Saturday, January 22, 2011

PEEPS

Can I just say that I love Peeps. They are delicious. 

The real beauty of Peeps is that you can now get them for all holidays.  They are no longer reserved only for Easter in the form of little bunnies.  Now you can get Halloween Peeps, Valentines Peeps, Christmas Peeps...basically, you can get them year round. 

Needless to say, most people know that I love Peeps.  The soft marshmallow with a sugary crust. Yum.  
However, this week I had an issue.  I had gotten a package of peeps in my Christmas stocking and had managed to wait a few days before I started eating them.  These Peeps were sugar cookie flavored, it was like a sugar cookie marshmallow. Genius. Now, even though I love Peeps I can't really eat more than one or two at a time which means it usually takes me a few days to make it through a whole package.  This is where the problem occurred.  After days (more than 4) of having an opened package of Peeps in my cabinet, I went in for the last one (expecting it to be too hard too eat) much to my delight it was still just as moist and delicious as the first one out of the package.  Now even though I love Peeps as a person who considers herself fairly health conscious I thought I should be concerned with the amount of preservatives to have allowed for such a miracle, and shouldn't have eaten the last one based on that information alone. But the pull of the marshmallow was to strong. I couldn't resist. I had to eat it. It was delicious.
Who wouldn't want to eat that? It is so cute!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Big News

Family and Friends I have an announcement.

Joseph and I have officially 

finished 

P90X



we did all 13 weeks. 

P90X, we hate it, but we love it.

Now go drink a recovery drink.  You need it.

Bread

On Tuesday since it was (and by was I mean still is) freezing I was craving soup and fresh warm homemade bread for dinner.  So when I got home from work that is exactly what I did. Over the past year I have really embraced bread making and feel as if I have mastered the art of yeast.  It is one of my proudest accomplishments.  So for dinner on Tuesday, I made a large batch of vegetable soup and this homemade bread.  It turned out really well and was just what I wanted.

(This is not my picture, I was to busy shoving bread in my face to be worried about picture taking, and I obviously don't have plates like that)


Ingredients:

  • 6 cups All-purpose Flour (I used about half white whole wheat flour and it was wonderful)
  • 5 teaspoons Instant Active Dry Yeast
  • ⅓ cups Sugar
  • ¼ cups Dry (powdered) Milk
  • 1-½ teaspoon Salt
  • 2-½ cups Warm Water
  • ¼ cups Vegetable Oil
  • 1 whole Egg White
  • 1 Tablespoon Water

Instructions:
In bowl combine: 2 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, milk, and salt and stir. Add water and oil and beat for 2 minutes. Add remaining flour (4 cups) and knead until smooth and elastic.
Let it rise in lukewarm place for 30 minutes.
Divide the dough in half; and then divide each half into 3 portions. Roll each portion into a long rope and place on a greased baking sheet.
Braid the three pieces together and repeat with the other 3 portions. Let it rise for another 30 minutes.
Beat the egg white and water and brush onto each loaf.
Bake at 375 degrees (F) for 25-30 minutes or golden brown .
SO moral of the story is, you should make this.  It will make you happy.  

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Some Things ...

that I am loving today

Sidewalks that are shoveled. Even when the streets aren't even plowed.
My new rain/snow boots to deal with the snow so that I don't ruin my other shoes.
This German hot chocolate that my mother-in-law sends us. So yummy, and since it is freezing here I just can't help myself! 

Saturday, January 8, 2011

I Guess.....

It's not always Sunny in Philadelphia......


This is what I have woken up to for the past two days.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

2010 Round-Up

I know it is a little bit late but I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.  We had a really fun and relaxing week in Virginia at my parents house to celebrate the aforementioned holidays. Christmas break is always good for us because Joseph returns from the horrible land of finals and we get a break from school.

This year:

We hung out with my cute niece and nephew who I miss already

Preformed a hilarious family talent at the Christmas Eve party (Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, featuring a solo by Dad)

Scored some awesome presents

Made homemade pasta

Went to the movies

Took a quick trip to the bay bridge to see my Aunt Debbie and to do a little post Christmas shopping

Visited with family

Made a New Years Eve feast

Played a very competitive game of Kings and Serfs

Arrived back in Philadelphia way too late at night

We had a great week.