Babies and Lambies! XOXOX

My adopted-like brother David and his wonderful wife Jenny are quickly approaching the birth of their first child, Dominic DiBello.  I swore I was done with crocheting baby blankets, but since David's sister Jenn got one for each of her girls, I couldn't let little Baby "D" come into the world without one!  Whatever would he think of his crazy Aunt Carly!?!

Unlike my dear friend Jenn (David's Sister), Jenny knew what colors and the theme of the baby's room right away, which was a huge help on my end.  She said she was basing the colors of the room around this super cute lamb quilt at Pottery Barn Kids.  So then I decided to challenge myself with another project which was the crocheted lamb. I found a free pattern on another blog site called Harugurumi.  Although it wasn't super hard, I highly doubt I will be making another one in my future!

Now all we need is the baby!  Congrats David & Jenny!

Easter Bread!

As an Italian tradition my family always had three things for Easter.  The first was "ham pie" which is similar to a quiche with ham, cheese and egg.  The second is "rice pie" which is a simple sweet lemon flavored pie with rice and ricotta.  And the third, which is my favorite, "Easter bread."  This bread, also called "sweet bread," was always my favorite thing to eat at Easter.  My Grandma, Great Aunt Rita and Great Uncle Joe, totally mastered the art of making this delightful light and sweet bread, but I unfortunately have not.  So this year I thought I would try and give it another go.  It was semi successful, but in the end....better luck next year!  Like my Mom said, "at least you tried."

Easter Bread Recipe: (makes 3-8" loaf pans)

1 package dry cake yeast

1 stick oleo (butter)

1 c sugar

1 tsp salt

1 c milk

2 eggs

1/2 bottle lemon extract

4-5 cups of raisins (I used 5)

raisins (optional)

To start off you activate the yeast by adding 1/4 c of warm water and a tsp of sugar.  If the yeast is active it will double in size in less than 10 mins, if this does not happen toss it and try a new packet.  While you wait for your yeast to activate, measure your ingredients and add to the center of your flour (mix the salt with the flour first)like a "nest."  Then add the activated yeast and knead with your hands.  This dough is extremely STICKY so try to coat your hands with flour first.  You can also remove dough on your hands by rubbing them together with some flour. 

Once your dough is kneaded form a ball the best you can, cover the bowl with a dish towel or two and stick it in a warm place to rise.  If it is not warm it will not rise!  You want it to be at least 70 degrees.  It will take the dough awhile to rise, you want it to DOUBLE in size, mine took about two hours. 

Then you punch down the dough and and put in your pans.  You want to fill the pans about half way.  This time I did one loaf pan and some Texas sized muffin pans.  Cover again and let rise again until. 

Once it rose for the second time you bake it for 20 mins in a 325 degree oven.  After 20 mins, brush the top of the loaves with a combination of egg yolk and water and return to the oven for an additional 5 mins.  This is what makes it shinny and a little golden.  You can test the bread to see if it is done by tapping it out of the pan and knocking on the bottom of it.  It should sound hollow and be golden on the bottom.  Here is my finished product, ready to go to Michael's Grandma's.  We won't talk about what happened to the loaf, like I said, "better luck next year."

 

Let's get this garden started!

It was a beautiful day this past Sunday so Michael and I decided to take advantage of the weather and work on some outside projects.  We did a few small things like planting flowers (perennials only, so hopefully less work next year!), hanging up the basket for my coiled hose and putting out some other decorative items.  The most important project was removing my veggie plant seedlings from my mini green house box and into the raised garden bed. 

Since my garden is only 4' by 8', I thought I would try something that I found online.  Gardener's Supply has what is called a "cucumber trellis."  The idea is for your cucumbers and squash (things that take up a large amount of space to grow) to grow up the trellis an stay off off the ground.  You can then plant your smaller veggie plants like spinach and lettuce underneath the raised trellis.  We shall see how this works!

No Lazy Sundays Here!

My Grandpa always had a green thumb, which I unfortunately I did not inherit, but at least I try.  Last year, my garden did okay, but there is of course always room for improvement.  Michael volunteered to build me cold frame box (and idea I stole from Becky) and a raised bed for my "garden." 


I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to construct these two structures.  It took about 10 minutes to measure cut and put together each piece and about 30 minutes to stain them both.  It actually took longer to pick out what wood we needed in the lumber section of Lowe's. The window for the cold frame box was $5 from the Habitat ReStore. 

When we were done, I asked Michael to cut this random piece of lattice the previous owner had left to make a 'temporary' gate (for Gracie and other four legged visitors) until we get the final piece of fence paneling for my gates.  Michael then came up with the brilliant idea to stain and attach the excess piece to my fence behind where my tomato plants will be so that I can attach them to that instead of using stakes. 

My little seedlings are already starting to grow in my mini greenhouse!  My Grandpa would be so proud!  Now only if I can keep them alive!  I still need to plow my little box and fill it with soil, but unfortunately the weather forgot that it was Spring this week.  This entire project cost me about $50, not counting the stain, which I already had from the fence.

sPRinG has SpRUnG

Spring is just around the corner, this Sunday to be exact, but my tulips decided to peek out a little early this year!  Michael's Mom bought me a bunch to bulbs two years ago for my birthday (October, which is planting time) and I actually managed to plant them correctly!  This is my second year with this little guys. 

The previous owner apparently planted some bulbs as well.  Last spring every season brought new surprises in my yard, most of them good :  )  This little guy to the right was one of hers, but it unfortunately broke off.  I blame the neighbor's cat, but either way I thought it made a nice addition to my window seal, at least for a couple of days.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I recently came across a recipe for brownies with Bailey Irish Cream in them.  I thought it would be a perfect dessert for St. Patrick's Day. 

1 package brownie mix (1lb. 3.8oz) mix and bake as directed on the back of the box BUT substitute Bailey's for the water (1/4 cup).

While brownies are cooling you can start on the icing.

1 stick butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
2 T Bailey's
1/2 tsp vanilla
2-3 tsp milk
green food coloring (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and spread over cooled brownies.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. 

I personally thought this icing was a little sweet and I wasn't a super fan of using a stick of butter, but it could easily be omitted or switched with another icing.

I topped mine with chocolate sprinkles. (please excuse the plating)

The Critters

When I was little I always wanted pets.  I really didn't care what kind, I wanted them all.  So I finally got my wish and now I think I was completely insane.  They are a lot of work and can be extremely frustrating at times, but I wouldn't trade any of them for anything in the world. 

First came Tuesday, a red bellied conure, who I purchased while in undergrad.  I was still in college apartments at the time and a bird or a hamster was the only thing I could get away with.  You would not believe the personality this little one has and she just loves the camera.  She knows a few tricks like "turn around" and "boogie" and she also "meows."   

Then Frisbee appeared.  Litterally.  Michael took me up to the frisbee golf course just to check it out and before I even saw the frisbee basket I hear a small meow.  No way I could leave her there.  She has had a few peeing issues, but other than that I couldn't ask for a better cat.

Then Crockett found me.....again.  Crockett was my dad's parrot, Yellow Crowned Amazon Parrot, to be exact.  After my dad passed away poor Crock moved around a bit.  We always thought Crock was a boy, but low and behold after about 15 years she laid an egg, so now she is Crockette.  My dad always joked that I would get her in his will one day, I guess I should have taken him more serious.  Her breed has a life span of 80-100 years and this one is about 20.  Whew.

And last but not least Gracie.  Gracie was a lunch break purchase.  It wasn't long after I bought my house that I found myself in a pet store during my lunch break, and I was actually looking at a "schnoodle" for Michael's Mom.  And then there was this little stinker in the cage with the schnoodle.  The girl asked me if I wanted to hold one and some how I ended up with the chihuahua instead of the schnoodle.  What can I say, I'm a sucker.  I did at least go home and sleep on it before going back the next day at lunch to buy her.  I am totally against pet store puppies, so I am not so sure how this happened.  The next critter will come from the pound I promise!