French Bread

2 1/2 C. Warm Water
2 TBS. Sugar
2 TBS Dry Yeast
1 TBS Salt
2 TBS Cooking Oil
6 C. Flour

In large mixing bowl pour warm water, then stir in sugar and yeast and allow to stand until yeast is dissolved. Stir in salt, oil and half the flour. Beat vigorously. Stir in remaining flour until all dry ingredients are completely mixed in. Allow dough to rise for 10 min, then punch down, repeat rising 5 times. Turn dough onto flour surface, knead only enough to coat dough with flour so it can be handled (2 or 3 times) then divide into 2 parts. Roll each part of dough into rectangles about 9x13 and roll up like a jelly roll, from long side. Pinch edge of loaf, arrange length wise on cookie sheet, sprinkled with cornmeal. Let rise at room temp. for 30 min. With sharp knife cut 3 gashes at an angle on top, then brush with lightly beaten whole egg. Bake immediately at 400 for 25-30 min. or until golden brown.

Summer Days in the Sun

So as most of you know I quit my job and have now been home for a month now and things are going fairly well, besides stopping fights between kids, and fighting kids to clean rooms and the fun stuff like that. I am really liking being able to stay up on the house stuff and not worrying about a job as well. Before I left they through a small going away party and gave me some fun summer stuff for the kids to have fun and stay out of my hair. So here are some pics of them swimming in the pool that J Ballard Homes gave me. The kids love it and love to be in it so thanks so much J Ballard Homes.

Malore, Sara, Katie and Tavener

My little stinky Keiffer

Moms Cinnamon Rolls

All growing up my mom made the best and I mean the best ever (I know I am byast) cinnamon rolls that I swore someday I would make for my family when I had one. Well 12 years later I finally attempted it. So here it is, first I put the ingredients together and kneaded it just so and put it in the bowl to rise.

It set for about an hour rising and then it looked like this

Next I took out the dough and divided it into two parts so it was easier to work with, then rolled it out long and skinny putting softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon/sugar mix on it being ever so careful to leave a small edge to pinch it closed after rolling it.

Next I rolled it up and took some thread and cut it into small pieces and put them on the pan to rise for another hour.

After an hour of rising they went into the oven, they sure smelled good and I really anticipated them to look like my moms, needless to say they were definately not as pretty, you should see hers, they are perfect, tall square but not to square and the swirls are tight together, you cannot see through them.

Then I iced them and really wanted to go share with the neighbors but they were not quite right to be shared, so we ate them. Sorry neighbors. I am going to try again and I will share then. I think we are going to have a lesson on the 4th. Here is the final product.

Keiffer's Idea of Fun

First we find a box and man boxes are so much fun to play with, look at me I have a new hat. I am a little bored putting it on my head,

let's see how Maren likes it, oh look she is letting me put it on her head and being so nice about it.

Ta'Da' I have made Maren disappear and she loves it. This is my kind of fun.

ZOO FUN

So Gabe decided to take some time off in June and we decided to have some fun with the kids. So off to the Zoo we went. The kids did pretty good but Nugg 1 just kept saying I am bored, we need to go to the snake and reptile house. We tried explaining that we had all day long and we would get there. Eventually we did and he was happy. Here are some pics from our Zoo Trip.

Building Fun

I think this took place one night while I was gone doing who knows what. The kids got the blocks out and made some fun castles with dad. Here are a few pics.

Being Toothless

Well, Malorie has now lost 5 teeth now and is looking pretty cute. She has earned lots of money pulling those teeth. Although the toothfairy seems to get very busy becuase she doesn't always make it the first night the tooth is under the pillow. Here is a recent picture of Mal with no teeth. We are so gald they came out, she was looking a little like a snaggle tooth.