Monday and a Sourdough

Mondays are usually my catch-up days. Laundry, grocery shop, bank, pull out garbage, recycle, clean....you get the idea. They are busy days!

Today started out great. I was up and showered before Abby woke up at 7am. Feeling ahead of schedule, I decided to tackle something on our to do list before Abby's birthday party at the end of the month. Our downstairs bathroom is missing a lock. We both feel it is important to get a lock on the door before several people come to our house. We don't want any awkward bathroom interruptions! So, this morning I decided to switch the kitchen knob (which has a lock) with the bathroom knob (no lock). Took both knobs off, but remembered how much I hate that the previous owners painted over the original door hardware. I've been wanting to strip the paint off the door hardware since we moved in. I might as well do it while I have the knobs off, right? So, off I went to remove all the knobs from the interior doors in the house. I made a mental note to stop by Lowes while out to get some paint stripper. Knobs off. Great? No. Unfortunately, I made a big mess of the doors while removing the knobs. I had to cut most of them off with a box cutter because they had been painted on to the door so well. If I am going to get the hardware back on before the party, I'll need to touch up the doors first. So, off I went to the basement to find the correct paint to touch up the doors. Done! On my way back down to the basement I notice some trim that needs touched up with the same paint in my hands. Doesn't it make sense to touch up the trim while I have the paint can out? It did make sense. Fortunately, it was 2pm by this time and Abby was waking up from her nap. I was saved from the insanity! The trim will have to wait another day.

It all seemed to work out in the end. We did make it to the bank and Lowes. Dinner was made when Robert got home and the garbage and recycle made it to the curb. The last of the laundry is in the dryer. I did not clean, get to the grocery store, or get the lock on the bathroom door but there is always tomorrow. :) And, in between the chaos I created, I made a successful sourdough bread. I am new to sourdoughs and haven't had a successful bread until today. What a great ending!
 

For this bread, I used Chad Robertson's method for making country loaf. It is an amazing bread! Crusty exterior, moist, chewy interior. Not very sour and yet still very flavorful. Next time I will have to pay more attention to my folding. As you can see, I have an enormous crater in the middle of my bread. I'm not exactly sure what caused that, but I think I must have folded in a large air bubble.

I'm off to fold laundry and at some point get to bed. I've got a big day tomorrow! ;)

Laurel

It is the weekend!

Just wanted to share a couple cute moments with Abby. She is mimicking Robert and I frequently now. It is so interesting to see what she picks up on. For instance, this afternoon as I was putting on my make-up, she grabbed my blush brush and compact. She swirled the brush around in the compact and dabbed it on her cheek

Another moment, I caught on camera. I watched in amazement last night as Abby packed up a little bag with toys and maneuvered it up her arm to her shoulder. She pushed a little walker around the house with her "purse" on her shoulder just like mommy does at the grocery store! I never taught her that. She is so smart!

I have no idea why these photos are uploading sideways like this. The file is saved properly. Instead of getting frustrated, I'll just ask that you bare with me (and bend your neck). ;)

Until next time!

Laurel

Peanut Butter Eclairs and Bailey's Cream Puffs

Day two of my blog! Congrats to me!

Today Abby and I went apple picking at a farm on the northeast end of town. We met my friend Annie and her almost two year old son. Picking apples was fast so we sat and played for a while in the orchard. Abby didn't care too much about the apple picking part. But I think she enjoyed being out in a different environment. I hope this is a tradition we can continue as she gets older.

I guess the apple orchard wore out my little girl. She was in bed at 5pm! We tried to get her up at 6:30 for some dinner and a bath, but she wouldn't have it. She just wanted her bed. Since I had the night to myself, I decided to make some pate au choux. We don't make anything using choux paste at the bakery, so it has been a while since I've made it. My husband isn't much of a vanilla custard fan, so instead of the usual filling, I made a peanut butter mousse for the eclairs and a Bailey's mousse for the cream puffs. They turned out delicious especially since the mousses were both low fat! While filling the choux, I did notice they needed to be baked a little longer; just to dry out the insides a bit more. I will have to remember that for next time.

Tomorrow I'll be up at 4am again so it is off to bed for me!

Laurel

First Post

So this is my first post. I have to make this quick because my daughter is currently eating her lunch which will occupy her for I'm guessing another few minutes. I was at work today thinking about blogs. Why people have blogs. I have tried a food blog twice before now with no luck. I just felt it was forced. This blog will be about me. That's it! I am going to try to post some random thought/discovery each day. I think it will be fun and beneficial to document moments in my life that might otherwise be forgotten. A couple years from now, I hope to have a blog full of memories.