This Week's Funky Flowers

Great FALL colors..

not loving the green/white glass vase

it's more of a spring/summer vibe

10 Tips for New Bloggers by Southern Hospitality

I love finding new blogs.  There are so many.  I've been bloggin now for a little over a year. I'm amazed at how easy it is to do "some" things with your blog, like change your background. There are so many cute/adorable free templates out there in the blogosphere.  There is so much to learn on blogging, and I'm hungry for information but overwhelmed at all the blog supported sites available. 
Like for example, I really want comments and really want "followers".  I had an "AHA" moment the other day as I was blog stalking that "I" do not leave comments and haven't been following blogs myself. So, I have become a "follower" so that I might be come a leader.. ha -ha -

Anyway, for those of you who are just starting out and need some tips, click here. 

Bacon

A love/hate relationship.

I love bacon... just plain-o fried bacon.. who doesn't?

but ...

I do not like bacon on my hamburger or chicken sandwich

but...

I do LOVE BLT's.

I do not like "fake" bacon.. like bacon bits.

but...

I do like fresh bacon crumbled on a salad

Homemade Gourmet makes a BLT dip... love it...

They also make a Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar dip... love it...

but...

I do NOT like their Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf Mix (blech)

I made it last night.. and was so proud of myself. 

I put my own twist to it...

I added a fresh chopped red onion to the mix

I mixed ketchup and mustard together.. and poured it on top

then covered with cheddar cheese...

then I took a bite..

and all I tasted was fake bacon bits.

blech blech blech

hence, the love/hate relationship

Sorry Bacon Lovers...

I know you are out there.
There is even a website for you bacon lovers, click here to go to Bacon Today's website.

King Arthur Flour

I discovered this catalog about 8 years ago.  I just bought King Arthur Flour for the first time.  I got it at Walmart.  I used it for the "No Knead Bread", and I could see the difference from regular flour the moment I opened the package. 

I never in a 1000 years dreamed that I'd get so excited over "flour".

My Weekend Project - No Knead Bread

If you google "Jim Lahey's No Knead Bread", you'll find several blogs on this fabulous-o bread.

I used the recipe from the "steamy kitchen" blog - but had the instructions from the original NY Times article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html

http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html

Ingredients:

3 cups bread flour

1/4 teaspoon instant yeast

3/4 tablespoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

I mixed the ingredients together on Saturday @ noon. It took like 5 minutes. I used a glass bowl.. and put plastic wrap over the bowl and left it on the counter overnight.

This is what it looked like Sunday @ Noon. I let it set until about 4pm.

Then, I followed the directions from the NY Times recipe. I floured the counter, and folded it over twice, then wrapped it in plastic (not shown).  After 15 minutes, I wrapped the dough in cornmeal on cotton towels - and let it set for 2 hours.  After the bread set for a hour and a half, I preheated the oven to 450 degrees and placed the empty cast iron pot in the oven for 30 minutes.

I placed the dough in the hot cast iron pot ( this is a 5 gallon Paula Deen cast iron pot).

After 45 minutes (30 minutes with the lid on) and about 15 minutes with the lid off, the bread is done.

I was amazed that it kept "crackling" while it was cooling on the rack. It was amazing.

I wasn't sure how long you were supposed to let it cool, so I almost immediately had to slice into it.

The outside was crunchy and firm, but the inside was warm and moist.

The best homemade bread - taste like the artisan breads I buy at the specialty markets
So easy to make - a 4 year old could do it!

New Moon Countdown = 4 Days

I just bought these - you can get them with Bella, Edward or Jacob's face on the box. Of course, I chose "EC"

I'm so excited.. I will be going to see the New Moon at Midnight "01" on Friday, 11/20.

Check out this blog - she is an "official" Twilight stalker - and has identified all blogs "Twilight" ...

http://jennykate77.blogspot.com/