Over at The McPherson Sentinel, this week, I blogged about thrift stores and then I blogged again about taking your thrift store finds and making them, decidedly, your very own. Complete with these before and after shots.
Secondly, on my Bucket List post, Laurie asked me a few questions:
Do I have a good beer bread recipe? Absolutely I do. I'll give it to you.
Ingredients:
3 c. all purpose flour
3 T. sugar (I never end up using that much sugar--maybe half?)
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 bottle of beer (I use whatever happens to be in the fridge but I will let you know that I'm not a huge fan of the way that stouts come across. I made it with Guinness once--big mistake.)
1/4 c melted butter
Method:
Mix up all of the dry ingredients.
Mix in the beer.
Pour into a prepped loaf pan.
Drizzle the melted butter across the top.
Bake at 350 for... I'm so bad at time. Bake it until it is done? Here's how my mom taught me to tell when a loaf of bread is finished. When it's all golden brown and when you thump the top of it, it sounds hollow. It's an art to master but so far it's never failed me.
What kind of "real bread" will I make as per my Dale List? I'm not sure. Honestly, I just always shy away from yeast breads and anything that requires kneading. The reason for that is twofold. A. I am afraid of yeast (and baking in general--though I am coming around) because it seems so sciency and there's so much I could screw up and it will all be a huge waste of time and money. B. I have super limited space in which to knead. But I will get over these issues and I will make a bread. Anything that requires paying close attention to the instructions. Mostly this is about facing fears.
Do I like to sew? Well, I have everything that it takes to sew. That is to say that I have fabric and a machine and thread and space. But as of yet, I haven't been able to put it all to good use. I like to make things. I like to make useful things. Sewing seems like a terribly useful skill. I would like to make that happen. But as of yet, I have not. When I was in home-ec, the sewing machine magically busted every time that I used it and my teacher focused on hand sewing for me. She gave up. But I want to learn! And I will. I have the internet and a machine from the 40's. What could go wrong? Also Determination is a friend of mine who shows up unexpectedly for the weekend sometimes, I'll try to get started when she's around.
And finally, I can't help but toss around in m mind--why is it so hard to be kind? Why is it so hard to do what's right? Why is it so easy to slip into gossip and whining and dissatisfaction and so hard to be good and happy and grateful? How as dissatisfaction become the default when we're surrounded by so many astounding things? Why is it that where two or more are gathered, shit talking generally ensues? I don't want to do that. I don't want dissatisfaction to be my default. I want kindness and gratitude to be my default. Now, if only I knew how.
What have you made for yourself, lately?
What silly thing are you afraid to do?
How do you stay so wonderful and positive all of the time?
XOXO
2 comments:
I chuckled a little at your beer bread recipe - I always use more sugar than what is called for!
And as for not wanting dissatisfaction to be your default? At the risk of sounding preachy, I've discovered the closer I am to God, the less dissatisfaction creeps into my life. When I am genuinely following Him and His word, when I take time to pray, to worship, to wait for His timing, life is so much easier, so much more positive, and the astoundingly wonderful things multiply.
My Mom made beer bread a few times with the same basic recipe! I was drawn to the flavor, the no-kneadiness and the beer ingredient, so I made it a few times too because it is a lovely loaf of batter bread! Quick, no kneading and yum!!
I think I understand the fear of making bread, but is this a fear you knead to overcome? It would be delicious victory!
Honestly, I am afraid of pie crust.
I wonder if bread or pie crust is easier to mess up. Bread has more ingredients so there is more at stake I suppose. Pie crust has fewer ingredients, but still, it scares me…
You sound so like you could sew! But if you do, make sure you have a ready-to-sew sewing machine. I’ve had only a snippet of sewing experience and one of the most frustrating things about it was sewing machine exasperation! I also didn't enjoy the pattern cutting and all those instructions! When my Grandma sewed out of need during The Depression, she would use printed flour sacks to make dresses for my mom and aunt when they were young girls. She usually had to cut her own patterns from newspapers! She was a marvel at looking at an item of clothing and knowing how to cut the pattern out of newspaper!
She sort of discouraged me from sewing (and canning), because she HAD to do both for a long, poor while. Instead she taught me the value of shopping at garage sales and thrift stores!
Speaking of thrift stores, the lamp is a restyled bargain beauty!
I love it!
Thank you for the recipe and for answering my questions!
As for your questions,
1. I made a chocolate cake from a box and chocolate frosting from scratch. This was not a sewing project, but I'm sure I will wear the pounds gained from eating it!
2. When asked, I freeze… How silly!
3. Huh? Who are you even asking? Not nasty, negative me!
How fun about the McPherson Sentinel blog!
Sorry about the long comment.
Happy Spring!
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