food: best sandwich bread

I have a few great recipes for dinner bread that I use a lot, but have never found one that is the right consistency for actual sandwich bread. While these other recipes are great for going with a meal, they are not the best for making sandwiches. Well. I tried this new recipe this past weekend and it is p.e.r.f.e.c.t. for making sandwiches! (Or for using with a meal) - the bread is light and fluffy with a soft crust. The best part is, the recipe makes two loaves at one time - I used one loaf to eat with a couple meals and one to use with sandwiches. Perfect.

Best Sandwich Bread - adapted from allrecipes.com

2 cups very warm water

1/3 cup white sugar

1-1/2 Tbsp. active dry yeast

1-1/2 tsp. salt (I use kosher salt)

1/4 canola oil

5 to 5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spoon flour into measuring cup and level off, or use a sifter)

1 Tbsp. salted butter

In a large mixing bowl, combine water, sugar and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes to proof (yeast will dissolve and look fluffy and foamy). Stir salt and oil into yeast mixture. Stir in one cup of flour at a time, mixing well. Once a soft dough (kind of sticky!) forms, turn onto a floured surface and knead well, about 3-5 minutes (dough will become elastic). Place kneaded dough into a well-oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place about 1-1.5 hours.

Punch dough down, and turn onto a floured surface again. Knead for 1-2 minutes and form into two loaves. Place each loaf into a well-oiled 9"x5" loaf pan. Cover each with plastic wrap and let rise again 45 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake loaves 30 minutes or until golden brown on top and loaves sound hollow when tapped. Spread butter on top of each loaf (I usually just hold the butter with a paper towel and gently rub it all over the loaf :)). Enjoy!

Dough has risen, getting ready to punch down and knead.

Form into two loaves.

Voila! Yummy, light, and fluffy sandwich bread.

one little word 2013

Let's get going, 2013 :) I am still debating my "One Little Word" for 2013. Last year, my word was "intentional" - I loved that word and felt like I was a lot more intentional with my days with that word often at the forefront of my mind. I didn't end up making any sort of record of it, but I am still happy with how the word was on my mind throughout the year and I definitely feel like I accomplished my goal of that.

This year, I decided to sign up for Ali Edward's One Little Word class (go here to see more about it on her blog) to have an accountability to keep a record of it. New Year's Eve, my hubby and I were waiting for midnight and I had been debating signing up for days.... registration "closed" at 10pm that evening. I signed up at 9:36pm ;) (you can sign up any time of year - so if you still want to sign up, you can! :))

So like I said, for awhile I've been trying to decide on my word - make or plan. I like what I'm coming up with for each. I've been brainstorming for a little bit while I wait for the class supplies (binder and pages) to get here.

I made myself a mixed paper notebook with some fabric my hubby got me for Christmas (yay!!) - this will be my notes and sketches and odds and ends book this year. I also purchased a planner (that I love) from Target for the year. 

Here's to 2013 and One Little Word. What about you? Do you have a word you are focusing on this year? Need some ideas or inspiration? Go here to see a huge list Ali Edwards has compiled.

Printable mini calendar on my first page above available here.

hello, 2013.

Goodbye 2012.

Oh 2012, you were a tricky year. A wonderfully hard year full of some difficult circumstances, but a faith-growing year, nonetheless. A year where my amazing hubby finished well a long and tiring 4-year Master's degree. A year where I was pregnant with our third sweet little one - and where we found ourselves with some serious complications and very unforeseen events surrounding this precious little one. Where our faith was mightily tested as it grew thin and weary. A year where I got sicker than I've ever been. And ended up hospitalized with the doctors very concerned about my health, as they didn't know what was wrong with me.

These few events stick out in my mind very vividly. But what also sticks out in my mind very vividly is God and His grace to my family. God's grace given through His Word, through my husband, through our amazing church family and friends, and through our family. How He never left our side through those hard circumstances. And how there were tons and tons of wonderful, joyful circumstances throughout the year also.

This year I grew in so many areas (and of course still have a lot of growing to do ;)). My sweet little (big!) family is healthy and well. Our sweet little girl is growing and thriving. And is absolutely adorable ;) My 5 year old is in school and loving it. My 22 month old is so incredibly cute with his daily antics ;) I have a wonderful marriage that is continuing to grow. My hubby has two great jobs.  I have a little online shop that I love to make things for. And a blog that I love to update here and there. We are beyond blessed in so many ways. And I am truly thankful.

As I write this post, I am overwhelmed with joy over my sweet almost 2 year old who is parading around in his Thomas the Train costume. For my 5 year old who is so excited to be playing with a little Matchbox truck that has real lights that turn on. For my sweet 4 month old who is peacefully asleep on my hubby's chest as he is getting some work done on his laptop.

I am excited for 2013. I am excited to see what God has for our family. For my hubby. For my sweet babies. For me. For this blog. For my shop.

Thank you for reading. I truly enjoy blogging here :) See you next year! ;)

merry christmas!

"In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.' Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all!' " - Luke 2:8-14

*Image is from a vintage Christmas card I purchased here.

Recap: A Very Merry Ornament Exchange

Happy Christmas Eve! Several weeks ago, I hosted a Very Merry Ornament Exchange via the blog. I was so excited when I got a ton of response (I must admit I was kind of afraid no one would want to do it ;))! Thank you to those who participated and took time during the busy holiday season to create two ornaments, pack and ship them off to someone they've never even met ;) 

It was such a fun little activity and I am happy to say that I definitely plan on doing this again next year! :) A few of the participants also sent me an ornament or a picture of the ornament - Thank you Amy, Cheryl, Julie, Claire, and Susan!! :)

I am also working on developing another type of exchange, a lovely paper exchange, if you will. Details in the next several weeks.

Have a wonderful Christmas Eve! We are busy making cookies, drinking wassail, singing, snuggling and reading the Christmas story at our home today :)

Food: Pecan Butter-Crunch Popcorn

I had this popcorn several years ago in a cooking class hosted by a very gifted cook at our church. It was amaaaazzzing. I was looking for a fun and yummy (and easy!) recipe to make for a few gifts and remembered this recipe the other day and made some. And then made some more. And more. ;) This popcorn is so good and is perfect to put in a tin and give as a gift :)

Pecan Butter-Crunch Popcorn - adapted slightly from Mary Kathryn's recipe

25 cups popped popcorn (1 cup of kernels)
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
1-1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
5 Tbsp. light corn syrup
10 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1-1/4 tsp. coarse salt (I use sea salt)
3/4 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Put popcorn in a large bowl (I used two!). Cook butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle simmer, about four minutes. Stop stirring and continue cooking until mixture lightens in color. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Stir for about 2 minutes.

Pour sugar mixture over popcorn and stir to coat. Sprinkle in the toasted pecans as you are stirring to evenly distribute.

Transfer to rimmed baking sheets lined with parchment paper. I used two large baking sheets.  Pat popcorn mixture down so that it is in a single layer. Bake, stirring every 20 minutes, until almost dry - about 1 hour. Let cool. Break chunks apart and store in an airtight container (if you have any left to store ;)).