Cinnamon Roll Sunday!

I've been thinking about what to do with the Japanese milk bread dough besides just making  a loaf.  Granted, I love the bread as a loaf itself but it's always good to make something new.  Well, the boyfriend suggested making something sweet with the dough.  I like to bake for the holidays as opposed to gifting something that can't be used up and besides having a brownie obsession, Japanese milk bread obsession, BBQ obsession- I can go on and on- I also have a cinnamon roll obsession.  I've been looking for a good homemade cinnamon roll recipe.  Every time I've tried homemade cinnamon rolls, I've been a little disappointed.  They're usually good, but the dough tends to be too bready and heavy than I would like it to be.  Anyway, so last night, I made cinnamon rolls with the Japanese milk bread dough and baked them this morning.

Mini Vase for Mini Flowers

My Thai basil that I'm growing indoors keeps flowering.  I know you're supposed to pinch off the flowering heads so that the leaves keep the licorice flavor, but the flowers are so pretty that I hate doing it.  The other day while unpacking more boxes, I found my mini apothecary jars given to me by my friend, Ashley.  One of the lids broke during one of my many moves so it was a perfect tiny vase for the flowers!

Spring in December!!

Look what came in the mail today!

I ordered seeds from Seed Savers Exchange and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  I was so excited to receive the packages today.  I think I was way too excited because I squealed with joy when the boyfriend pulled out the packages in the mailbox.  I was even happier because Baker Creek sent me a gift:

Thanks Baker Creek!! I can't wait for spring!!

Happy Post-Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a decent Thanksgiving.  Besides burning myself (it's healing fairly quickly) and wanting just one more day off, the holiday was pretty good. The turkey turned out to be pretty fabulous. I think next time, I will try brining first and then cook it using the 500 degree oven method.  Right now, my after T-day tradition is to make turkey soup. The house smells like rosemary and thyme right now!

I also had to use my one blue egg this weekend to make more Japanese milk bread. I was really holding out. It was such a pretty blue egg.  I even kept the shell. How sad is that?

Easy Way to Cook a Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!! I'm gearing up for food coma and some more food coma today.  Breakfast this morning is a cup of coffee and a lot of food prep!  I'm a bit psycho when it comes to cooking my Thanksgiving meal. The sides may change but the turkey, well, the turkey is serious business. Usually, it's just me and the boy so I don't cook a full turkey, just a turkey breast, but I'm traditionally a briner.  I make a brine with apple cider, salt, peppercorns and herbs and soak that puppy for 2 to 3 hours or overnight.  The turkey always comes out super moist and delicious! BUT this time I decided to try cooking the turkey differently thanks to my boyfriend's mother.  After moving, I've been a little beat lately and I didn't want to spend all day cooking a turkey so last night, I seasoned my turkey breast the way I normally would but cranked the oven up to 500 degrees and allowed it to really get hot- 30 minutes to an hour.  In the roasting pan, you pour in 4 cups of water or chicken stock (I did the chicken stock) in the bottom of your roasting pan. Cover the entire roasting pan with aluminum foil and pop it in the oven. Cook for 1 hour and turn the heat off and go to bed!  I was totally skeptical but this morning, I pulled the foil off to this....

Worm Castings: It's That Time Again!

I'm coming up on 3 years now since I started my worm bins. And I still am totally amazed at the high level of efficiency of these little guys.  I'm still very passionate about the process and my worms and so I treat them with their favorite foods when harvest time comes around. 

New Toy + Bulbs + Pansies= Happy Saturday!

Today was finally a sunny, chilly, but sunny day.  It was time for some work in the yard!  I know, it's weird.  Most people don't want to mow lawns and rake dead leaves or pull weeds during their weekend, but it's all kind of new to me.  I haven't had a yard or real outdoor space for the past 10 years.  So, yes, I'm freak'n excited! I'm also excited about my new toy!!!

O.K., I'm not one of those girls who want jewelry or perfume, but I am one of those girls who likes a good power tool!! I really, really want a Makita cordless drill. Santa??  Anyway, this edge trimmer is fantastic!! It's super light weight and it's adjustable for us vertically challenged people. It was easy to put together and the head rotates so you can trim along sidewalks!