I was featured at Funtastic Friday!

I’m really not a fan of snow. The actual snow event is lovely with the snow gently falling and cozy times in front of the fire, and hopefully, a snow day from school. Sledding is also fun, provided you have a sled…which we do, and it has never been used. The following days with the slush, frozen roads, muddy playgrounds, cold winds and scrapping off the cars don’t thrill me. We had a slight chance of snow in our forecast this weekend, and despite the fact it was already a three day holiday, I kind of hoped we would see the cold whiteness fall from the sky. If only for the fact that the sled has been sitting in our garage for a year just waiting to be used. We saw a few flurries before the cold rain…oh well, there is always February. Anyway, enjoy a few more touches of winter inside our house!

We may not have snow, but a roaring fire still feels great!

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Th

ursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters. Sweet Inspiration. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. . Fresh market. Faith and family. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Wednesday Aim Home style gathering celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday farm fresh. Simple homestead

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I was featured at Celebrate Your Story @Zucchini Sisters

By Patricia Cisco

Shimmering lakes of silvery ice

welcomes skaters’ scarring slice.

Hills adorned in lacy white

watch children sleigh into the night.

In the brilliant pristine light,

snow birds in tall trees take flight.

Evergreens draped in capes of snow,

their heavy branches hanging low,

blanket earth as north winds blow.

Winter’s dance is quite a show,

an ice-kissed, dazzling, magical place,

transformed by winter’s cold embrace!

Winter…the perfect season for family game nights!

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/winters-embrace

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of the town keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Style showcase. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About HomeFarm Fresh Tuesday. Simple homestead

 

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jennifer at Busy Being Jennifer – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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Proud to have been featured at Farmhouse Friday at The Painted Hinge

…but at least we have good bread!
For whatever reason, I have attended many a potluck in my lifetime. When asked what I was going to contribute, I always said “I can bring homemade sourdough bread!” This statement was almost always greeted by a look of pure awe or barely disguised disbelief. Even now, some of you are thinking…sourdough bread isn’t that really hard…time consuming…better left to the experts? Just have some faith…and a good starter, and you can impress your family and friends with the crusty, chewy goodness. The basic starter is probably the most challenging aspect. However, if you can measure and mix flour and water, you can make starter. There are terrific recipes all over Pinterest, or let me know and I can give you my own secret recipe.

This recipe is a good beginner’s sourdough bread because most of the uncertainty of the rise is removed with the addition of a little yeast. It is great for a newer starter…and absolutely delicious.

The usual Cast of Characters

1 cup “fed” sourdough starter

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

2 teaspoons instant yeast

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

5 cups Bread flour

1 tbs dough enhancer…optional but highly recommended.

The Steps to Glory

1. Combine all of the ingredients, kneading to form a smooth dough. I use a kitchen aide mixer on low about 8-10 minutes

2. Allow the dough to rise, in a lightly greased, covered bowl, until it’s doubled in size, about 90 minutes. Keep in a warm spot.

3. Gently divide the dough in half; it’ll deflate somewhat.

4. Gently shape the dough into two oval loaves. Place the loaves on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise until very puffy, about 1 hour. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.

4.Spray the loaves with lukewarm water. This step is essential for the crusty outside, soft inside beauty of sourdough.

5. Make two fairly deep diagonal slashes in each using a serrated bread knife. Sprinkle with sea salt.

6. Bake the bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it’s a very deep golden brown.

7. This is my secret tip just for you…turn oven off, prop open door with an oven mitt and allow the bread to cool in the oven. Don’t remove until the outside is cool enough to touch. Why do this? It prevents the Bread from having a soggy outside from the evaporation as it cools. Soggy bread is just sad.

8. Remove, slice and enjoy…and accept all the compliments. Just don’t tell them how easy it was to do.

Even Anna would be impressed!

Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not.Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm. Friday features. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Over the Moon Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Wednesday Aim Home style gathering celebrate your story Little cottage Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Fresh Farm Tuesday What’s for dinner

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! Continue reading →

So excited to have my back to school mantel featured at Little Cottage Link Party