snow.  But the first winter storm his this morning, so it's a perfect day to stay in and cozy up together!

 

 

 

 

Those were taken about 3 hours ago - we have 4 inches now and still coming down!

 

In honor of our cozy day, we cranked up the oven to bake.  Princess wanted to try cupcakes.

 

 

She's so pretty.  I just watched her as she worked.

 

 

When you're the one doing the work, you get to lick the spatula alone.

 

 

Not bad - and it was her first time!

 

 

Wait, how did this little one sneak in?  Yes, she wears that dress at least part of every day.

 

All done!

 

Yum!