Bread Cooking Class Night 1

A few weeks ago, Andrew saw some cooking classes advertised in the paper. So he called and told Jessica and mentioned he thought we would enjoy taking them together. Of course, he was right. So Jessica called me. She said I probably didn't need the first class, because it was bread. I thought that was a great compliment, but I agreed with Andrew. I thought it would be fun to take the class together.

I had hoped to learned lots of new stuff, but for me personally, I spent most of the night saying, "That's not how Barb does it." "Barb's recipe has a lot more ingredients." "Barb would do it this way." To me, the night ended up being a great compliment to my mother in-law. She has taught me well when it comes to baking bread. :) The class bread was good too, but I decided I like Barb's recipe and methods a lot more.

Our hands were dirty from working with the dough, so I didn't start taking pictures until our bread was in the pans to raise. Jessica and I were each able to make 2 loaves.

While the bread was raising and baking, the teachers decided to make up some roll dough so we could practice making dinner rolls (which we will go over more thoroughly in tonight's class). I had taught myself to roll out rolls and I was pleased to see the teachers do it the exact same way. But in the end, I couldn't help being a show off, so I made some knotted rolls instead. 

Between the class, we made like 14 loaves of bread. So I got a picture of one of the very full ovens. 

Once the bread came out of the ovens, it was hard to keep track of which one was made by who. The only one we knew for certain was the one in the stoneware, which was mine. At the end of the night we each just grabbed a couple loaves and rolls to take home and enjoy.

Just like in cake class, we decided to end each night with an "apron" picture. I LOVE our apron pictures. Notice me in my Halloween apron, I was in denial yesterday that Halloween is officially over until next year. I'm even wearing my pumpkin shirt under the apron.

Halloween Party

This year I decided to host a Halloween party and invite our friends. I have been planning this party since September, except that I waited until the last minute to actually prepare it. My party was on Saturday; I finally figured out the menu on Tuesday and the games on Friday.

Josh had to work, but he thought he could still be there in time for dinner. But then that morning when he got to work, they said they were finishing in the current location that day, even if it meant working until 1 AM. Which they did. So in the end, I was a widow for the night. But surrounded by my best friends I didn't even have a chance to be lonely. I LOVE these guys so much.

I had so much fun setting up for the party. I decided to use my craft tables so we could all eat together in the front, which left the kitchen table to use as a buffet. And the kitchen counter. I had way too much food, but that's how you know it was a good party.

My first decorated table. Note the pumpkin salt & pepper shakers.

My second decorated table. Note the spider salt & pepper shakers. I don't even like salt & pepper, but both sets of shakers were too cute to pass up!

Our eating area.

One of the games was a memory plate. When the guest all arrived, all they could see was this dish towel covering something.

Then I pulled the towel off for a minute and they had to try and memorize everything on the plate. After the minute was up, I covered it back up and they had another minute to write down everything they could remember. Everyone remembered almost everything, but I think each person forgot one or two items.

Another game was guess the candy corn in the jar. The highest guess was in the 300's and the lowest guess was in the 140's. The jar had 177 to be exact, the closet guess was something like 154.

Our last game was charades where they acted out words like "tombstone," "bat," "witch," "haunted house," etc. I didn't take any pictures because I was in the kitchen finishing up a few last preparations for dinner.

My menu included:

Cider Cheese Fondue

w/ french bread chunks

& veggie trays

Cheese Filled Eyeballs

Creepy Crawly Bugs

Frankenstein Jello Salads

The Great Pumpkin Brownie

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Gummy Worm Punch

Each person asked what they could bring, but I had a hard time delegating stuff out. I wanted my party to be perfect so I was scared to ask for help. In the end, I finally relented to to a few of them and let Randi bring the bread and Jessica bring the veggie tray. Then at the party, I had all of the girls in the kitchen helping me finish up the bugs and get the table set.

I am so in love with this serving bowl. The bread went in it perfectly.

Jessica brought two veggies trays. The first was just a regular one, with Ham Roll-Ups made by Andrew. I think Andrew, Brandon and I were the only ones to eat them. No one else could understand how they are a family tradition treat we grew up with. That was fine with me, it left more for me to eat.

Jessica's other veggie tray was shaped like a candy corn and it turned out so cute!

The Gummy Worm Punch looked pretty neat. But I wish I had bought a bigger package, so I could have draped some worms over the side of the bowl.

At the end of the night, we hadn't even cut into the brownie, we were all so full. Randi felt bad, so she cut a small piece out and Jessica had a small piece too. I actually took it to work on Halloween to share with my co-workers.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars seemed to be the hit of the party. I'm not a fan of pumpkin, so I never tried one. But everyone else exclaimed about how good they were. When I read the candy corn jar results, Todd thought the winner should get another bar. I told him he didn't have to actually win, he could just have seconds.

The Frankenstein's were fun to make, but next time I would put them on plain colored plated because the cat whiskers on the plate make the jello look funny (at least to me).

I let the girls decorate the bugs and they turned out so cute.

In the bottom corner of the picture of the meatballs, you can see the blood sauce (marinara sauce) that went with the meatballs.

As I was setting up that day, I had a hard time picturing how I was going to fit everything. So I set out the serving platters and little sticky notes with the name of the dish on them. Then I just kept rearranging everything until I found a set up I liked. It seemed to work well. We started at the table, went down one side and then up the other side between the table and the bar. Like I said, I had prepared too much food, but it was so fun it was worth it. We were supposed to have one other couple join us, but they didn't make it. With then and Josh, it might have been just about right.

Jessica brought a hostess gift, which I loved. It was a small Halloween pail with some cupcake toppers. Looks like I now have an excuse to plan a party again next year.

Todd was a blindfolded knife thrower and Randi was his lovely, injured assistant.

Brandon & Kim were Gnomeo and Juliet. Which came made all by hand. I loved every one's costumes, but theirs turned out being my favorite. It made me wish I had actually gotten around to preparing prizes for night.

Jessica was an 80's girl. We gave her a hard time about buying stuff she used to own. Andrew was Kurt Cobain. Todd thought he would have looked the part better if there had been a white smug just under his nose.

After much drama over the last few weeks, I finally settled on being a scarecrow. I was worried about making my own costume, but it turned out so cute.

It was a great night with great food and wonderful friends. I can't wait until next year.

Halloween 2011

I LOVE HALLOWEEN! Yesterday I was excited all day long. I dressed up for work, even though I was pretty sure I would be the only one. But I didn't care because I love this time of year so much. I then spent all day singing "Its the most wonderful time of the year." Not to get in the mood for Christmas, but just because I was so happy all day long.

Lastly, I watched the clock ALL DAY. I swear it was moving backwards! I just wanted to get off of work and go see my nephews decked out in their costumes. So I patiently (and not patiently) waited for closing time. And then I was off.

First stop, was my mom's to see my sister and her two boys.

We don't get any trick or treaters at our house, I use that as an excuse to buy something bigger then a small candy bar for my nephews. Since Daxen is too young for food, I bought him a onesie and some socks. Actually, I ended up giving both boys a John Deere Tractor onesie too. I had bought them for Christmas gifts, but then became worried they wouldn't fit by then. It was probably a good idea, Daxsen is already getting so big, and he's only 2 months old.

Oh.My.Gosh, Valex was the cutest lion EVER. His treat was a bag of animal crackers and another bag of mini chocolate chip cookies. He immediately handed me both bags so I could open them for him. He's eating a cookie in the picture below. LOVE that little boy to pieces.

Daxsen was a monkey. Vanessa did such a good job of picking out warm outfits, but for once in like 10 years, the weather was actually nice for the night. That just means that it will be crappy rainy/snowy weather for the next 10 years. :p

The boys needed a break from being loaded in and out of the car. So we took them out of their costumes so they could eat some lunch. 

I kept telling Valex there was a tiger on him bum, but I don't think he got it. Here is he helping hand out candy to some trick or treaters.

Me and Daxsen chilling.

While my mom was filling her glass out of the fridge door, Valex came over to help. We joked that before long he would be tall enough to reach the dispenser himself. 

Not two seconds later he showed us he had learned a new trick for Halloween by proving us wrong and reaching the water dispenser and squirting himself in the face. He thought it was great fun. My mom's fridge has a lock button on it so she set it. 

Except she missed, and he got squirted again. After that, she got it on lock. He tried for a few minutes, before running off to find trouble elsewhere. But everyone time someone got a drink of water, he recognized the sound and ran over to try it himself.

I had to get one last picture with them before they went one way to see grandpa and I headed the other way to get dinner and then go home to wait for my other nephews to come visit. 

Daxsen playing with a piece of my costume.

Earlier in the day, I ran down on my lunch break to see my brother Alden dressed up. He was a gangster. I loved all the tattoos up his legs, arms and around his neck. I asked for a picture, which he smiled for, until I reminded him to look the part. When did this boy grow up into such a handsome man?

At home, we were visited by a Bumblebee Transformer (Preston) and another monkey (Tyler). We were their last stop of the night so they were pretty tired.

A few weeks ago, I asked Preston what he wanted for his Halloween treat. He thought for a second and then told me "gummy worms, the sour kind." Then he thought for another second and told me Tyler wanted M&M's. I double checked with Melanie and she said M&M's were a good idea for Tyler.

I was delighted that they also brought me a treat for Halloween. They must know my love for Halloween and pumpkins runs deep because they got me this cute pumpkin serving bowl. I think I"ll use it for Thanksgiving and then I look forward to using it for Halloween and Thanksgiving next year. 

Tyler really wasn't as grumpy as he looks in this photo. But the picture turned out so cute with the pouty face. 

I was delighted to come home to a treat all my own. I think he finally listened to all those hints I've been dropping. I was so excited to get flowers that I brought them to work today so I can better enjoy them. Just another way to realize I probably spend more time at work then at home. :p At least awake hours. But with them at work I can look at them all day long, instead of just in the morning as I get ready for work and again at night when I get ready for bed.

Nephew Blocks

Each time we get together to make kits, I realize we could do this on our own. But its just so easy to buy them from the Idea Closet because I lack the creativity to come up with something entirely on my own.

Then a few months ago, I had an idea on my own. I have always wanted to keep a few pictures at my desk of my nephews, but because of infertility issues, I haven't. I'm proud to claim to be their aunt, but it gets hard emotionally having to explain that they aren't my kids. So I decided I needed a nephew brag board. I first thought about doing a metal one and using magnets to hang pictures, but with the way my desk is situated, I was worried I'd have to hang it in a corner of my office I don't look at often.

So I decided to make my own block kit and set it on my desk. I had no idea how I was going to get the blocks cuts, but then my friend Randi mentioned a store in Salt Lake called the Wood Connection. I told her what I had in mind, and the next time she was out there, she bought the blocks for me. I had her buy 2 sets so that eventually I can make another set for home. And as the family grows, I'll probably end up make a nieces set too.

The hardest part was finding something to hold the picture up. I know I could have used a clothes pin, but that seems tacky, and I was afraid of how much of the picture it would cover up. I asked around at several stores and finally one store had these little clear blocks with several sticks in them. I just used some wire cutters to cut the sticks off the little block and they were perfect.

I've slowly been working on these over the past few months and finally finished them up last week. Then the hardest part became choosing only a few favorite pictures. Every picture of my nephews is a favorite picture. ;)

I love how they look on my desk. I took the above picture in a different spot because the sun was shinning in my window really bad and I couldn't get a decent picture. That's why the one below isn't as good. But that is where they are on my desk where I can look at them all day long.