The Trouble with Croutons...

...is that I can never stop eating them! Straight from the frying pan or the oven... they're just so good, right? I had to put these little ones in jar jail so I could save them for my soup later this week.

The 4 Hours of Sleep Bread

On those occasional nights when I don't go to bed until 3am, it would be nice if my body would allow for me to sleep a few extra hours. Unfortunately, 7:30am rolls around and my body starts screaming at me to wake up. Then I start screaming at my body that it's only 7:30am!

So, in a zombie-like state this morning I decided to bake bread. It didn't rise quite as much as I expected, probably because I forgot that whole step of kneading. Luckily, I remedied the situation and it tastes very good... not sweetish like that last loaf I baked. I also used half white flour and half whole wheat flour, and I think that is a much better plan than all white.

Welcome Spring!

We've been waiting for you!

New Soul

Molly's Valentine mix and Nikki's Birthday mix got me all hung up on this song. And now that I've seen the video...

I mean, who doesn't want to run through a field of sunflowers playing cymbals?

Owl Mittens

Well I felt a little silly when I asked my sister if there were "supposed to be little creatures" on the mittens she knit me... because clearly, they feature these amazing little OWLS.

My sister tends to be a little tardy when it comes to gifting... These mittens came a month late but just in time for some very strange and chilly March weather. Hello rainbows, snow, and sunshine.

The way I see it, owls are the new cupcakes and I predict foxes will be the new owls. Any one else feel that?

English Muffins & Chansons

It somehow seemed appropriate to listen to pretty French melodies while "baking" English muffins yesterday morning, especially this one.

My former (but current in spirit) roommate has a lovely tradition of waking up early on Valentine's day and preparing home made English muffins for her roommates. She's done it every year... except the year she lived with me! Yesterday we remedied that little blip.

English muffins are surprisingly easy to make. I wrote "baking" up there because you don't actually bake them. Instead, after the dough rises you place the muffins on a skillet. I don't have the exact recipe because she found it in a magazine... but I hope to get a copy of it soon. (Did you read that, Molly?)

These were so good loaded with jam and brie. It was a delightful little morning and over much too soon.

Supergrain Salad

I met a friend for lunch yesterday at Vita Cafe in northeast Portland. It's super great serving mostly vegan and vegetarian food... I'm not sure why they don't just bump the one or two meaty choices off. Maybe they are going for the reverse of most restaurant menus? (All meat plus one vegetarian option.)

I had the Supergrain Salad which is a toss of quinoa, lettuce, guacamole, currants, pumpkin seeds, tempeh, and I don't even know what else with a carrot ginger dressing. Tasty.

I also really like that the back of their menu explains their philosophy in a non-threatening and understandable way. You can read it here.