A change of subject ...

At least for today that is ...

We've had a lot of fun things going on this week and while I love sharing about vacation, I don't want to forget some of these other details.

In addition to getting all the laundry caught up (yet to be folded), grocery shopping completed and the house cleaned ... we've managed to work on the church nursery one morning; get haircuts and make bread.

I just got my newly cut bangs cut again ... they were too long, too in my eyes, driving me crazy so they were pinned back all the time ... shorter. I like it ... but still jump as I pass the mirror ;).

Ethan needed a big haircut ... something good for summer, stylish enough for his upcoming role as "cutest ring bearer you ever did see" and short enough it wouldn't need done again in a week. You wouldn't believe how much hair was on the ground. He has such fine hair you don't realize how thick it is. So here is the best shot I could get. It's very cute and just long enough on top for a little spiking if we like ;).












And here was my other big accomplishment today ... no knead bread. It actually started last night, as it has to "rise" for 12-18 hours. But this is seriously the EASIEST and most delicious bread. It takes all of three ingredients and less than 30 minutes hands on time from start to finish.








No-Knead Bread

Appeared in the article The Secret of Great Bread: Let Time Do the Work by Mark Bittman in the November 8th, 2006 New York Times

Adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery

Time: About 1 1/2 hours plus 14 to 20 hours’ rising

- 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting [I used bread flour.]
- 1/4 teaspoon instant [aka Rapid Rise, QuickRise, Instant Active Dry, Perfect Rise, or Bread Machine Yeast] yeast
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- Cornmeal [I used cornmeal.] or wheat bran as needed.

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 [1 1/3] cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal [use lots of flour on the bottom towel]; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart [I used a 4qt Le Crueset.] heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 [10] minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack. [Enjoy with butter and jam ASAP.]

Yield: One 1 1/2-pound loaf.

* My notations are in brackets. Mine was a little crunchier on the outside then I would ideally like, so next time I think I'll reduce the heat to about 425 and only bake without the lid about 5 minutes. The recipe requires so few ingredients and time that it's easy to experiment and keep trying until you get perfection!

And I think I found "the dress" ... for Jessica & Greg's upcoming wedding. I'm a bridesmaid and Jessica left the dress up to us (with a few guidelines of course ;) ) ... after much online searching, since that seems much more effective than dragging a three year old around to look and try on,
I found this little gem ... which happened to be a great price too!

















This weekend is Jessica's shower that I'm helping host, so tomorrow will be busy getting ready for that ... I'll try to post pictures late in the weekend or on Monday.

(And a little Ethan story for you ... I just peeked in on him in his "to quiet" room and he informed me that, "I need privacy while me eatin' my m-n-m's mom." Well don't we all?)

Happy Thursday!!