Happy Valentine's Day!

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HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

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Have a wonderful day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Poppyseed Bread

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I LOVE poppy seed muffins so what could be better than that? .... how about poppy-seed bread!  Especially poppy-seed bread that has a delicious sugary glaze ..... oh so yummy.

 

 

While surfing through Pinterest one evening, I ran across a recipe that was posted and I knew that I just HAD to try it and WOW, I have to say that this is the BEST poppy-seed bread we have ever eaten.  This recipe is Starbuck's worthy, the corner bakery worthy and Grandma's Sunday best worthy.  If you love poppy seeds, then you just have to bake this bread.

 

 

POPPYSEED BREAD

 

Bread:

 

3 cups of flour

1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/8 cups cooking oil

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds

1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons butter flavoring extract (or 1 1/2 teaspoons melted butter can be substituted)

 

 

 

Glaze:

 

1/4 cup orange juice

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring extract (or 1 1/2 teaspoons melted butter can be substituted)

 

Instructions:

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all the ingredients for the bread together in a large bowl.  Pour batter into greased and floured baking pans.  Makes 6 small loaves or 2 large loaves.  Bake for 50 to 60 minutes for large pans (less for small pans....you just have to keep an eye on them).  If you have dark, metal pans start watching the bread at approximately 45 minutes.....dark pans bake faster.

 

For the Glaze:

 

Pour all ingredients into a small saucepan and let cook on stove on medium heat until sugar dissolves.  Remove bread from pans and pour glaze over warm bread.  Use a knife or spatula to bring the glaze that has run off, up and over the warm bread until it stays on.

 

 

The original recipe can be found here.  Thanks Christy for sharing such a wonderful recipe.  This one is definitely a keeper!

 

 

Happy baking and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

 

 

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

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It's time for a weekly chat on the porch with Patrice!  Grab your favorite morning cup of goodness, have a seat on the swing and let's chat.  Remember though, that I am always a week behind with the questions!   

 

 QUESTIONS:

 

1.  What is your favorite time of the day to read?  If you don't enjoy reading, then when is your favorite time to watch t.v./movies?

 

2.  Did you watch the Super Bowl?  If so, what was your favorite commercial?  If you didn't watch it, what did you do Sunday night?

 

3.  Have you been watching Downtown Abbey?  Who's your favorite character?  If not, have you seen any interesting TV or movie series lately?

 

4.  Do you enjoy home parties for selling items?  (like Pampered Chef, Southern Living, Mary Kay)

 

5.  Please finish this sentence.  If I work very hard, I can ________.

 

 

 Everyday Ruralty

 

ANSWERS:

 

1.  Anytime!  In the winter, I love reading in the afternoon with a cup of tea and in the summer, while sitting outside drinking an iced tea.

 

2.  Nope, not a sports fan at all.  I was in bed Sunday night with the flu!

 

3.  No, I don't watch it.  I rarely watch t.v. to begin with.  I don't even remember when the last time the t.v. was on!  I did just purchase a DVD series called Endangered Civilizations that I am looking forward to watching one of these nights.

 

4.  No, I am not a big fan of those types of parties.  I always feel pressured to have to buy something.

 

5.  If I work very hard, I can make all my dreams come true.

 

Thanks for joining me again for our weekly chat on the porch with Patrice.  Why not stop over at her porch and see what the others are saying?  Have a great Tuesday and remember to give your loved ones a hug!  

The Afghan from Hell

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Yes, you read the title right!  I have always wanted to learn how to crochet a ripple afghan, you know, the ones that EVERYONE has on the back of their sofas?  In the 70's they were orange, brown and yellow, as seen on "The 70's Show" BUT I didn't want mine in those colors!!  I wanted one that would remind me of Spring.  One that would reflect bring colors that we see as the first flowers are making their way through the cold earth ..... daffodils, hyacinths, and primrose.

 

 

I started this afghan exactly on January 27, 2012 ..... yep, I know that was the exact date as I record all my knitting and crochet projects on Ravelry.  If you have never heard of Ravelry check it out!  So many patterns, inspiration and great people.  You can see it here. 

 

Now, the reason why it took so long wasn't because the pattern was difficult.  It was the exact OPPOSITE!  The pattern is so easy to mindlessly work with, that I was bored very quickly.  If I am bored, wellllll then I never feel like picking it up because it's too boring ..... hence the title "Afghan from Hell". 

 

 

 

So I plucked away at it and plucked away at it and come the new year, I was determined to finish it.  You see I have a rule.  I will not allow myself to start another knitting/crochet project until the one I am working on is finished.  I get too easily sidetracked and excited for new projects when browsing websites and patterns.  If I didn't follow this rule, I would have hundreds of unfinished projects floating around all over the house!

 

 

So the morning of January 28, 2013 ..... exactly one year and one day, I sewed in the last of the ends, laid out the afghan and admired the bright colors which do remind me of spring.  I am extremely pleased with it and look forward to cool-ish spring mornings when I can sit on the porch and wrap it around me while sipping my cup of coffee. 

 

 

Now that it's finished ..... I have been drooling over which project to start next.  Would I make this pattern again?  Definitely.  The color possibilities are endless but I would make sure next time that I finished it before a year was up!

 

 

 

Happy knitting/crocheting, have a wonderful day and remember to give your loved ones a hug! 

 

Sunday's Blessings

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this week I loved the .....

 

smell of :  fresh laundered sheets

 

sound of :  the weatherman calling for warmer weather

 

taste of : a fresh brewed cup of tea

 

sight of :  a clean house

 

feel of :  sunshine

 

 

this week I am thankful for .....

 

-  getting over the flu bug ..... it was NASTY!

 

- a no school day

 

- dedicated, caring veterinarians

 

Have a Blessed Sunday and remember to give your loved ones a hug!