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/

This Week's Funky Flowers

This is the table that the "weekly" flowers reside.  So, at first glance you can see how the scale is already off.

I do have to say the colors of this arrangement are more appropriate for this time of year. 

Check Out This Website - Share Recipes - MixingBowl.com

Online Recipe Community - Share Recipes - MixingBowl.com

Twilight

"It’s twilight. It’s the safest time of day for us. The easiest time. But also the saddest, in a way… the end of another day, the return of the night. Darkness is so predictable, don’t you think?"

Edward Cullen, Twilight

Veterans Day: Who Will Stand // Bloggers Unite

Veterans Day: Who Will Stand // Bloggers Unite

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Wish List

I love this stuff!
Antique Silver Party Buckets from Pottery Barn

Green - Just in Time for Christmas

No More Excuses!!!

I have to say that since I first "blogged" about recycling back in August 08 - I haven't done that great of a job. I was doing pretty good for a couple of months.. then life happens, and yadda yadda yadda.

I'm happy to announce that my community is "going green", and we received our new recycle bins today!

The first pickup is Wednesday, 11/25.  They will be picking up every other Wednesday.

Super EXCITED...

I get to be 'one of those people' who has 2 separate containers - one for trash and one for recycling.

NO ALUMINUM CANS in the TRASH. (use your Joan Crawford, NO WIRE HANGERS voice)

Some of my Canton Finds...