Divorce Sucks!

I never knew so many emotions could go on at the same time. Love, hate, sadness, bitterness, joy and relief. God is working things out though and I'm so grateful for loving, kind parents who sacrifice everything for me and my children. I am so blessed for family and friends and feel so loved.

Lighter note, X Files movie was just okay. It was good to see Mulder and Scully. Just wish the movie had been about aliens or something a little more spooky. Still wish they'd bring back the TV show. That and Northern Exposure were the all time best ever.
I have tons of packing to do, so this is all for now.

More Artisan Bread

I just added a link to Artisan Bread after Mr. Hertzberg left me a comment on my blog. He and Ms. Francois are my idols!! I just had some more of my bread toasted for breakfast. Not exactly weight watchers but I'd rather eat real bread and cut out coca colas! I gave my mom this book for mothers day and have recommended it to lots of folks. Go to their site and BUY THE BOOK!

Fresh bread for breakfast!!

I've gotten addicted to making bread from my new fav book: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day -- see blog at sidebar for Zoe Francois. The premise is that you make a batch of high moisture dough that rises in your refrigerator, then pull off hunks as you need it and bake fresh every day if you want. This week, I made the Soft American-Style White Bread. My kids like white bread but I HATE the gooey stuff from the store. This bread was amazing and the kids loved it. There's nothing like heel of fresh warm bread with real butter melting inside and natural cherry jam on top. Hungry yet??

Here's basically the recipe:

3 Cups lukewarm water

1 1/2 tbls granulated yeast

1 1/2 tbls salt

2 tbls sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

7 cups unbleached white , all purpose flour

1. Mix the yeast, salt, sugar and melted butter with the water in a 5qt bowl, or lidded (not airtight) food container

2. Mix in the flour without kneading, using a spoon. Use your hands just to mix if necessary.

3. Cover, not airtight, and allow to rest at room temperature until dough rises, then collapses appx 2 hours.

4. You can use immediately but best flavor if allowed to refrigerate at least 24 hours. Refrigerate dough in lidded, not airtight container and use over the next 7 days.

5. When ready to use, grease a NONSTICK loaf pan. (must be nonstick for this recipe because of the high moisture). Cut off a 1 1/2 lb chunk of dough with floured hands and shape into enlongated loaf.

6. Drop dough in pan making sure it fills pan more than half-full.

7. Allow dough to rest 1 hour 40 minutes (or just 40 min if using fresh, unrefrigerated dough).

Dust the loaf w/flour and slash the top with tip of a sharp knife (I skipped this step and it worked fine). Brush surface w/melted butter.

8. Preheat oven to 350.

9. Bake near the center of the oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

10. Allow to cool if you can stand it. I ate hot out of oven!!!

Sanity Saver

I was on the phone today with my pastor crying about my problems. He asked my about my job and amidst my tears I told him, "you know what's ironic? My title at my company is "sanity saver" and started laughing". He got a good laugh too and said just the fact that I can laugh is proof that I'm not crazy. I remember that old song in the 60's "They're coming to take me away, hee hee, ha ha, ho ho".

Countdown to X Files !!

Stomach Flu

There is nothing I hate worse in the world than having a stomach flu. I started feeling bad before we went to Jeff and Angies and by the time I got home, I knew I was in trouble. Starting to feel better now and even ate some scrambled eggs so I think I'll survive. Yuck.

**** Looking at the bright side of things, I lost over 2 lbs overnight**

Why am I creating another blog?

Well, my other blogs seem to be non relevant now so I'm going to condense everything to one. I may be the only one to ever read it but since I'm on the computer every day, blogging is now easier than keeping a journal. Life has been difficult lately and I've been finding myself depressed and feeling sorry for myself. A good friend of mine told me to have a good belly laugh as often as I can. He's right. I found that a good laugh and a wine spritzer can do wonders. Prayer of course also is instrumental. This blog is my attempt to focus on things other than my problems as much as possible. Escapism is a wonderful thing.

I spent this morning scrubbing the house which is for sale. Cleaned the oven and glass top, mopped floors and shuffling junk around the bonus room to pack up. Then, went to the house in Jefferson that we have for sale and swept and mopped those floors. Came home and made potato salad to take to the McLendon's tonight.

Here's the basic recipe I made:
Boiled appx 2 lbs redskinned potatoes
Then slice, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Mix in a bowl with:
1 sliced green onion

1/4 C chopped celery (optional) I was out anyway.
appx 1/2 cup mayo
appx 1 cup light sour cream
3 Tablespoons course grained mustard
2 Tbls real bacon bits or 3-4 slices cooked bacon, chopped.
Chill for at least an hour. Yummy