Bread making

Ever since my friend made this rosemary bread in her bread maker I have hand a hankering to make bread myself.  I even got a bread maker last month with the intention of making the same bread.  Ok so the bread maker itself is still in it's box (sitting next to the juicer that is in it's box after 2+ years as well, used maybe once or twice) BUT I did get the opportunity to *help* (term used lightly, I watched while she did the work, moral support!) whip up this lovely loaf of bread with a friend yesterday.  Unlike most "whole wheat" breads this is made with ONLY whole wheat flour.  Most whole wheat recipes call for both white and whole wheat flour, not this one.  It also uses honey and agave instead of white sugar.  It is delicious! It is impossible to find what I consider *good* bread around here.  By *good* bread I mean without preservatives or ingredients I can't pronounce or without having 5,000 ingredients on the label.

To be honest, I don't eat much bread anymore and if I do, I shoot for gluten free.  I've actually been doing this for quite some time now and boy do I notice the difference when I do choose to eat it.  Same goes for pasta, pizza, tortillas, etc.  Danny doesn't mind all the gluten free stuff (to be honest, I didn't even tell him in the beginning and he never noticed lol), so why not?  I've been getting terrible headaches and it's typically after a dinner that involves a lot of gluten.  I will give gluten free bread a try in my bread maker just as soon as I get that up and running because the options out here for gluten free bread are even worse than the options for regular bread.  Does this mean that I don't enjoy the occasional deliciousness of someone's rosemary bread? Or artisan or sour dough bread dipped in EVOO? NO. Do I refuse homemade cookies, cakes, and pastries if they are not gluten free? HECK NO. I still enjoy it on occasion, and I'm going to continue baking and cooking gluten free in my own home but still be flexible when I'm out and about.  After all, I don't have celiac's, I think it's just a gluten sensitivity.  Which is why, I am thoroughly savoring and enjoying this bread she made. :)

I can't lie, this was time consuming, maybe took her about 3 hours from start to finish, BUT well worth it.  If you have the time, give it a try.  You won't regret it.

Recipe here

Job interviews, below zero temps, and snow shoveling

Phew! It's been a crazy week settling back in here.  I feel like I have been going non-stop every day this past week and it feels good to just relax! Since being home I've had 3 job interviews! Yes, 3.  One is for subbing at the Lutheran Preschool, loved it (finally!), the other was at Early Head Start for the lead infant and toddler teacher, and the other was just meeting with some parents from the school I worked at prior to leaving for California for two and a half months about helping with their kids when their schedules overlap (she's an RN and he is in school working towards that).

The Lutheran preschool interview went great, she immediately asked me to sub 4 full days next week for her while she is on vacation.  Perfect.  There's not too many kids enrolled yet because they just opened this school year but it is quickly growing! I'm excited to be able to have this opportunity so quickly.

The Heat Start interview was interesting because I had NO idea I was going for an Infant and Toddler position.  I didn't even know an infant and toddler program existed in this city to be honest, I had searched and searched and never saw anything so I settled for a preschool interview at Head Start.  When we sat down for the interview it was almost as if she was "warning" me as to what I was getting into when she looked at me and said "now you are aware that this is for an infant and toddler lead position, right?" Pretty sure my reaction was NOT what she was expecting.  I think I wore the excitement all over my face and definitely owned that interview.  They wasted no time calling some of the references I provided within that hour after I left. There was a written portion of the interview as well that I wrote a novel on. I feel very confident in that position. They did say that it would be a long decision making process, it's just the way it is there because it goes through so many people, so it gives me time to think if I really want another full-time commitment here with how often I want to come and go.  I don't want to burn my bridges in this town within the first year by starting and leaving positions, it's not me!

The last one I went to was with a family whose daughter went to the preschool I was at before leaving.  She was a doll and I couldn't stand knowing I was leaving and potentially not going to see her again so I left her parents a card before I left with all my information.  They immediately contacted me about a potentially position helping them out when their schedules overlap.  Few hours here and there...totally my speed right now! While I was at their house, she informed me that she applied for an RN position with the Air Force (she's ex-army, he's army reserve) and she got in so they would be moving in June to where you may ask? VACAVILLE.  YEAH, what are the damn odds of that!?! Her position is at Travis AFB in Fairfield.  I literally choked on my sip of water when she said it and was so excited for them but so sad at the same time.  I knew he was from Southern California, but I never expected her to say that's where she was going.  How ironic is that?

Lastly, adjusting to the temps wasn't TOO bad because when we came back things were "warmer" than they had been.  Lately things have been a bit on the bitter cold side.  Definitely not rocking shorts to the gym and to the grocery store after like I was last week.  The coldness comes from the skin piercing wind.  Ouch.  Thankfully I don't spend much time outside.

As for snow shoveling, yeah, unless it's an emergency, you won't catch me doing that shit ever again. Do I feel like I am "above" snow shoveling? Not exactly.  We all had nice snow blowers provided for us but the CG cut the budget for fixing them so some have broken and we've all been sharing which works fine and my friend's husband has been doing our driveway for me when D is gone at work.  Yesterday the storm had brought quite a bit of snow so when I got home I decided, "why not give this shoveling thing a whirl", yeah no. NEVER. AGAIN. There were FEET of snow, FAR below zero temps, and more snow falling as I was shoveling and the wind blowing the snow that I was shoveling.  I looked at my neighbor who was shoveling her driveway, said "f*** this I am not leaving tonight anyway" walked in the house and that was that.  My friend's husband is on his way down to snow blow my driveway this morning.  Thank Goodness. And thank goodness for a treadmill in my house!

On a brighter note: The snow is beautiful, the cold is bearable, and I'm already planning my next trip out to California ;)

Home again!

And she's back!

Holy cow, I was MIA for well about 2.5 months but, it was for a very good reason I assure you.  I was in wonderful California and I was kept so busy that I didn't even have time to sit on my computer at all.  It was a lovely trip filled with visiting great friends, family, work, kids, running, lots of good food, wine, sweets, dinner dates, shopping, celebrating, and so much more.  It was harder to say good-bye this time than the last and I think it'll continue in that fashion as long as I keep visiting and leaving.  I'm a California girl at heart and will always miss it in some capacity.

We started the trek home from Southern California this time which, in my opinion, was a MUCH better drive scenery wise than heading north and just taking I-80 the entire way.  We stopped in Albuquerque, NM at a so-so last minute booking of a room at Holiday Inn (Ehhh not impressed, usually Holiday Inns are a safe bet, lesson learned), Collinsville, OK (just outside of Tulsa) at Danny's Aunt's which was a very nice change to have a break from a hotel for a night, Chesterfield, MO at a much nicer room at the Hyatt (Chesterfield was VERY nice, right outside of St. Louis), then made it home last night around 10.  The drive was much easier this route and I would absolutely go this way again over taking I-80.

We arrived home to FEET and FEET of snow plowed up along the roads and our driveway. Thankfully our kind neighbors have maintained our walkway and driveway for us while we were gone, pretty sure we wouldn't have been able to find it if they hadn't.

It was nice to be home, still not quite sure what I'm going to do when all this settling in is over.  As for right now, I have plenty of work cut out for me.  Unpacking, putting away the Christmas decor that I had put out for D to enjoy, and just getting organized again.  I realized last night and today that I need to get rid of some stuff.  I left behind easily an entire closet and dresser full of clothing and shoes that I didn't miss one bit, I also didn't even have to unpack anything to get by last night or today.  Not one thing.  Okay, maybe my hair comb! OH, and my toothbrush...but other than that, I didn't *need* anything from any of my luggage.  Needless to say, I think it's time for a little closet purging...yet again.

The thing I missed the most about not being here?!?!! MY KITCHEN! Yes...I went straight to the store and got down and dirty in my favorite place in the house tonight...

On tonight's menu: Black bean and Sweet Potato Superfood Soup from one of my favorite blogs Produce On Parade.  It is VEGAN and you would never know!  It has purple cabbage in it as well which I love. I made a few modifications, added a little extra chili powder and cumin and a smidge more salt (to taste) and I served it with lots of cilantro on top, corn chips, and added a little Fage greek yogurt (not vegan anymore).  It was delicious and will be made again!

I'll leave you with that tonight.

Happy 2014! Here's to new adventures, stories, and memories!