Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Lemon Braided Bread

If you love baking bread and sweet lemony goodness like I do; you must try this recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I made it for Christmas breakfast and we can't stop ooooing and ahhhing over it. Wish you could smell how fragrant this is while it bakes, it is amazing. I can't wait to make it again with the same filling minus the lemon curd add raspberry jam! Yaozaa!

Cookbook Love

My cup runneth over when it comes to Cookbooks. Some of you have seen my cookbook cabinet - it is insane. I must clean it out in 2012 and get rid of what I am not using (maybe I will post the giveaways and share them with you all - good idea?).

Can one really have too many cookbooks though? In my mind, the answer is a resounding NO. I guess as long as I am still making things out of them, I can keep them. I got the following books for Christmas this year.

I am so excited to read them all and I will take them in word for word like novels, slowly pouring over every recipe, going through all the prep in my mind and imagining the finished product and how it tastes. Looks like I have my reading cut out for me. Time to get out the tape flags so I can mark what I want to make.

You Ever Have Those Days...

Where you just want to stay in bed?
I was not feeling well this morning for various reasons and didn't get to work until 11 AM.
Now that my flannel Holiday sheets are on my bed, I don't want to get out from between the covers. Here I am lapping it up. Do you have a holiday set up for your bed? Do you think its too much?

Gingerbread House

We had a Gingerbread House party today at the end of the work day. People that have kids, brought them to the office and everyone got to make a gingerbread creation out of the houses that a couple of my coworkers so lovingly assembled ahead of time. Basically, we all got to do the past part which is decorate the houses!

I made a Gingerbread Church with its own Priest!

Check it out...

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Happy Birthday Emily!

Happy Birthday Emily!

I have been thinking a lot lately about family and children and as much as it makes me sad that I am unable to have children, I am so glad that I got to be the semi-second Mom to you. Who would have ever thought that the one shot I had at parenting would have been to my very own sister at such a young age? Though the length of my parental duties was short, the friendship I have with you is eternal. I love you more than anything I know.

Dear PWBIMJ,

Dear Person Who Broke Into My Jeep,

Thanks for starting my Monday morning off on a positive note (when I was already running late).

Thanks for emptying out my entire glove box and throwing it all over my car.

Thanks for not taking anything, I don't keep anything worth stealing in there anyway...duh!

Maybe the alarm wasn't on, maybe the drivers side door was open, I don't know but you didn't break a window and I appreciate that.

One thing I just want to know...why do you have to throw all of the contents of my glove box all over the car, can't you just look through and put it back like you found it?

Also...I have a car that is hard (I hope) to hot wire so after trying I would appreciate you putting the seat back the way it was; I couldn't even reach the pedals...you must have been a big son of a buck. I noticed you checked yourself out in the drivers side vanity mirror too and left it down...classy. I hope you think you looked good violating my personal property jackass.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Dinner Rolls

I made these dinner rolls today to go with the pea soup I had cooking in my crock pot and they did not disappoint. I tweaked the recipe a bit and used almond milk* (we are not milk people) and they were terrific! These rolls take a while with the two rises, but are so worth it. My house smelled of fresh baked bread and once I split one open I was in heaven. The rich yeasty scent and fluffy insides lapped up butter like a kitten to milk.

I love that we had these rolls with the soup and for dessert with jam. I cut the recipe in half because having 30 of these around our house would not be good for anyone. I highly recommend these and would make them again in a second. Maybe next time the full recipe with half used for cinnamon rolls. Gulp.

* Did you know you can replace regular milk with soy or almond without and issue? Rice milk is a different story though, been there, done that, won't do it again.

*{Fabulous Find}*

Have you tried these yet?

If not, I suggest immediately running to the closest Whole Foods Market (or your favorite store that may be cool enough to carry these) and pick up a bag. Actually, you should probably buy two because once you open them they will be gone. Sweet, salty and a little bit of peppermint...oh mamma, these are amazing.

Pretzel Crisps score again with these amazing little holiday treats.

Also available in dark chocolate - both for a limited time only.

Why are you still sitting there reading this?

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...