My husband is taking me on a cruise later this summer, so for Mother’s Day I told him I would like to go dress shopping. So we headed out to CrossIron Mills, or super big mall just outside city limits. Our first stop was Nathan’s Hot Dogs, because as we don’t have one in the city, we have never tried it before. It was pretty good. It is a smaller shop than I was expecting, so it actually doesn’t have the full menu that is on the website, but we all enjoyed our Hot Dogs and fries. The picture above is my son’s cowboy Hot Dog and Bacon Ranch fries, both of which were the best things that were ordered. The homemade Orangeade was really good too making me wish I had ordered the homemade lemonade instead of pop. All in all, it was as lovely lunch, and we will be trying out the Airdrie location sometime, with the full menu. Definitely worth the stop in Crossiron mills, though. Oh, and I did find a dress, so that was a bonus too!
French Style Baguettes
Today’s main job will be spring cleaning one girl’s room. This is a mighty job, that will hopefully include many filled garbage bags by the end of the day. Lots to move, lots to clean. Luckily it’s Friday which means frozen pizza night, so not much happening in the kitchen. It was my plan to clean each of the kids rooms really good this spring, possibly talk them into getting rid of some of their beloved stuffies as they are growing up, and probably no longer need the 100 + that are in each of their rooms. Okay 100+ is an exaggeration, but it sure seems like it. Now on to bread, I told you all about my love affair with bread yesterday, so no need to go into it further, I’ll just give you another great recipe I made this week, then we can all enjoy the bread together! Sound good?
Recipe from Allrecipes
- 1 cup water
- 2 1/2 cups bread flour
- 1 Tbsp white sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 Tbsp water
1. Add water, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast to bread machine in that order. Choose dough cycle.
2. When dough is done ( mine takes 2 hours) remove from bread machine and place in greased bowl. Flip so both sides of the dough have been greased. Cover with a tea towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
3. Punch down dough and turn out onto a floured surface. Roll into a 16×12 inch rectangle cut into two, making two 8×12 rectangles. Roll each dough half up into a log and pinch the edges together. Use your hands roll it around so the crease blends into the dough. Cut large diagonal slashes down the top of the loaf. Repeat with remaining half, and place dough on greased baking sheet. Again cover with tea towel and let rise in warm spot for 30 minutes.
4. Mix together egg yolk and water, and brush on to dough. Bake for 25 minutes in 375 degree oven.
5. Eat and enjoy!
Cranberry Oat Bread
Let me tell you I have a lot of favorite foods. I just plain love to eat. Top of the list would be bread, toasted with peanut butter, fresh from the oven with butter, dipped in oil and vinegar, I will pretty much take bread anyway I can get it. That person filling up on the bread at a restaurant before the meal comes, that is me. The girl ordering a sandwich at a steak place, yup , that’s me too. Suffice it to say, I use my bread maker quite a bit. I tried out this new recipe last night to go with our Shrimp and Rice and it was so good. There just happens to be one small piece left over, probably won’t be lasting much longer. Yup, that’s right we ate the whole loaf, although we did have help, it wasn’t just the 5 of us. Plus as an extra bonus, this bread will make your house smell better than it ever has before. Make it, you’ll be glad you did!
Recipe from Allrecipes
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup oats
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 3/4 tsp bread machine yeast
- 1 cup craisins
1. Add liquid ingredients, followed by dry, and top with yeast to bread machine. Don’t add the craisins yet. Press start.
2. When your bread machine beeps for your add-ins, add in craisins.
3. Remove bread carefully when finished baking, slice. Top with butter if desired.
4. Eat and enjoy!
Andes Mint Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Cookies. Chocolate. Mint. We are fans. Fans of all, and when combined makes for a great dessert. My mom brought me a whole wack of goodies from the states including a bag of Andes Crème de Menthe Baking Chips. I have used them before and loved them. The last time we made a Flourless Mint Cake , also yum, and these cookies that I found at Sally’s Baking Addiction they were winners too. Soft, chewy, chocolaty, everything you want in a cookie. While over at Sally’s Baking Addiction I also pinned a kajillion other recipes, like every single one on her site, okay not everyone, because that would just be crazy, but let me tell you this is a blog you want to check out, every single post will have you drooling at your computer chair. Go, enjoy, you’re welcome!
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter- softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 package Andes Crème de Menthe baking chips
1. Beat together butter and both sugars until creamy. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until combined at least one minute.
2. Beat in baking soda, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder and 1 1/4 cups of the flour. Beat in last cup of flour with milk.
3. Beat in baking chips, you may have to stir in with your hands to totally combine them.
4. Place a rounded Tablespoon of dough on baking sheet and continue with remaining dough. Bake cookies for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from cookie tray and cool.
5. Eat and enjoy!
