Focaccia

J. LOVES Focaccia bread...
so I tried a new recipe in the bread maker..

Warm Water 1cup
Oil 1/3 cup
Sugar 2tsp
Salt 1 1/2 tsp
Bread Flour 3 cups
Dry Italian Seasoning 1 tsp
Active Dry Yeast 2 tsp

Select Pizza Dough Setting.

After cycle has ended,

With oiled hands, evenly press dough onto greased pan, leaving imprints with your fingers.
Cover and let rise for 20 mins/ 2 times the size.

TOPPING
I used
Feta
garlic (fried in butter)
Italian Seasoning.

Cover with topping and bake 400 for 20 mins. or until golden brown.

Serve with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.


Topping...
Feta, Olive oil, garlic and spices..


Done and done




Ready to Serve..

Sheppard's Pie

Yes, I still have potatoes left.. ugh...
time for some more comfort food.
I made 2 sheppard's pies, one veggie, one meat.

Ground Beef (fake ground round)
frozen veggies (the first time in my life I have ever bought frozen veggies!)
olive oil
garlic
onion
HP sauce
Mashed potatoes.

Everything all fried up... looks SO nasty..


Veggie Pie...


and side by side..

Snow Puppy

I was uploading some pictures when I came across these ones... J. must have taken them when he took Barley to work. TOO cute!
My little snow-puppy

Jo's 2009 Christmas Card Collection

some of the cards I am making for Christmas

READ THIS BOOK: The Book Thief

The Book Thief Markus Zusak

Synopsis:
It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist-books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

Why You should Read this book:

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I found it in the young adults sections. But simply put, this book is beautiful. It is a touching account of an extraordinary family. I just can't say enough about this book. I read it twice back-to-back, and got more the second time than the first, and I have a feeling the next time I read it, it will bring up more meaning. READ THIS BOOK. I promise, you won't regret it.

Breakfast + Pizza... 2 of my Favourite Things together can't be Wrong!

So at dinner last night... I mentioned that when J. and I were in Italy, I had pizza with an egg in the middle. Everyone thought it was kinda weird... but I swear Pizza and breakfast all at once can't be a bad thing!!

When we moved out here, one day we tried Jokers Pizza and they had egg pizza too!!!


My AWESOME EGG PIZZA
J's Boring Pizza.. lol

Reasons Why I Love it When J. is Gone

So, Admittedly, I spent last night in tears. Bad day all around, thunder storm, messy house. All I wanted was for J. to come home and give me a hug.
Today, I feel like I could single handedly, conquer the world.

Lol.. such is the life of a military spouse...

But since I am in a Good Mood, here are some of the Great things about being "on my own"

- There are no socks, undies or bits of cadpat paraphernalia on the floor.
- all of the towels are hanging the right way, my way!
- I don't have to shave my armpits, legs, etc.
- I get the whole bed to myself!
- I can eat when I am hungry
- I get to have Star Wars marathons.
- the toilet paper is on the holder, and not on the counter
- the dog actually sits with ME!
- I can read all day long without interruption!
- The laundry doesn't smell like army. I don't know where that smell comes from... but it is ONLY on his uniforms!

Old Kitchen, New Kitchen

I was complaining to myself as I was loading the dishwasher this morning...
then I thought about my old kitchen... Remind me about this if I EVER complain again.

OLD KITCHEN
*note my Nine Inch Nails poster & Pearl Jam Fan Club Holiday records. I used to call it my bitty-baby-rock-n-roll kitchen.

And the Army Fridge.


It should also be noted that the fridge only had one setting and froze all of our food. The oven didn't work and only 2 of 4 elements on the stove did. And yes our Landlords knew about all this. We won't get into that now....

NEW KITCHEN


New designer fridge. We splurged on this.. and it was worth EVERY cent!!

Black Bean, Potato & Broccoli Soup

So I have a lot of potatoes. Like a lot.... So easy... so yummy! I just put all the ingredients in a pot of water and let it sit there for an hour or so. There are no measurements because I just threw what I had in the fridge in....


Celery
Carrots
Onion
Garlic
Broccoli
Potatoes
2 cans black beans


Mixing...

Blending

Eating

Read this Book : Cosmic Banditos

Cosmic Banditos
A.C. Weisbecker


Synopsis:
This guy and his dog and a snake that likes warm guns are hanging out in South America, drinking, mescal, drugs, a bandito friend robs an American family who has a slutty daughter and a dad who digs quantum physics, more drinking, mescal, drugs + quantum physics + drug raids + Stephen Hawking + low flying planes + plus time travel + more foot notes than a podiatrist + Robert and his never ending supply of grenades + quarks, subatomic particles and AHHHHHH!!!!!

Why you should read this book:
This book came highly recommended to me by a friend. It took me forever to find a copy, since, until recently it has been out of print. But it was worth it... this is the funniest, most clever, wicked book. It has been said that Weisbecker "out gonzos Hunter S. Thompson" and I have to agree. I could not put this book down from the second I started.

And the funny part is, when this book first came out- nobody would buy it. The author actually took all of the copies that he had left from the publisher and shipped them to US Soldiers serving in Iraq asking that they pass the book along when they were done.

Apparently they are making a movie now too... but seriosuly- READ THIS BOOK!

Things that make me Happy #6

Love & Barley.

Thanks Emjay!

For my FANTASTIC new blog header!
You are awesome!!!
You can Check out her house building journey @ From the Ground Up- Engineering a House into our Home.

HELP!!!

We need to name our new Fur-baby!!! Please make any suggestions you have!!

STATS:

Female
Born: October 11, 2009 (Our wedding day!!)
Breed: Miniature American Eskimo.

First Wedding Picture

SOOOO Excited to get our sneak peak!!
Courtesy of Sakura Photography , my current favourite people in the world!!

Easy Mocha Mousse

Well it was easy I guess....
although I do have chocolate all over my t-shirt!!

Made some espresso Italian styles..
Which is also good to drink :P
Turned out ok...

Pesto & Spinach Breakfast Burritos

Yummers!!

Homemade Pesto, touch of mayo
scrambled eggs with spinach, cheddar & feta
Salt & pepper
Griddle & serve

The Dog Ate My Homework

Well not my homework... but one of the cards I made in class yesterday.
He's lucky he is cute!!!



And another card that was spared...

Lazy Perogies

So I said I would bring a hot entree to the Card Making Potluck with every intention of making something fancy.
then Halloween night happened.. lol
with 1/2 to spare I fried up some frozen perogies with butter and spices..
They all got eaten- so I guess that is good?

pannekoeken FAIL

So... J. love DeDutch and the fancy pannekoekens... in an effort to help save a $40+ breakfast bill... I attempted to make them myself.
Looks like it is million dollar breakfasts for us...