Monday, April 23, 2012

"Don't Drop your Phone in the River!"

Soooo, Yesterday Chad and I and a couple of friends went on a walk after dinner at the house and we headed to the river. This was a good idea, except Chad brought his cell phone, (I phone 4) and had no pockets. Since he did not have pockets he did the 'I'll just stick it in my waistband' move. 
This was great worked like a charm as we dredge through shallow parts of the river to get to a place to throw some rocks, the first two times...

We were almost to this beautiful spot on the river, a little plateau of sorts in the middle of the rushing river, so beautiful! 
I am moving a little slower, of course :) and Chad lovingly, and kindly, turns around to give me support on the slippery rocks as my bare feet were begging for soft sand! Of course, on his last step he took in the water (literally a couple inches from the dry land) his phone slips into the water!!!
It turned this sweet moment and this great FREE trip to the river into a two hundred dollar swim! 
He grabbed his phone within seconds after it was submerged, and it had turned completely off! We both sighed and thought that was definitely the death of Mr I phone! 

I did my best to contain my disappointment, it is truly revealing when you react to something poorly and it takes all of you to not be mad! or to say I told you so! Man, I needed Jesus' strength to not be the rude fleshly person that I wanted to be :( I was humbled by this experience... I was just so sad... 
The beautiful river seemed like a beast now, sucking up everything in its path. I was sure I was going to fall in next and all I wanted to do was get out of the river and go home and get his phone fixed! Definitely had to pray about that afterward, belongings should not make me 'move' like that! 

Anyways, long story long, our friends told chad "put your phone immediately into rice at home." 
Dry rice:
Do not shake the water out or even remove the SIM card, or anything, just stick it into a bed of rice and let the rice drain out the water over night!
This is my phone, in attempt to reenact this for your benefit :)
 I thought this was too good to be true and would never work, but to my surprise only 6 hours later before we had even gone to sleep the phone was on again and was working fine! 
I went to check on the phone, expecting the rice to be all wet and sticky or something and found the phone shining its light and on! It was a miracle indeed.
We still left it on the rice overnight to try to pull out as much water as possible! 
I was sooooo happy! 

Yes, that is my handsome Grandpa (I miss him dearly)

With a little prayer and some rice your water drenched phone can be fixed again! 
I was so happy with the results and sine this is such an easy trick, I thought I would share it with y'all!
Next time just dont bring the phone with you... but if you do, and it drops in the water, this is what you should try to revive the cell phone! 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

The Coveted Cinnamon Pull apart bread!



I meant to put this recipe up a while back but did not find the time. 
This cinnamon bread was sooo good! But quite time consuming to make. I got this idea from pinterest which directed me to http://joythebaker.com/2011/03/cinnamon-sugar-pull-apart-bread/
She has a great tutorial as well. I did add a little bit more flour since I was having such a difficult time getting my dough to not be too sticky to work with. 
Joy the baker is an awesome blog and I encourage you to look at her stuff! Beware you will be hooked ... she is amazing!

Anyhow, lets get this started!
Joy the Baker's Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread Makes: one 9x5x3-inch loaf

For the Dough:
2 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (I used 3 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces unsalted butter
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the Filling:
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted until browned


In a large mixing bowl (I used just the bowl of my stand mixer) whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Set aside.
Whisk together eggs and set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted. Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract. Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.
Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula or whisk. Add the eggs and

stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter. The eggs will feel soupy and it’ll seem like the dough and the eggs are never going to come together. Keep stirring. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes.
The mixture will be sticky. That’s just right.
Place the dough is a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. *The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.
While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for the filling. Set aside. Melt 2 ounces of butter until browned. Set aside. Grease and flour a
9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set that aside too.
Deflate the risen dough and knead about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long. If you can’t get the dough to 20-inches long... that’s okay. Just roll it as large as the dough will go. Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough. Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. It might seem like a lot of sugar. Seriously? Just go for it.
Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again. You’ll have six stacks of six squares. Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan like a flip-book. Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw. A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.    Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board. Place a cake stand or cake plate on top of the upside down loaf, and carefully invert so it’s right side up. Serve warm with coffee or tea.
I think this bread is best served the day it’s made, but it can also we wrapped and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Photo Tutorial:
In a large mixing bowl (I used just the bowl of my stand mixer) add your 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
Whisk these ingredients together and set aside

 In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted.
 Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract.

  Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.

 Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula or whisk.

Add the eggs: You can scramble them before hand so that you don't have to worry about distribution 

Mix them together till smooth

 If it is still a little watery add some flour (little dab will do here)
 This is sticky dough... keep it that way! Sticky is good!

 You should make yours a little smoother than this... oops! 

Spray a bowl that you are going to let your dough rise in.
Make sure to spray it well because this is sticky dough and it will make your life easier when it comes to getting this stuff out :)

Add your dough to the greased bowl

Cover your bowl with seran wrap and a towel and place in a warm area for at least 1 hour!
*The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.

I placed mine in my oven that I turned on warm for the hour and it rose really nicely and was over twice the size when the time was up to roll it out!

While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for the filling. Set aside. Melt 2 ounces of butter until browned. Set aside. Grease and flour a
9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set that aside too.


 Deflate the risen dough and knead about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes.

 On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long. If you can’t get the dough to 20-inches long... that’s okay. Just roll it as large as the dough will go. Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough.

 Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. It might seem like a lot of sugar. Seriously? Just go for it.

 Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again.

You’ll have six stacks of six squares.

 Make sure to cut them evenly and delicately.

Layer the slices in the pan like a flip book carefully.
Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw. A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.

 Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

  Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board. Place a cake stand or cake plate on top of the upside down loaf,
and carefully invert so it’s right side up.

 I added a little cream cheese frosting to mine and it was divine!
Serve with coffee or tea and it will be sure to make your guests pleased!
 Enjoy!
Janelle Dutcher

Friday, April 13, 2012

Been MIA

To all my wonderful readers,
 
So I wanted to take a moment to apologize to my awesome followers and friends for going MIA for a while. I just started a new job and have had zero time to tutorial my meals! I will be adding a few goodies this weekend and next week... 

I hope that you all enjoyed your Easter Sunday! I sure did! I love love love this time of year! The blooms, the fresh produce, the aroma of spring time barbeques, and lots of fun times with family and friends! This spring time is the preamble for the summer Bliss! 

I need to start my garden soon.. so I will have a few posts up about gardening as well coming up! My garden has some crazy weeds right now... so I have some work to do!!! 

Today is Chad's birthday! I have a fun weekend planned with Baseball, shooting range, good food, the daffodil parade and festival, and lunches with good friends! This should be a great weekend.. Thankfully we have SUNSHINE!! This is a rare event for this time of year, and I'll take it! It is here on the perfect weekend.

I will get better at keeping up on my posts, thank you for your devotion, support, and understanding in these new seasons of my life! 
Blessings,
Janelle Dutcher

Monday, April 2, 2012

Paper Flowers Tutorial


These Flowers were really fun to make. and easy, but they do take about 5 minutes per flower... 
BUT look at them, they are totally worth it right! so cute... I love decorating with them... 


Here is what you will need: 
Glue gun (low setting preferred)and glue sticks, a book that you can tear the pages out of (or scrapbook paper), scissors, and skewers.

 First:
tear out a page from your book

Second:
using a pencil draw a continuing spiral (circle) on your page.
I found that starting with the outside and working my way in to the center was easiest 
  
 Fourth:
cut out your circle from your on the lines that you drew all the way to the center.

Fifth: 
make sure your glue gun is warmed and ready and start by rolling your furthest edge of your cut out tightly to create the center of your rose bud.

Sixth:
After you have rolled the paper a few times add a little dab of glue and keep rolling, be sure to add a little at a time so you dont see the glue when the bud is done.
Having a low setting glue gun comes in handy here because you don't have to worry about burning your fingers!  

as you work your way down the spiral repeating these last few steps of rolling and gluing turn the pages a bit under previous layer to make a petal appearance
At the end of your cut out glue it to the other side to close the hole that is made from gluing your flower and this is where the skewer will go. (the hole in this is from a skewer not from the cut out) 

This is what it should look like at the end!  

Seventh:
Now where you saw that hole in the picture above at the bottom of my bud, this is where you stick a skewer in your flower and walla it is done! A fun way to make a great bouquet is by making some with shorter skewers and others with longer so you can layer your flowers nicely...

These look great almost anywhere! And Im sure your guests will be impressed! Make these as gifts or just for your own home accessories! I would love to make a spring wreath out of these... (if I could only find the time do do a couple hundred of these) ha!
I hope that you have a fun time crafting like I did! And please let me know if I can help explain the steps to making these flowers any better... I hope that it made it clear enough for you to do at home!
Remember no flower is identical in nature and neither will any of yours that you make on paper! They are beautiful in variety.. have fun with it!
Blessings,
Janelle Dutcher 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Strawberry Pop

What to do with those strawberries after they have gone mushy, but not rotten? 

This is your answer... AND It is soooo easy!  
At my old job (as nanny) I made some of these simply delicious strawberry pops for the kids!

 These are some amazing fruit pops that you would spend 5 dollars on at the store and it was sooo easy and is 150% better than the sugar pops you can get at the store... give it a try, it is worth it!
  
These are 100% fresh, tasty, NO sugar aka:Healthy and oh so easy. 
It only took me 5 mins! 

Directions:
Just take off the stems, wash your berries, add 1 tbs.water per 5 or 6 strawberries and blend, pour your puree into ice cube trays or Popsicle trays.
Add sticks for holding, and freeze.



"To Cook or Not to Cook"

I am using a few posts from my old blog since my camera is out of service for a few...
This is an entry I have from last year on my old blog. :P I changed the info a bit to fit what I am doing now... Enjoy!

I had the urge to cook today. (Maybe it is because I had time
And we just went shopping yesterday for groceries?)
I debated on what to do with my extra time and it came down to nap or cook. Otherwise expressed, "To cook, or not to cook!" haha but I'll leave out the drama.
I bought some ricotta cheese yesterday so there was one particular food on the brain, ZITI!
To my surprise, I did not have to debate long what to do with my time.
It was a perfect rainy day to cook!
So I got ambitious and made some baked Ziti.
I was intimidated by the stuffing part of the process but it was really simple. 
I enjoyed making ziti and chad was glad I did too!

It has only a few simple ingredients which include:
Ziti Pasta, Mozzarella Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Parsley, and Your Favorite Sauce.
Mix together your cheeses and parsley and stuff them into your cooked Ziti Pasta,
Drizzle red sauce over them and bake for 35 mins at 350 degrees.
 
SOOO Delicious!
This is how it turned out:


While I waited for the Ziti to bake I put dinner in the crock pot. 
I bought a turkey roast yesterday and couldn't wait to eat it.
mmm... All I added was a little broth, carrots, broccoli, celery, onion, and red potato as well as herbs and spices. This smells delicious and I know it will taste great with a side of couscous. 
I can't wait for dinner... although I am still full from those rich Ziti!
Thankfully crock pot cooking takes a while and after smelling all the herbs and spices blend so gracefully for HOURS makes you HUNGRY!

  
This is a picture of My dinner in the crock pot! MMM... 5 hours on Low will make a perfectly juicy turkey and vegetable roast. 
Hope your day is as delicious as mine!
If you want any recipes for anything I post just leave me a comment.

Haven't gotten the urge to bake yet, but look out for pictures from that event too! Ha
Thanks for reading, hope it was inspiring.
Blessings.
Written by Janelle

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Unclog your Drain without Barfing!

Tips and Tricks Thursday: 
I thought since being a house wife isn't always as glamorous as baking cinnamon bread and making people's tummy happy... although I would love if that is all it entailed! Sometimes there are dirty jobs around the house. Once a week I am hoping to give you a fun tip that I have learned to clean up and keep that house a home!
This week we are talking about the drains...
(yes I started with one of the worst! sorry)

The bathroom is one of my least favorite places to clean! GROSS... I wish I had a cleaning lady for just that room! (oook and maybe the laundry...) Being that I have long hair, our shower drain has the inevitable quarterly clog. 
It is bad... as soon as you start to notice the water not draining as fast as it used to you are in trouble. I like to try and catch it early.. but those snakes for the drain are so foul! I hate pulling the glob of disgusting-mess out of the drain! (Chad won't do it... "its your hair"-Chad and I guess I don't blame him!) 

There are a few tips for avoiding this:
 
I use drain-o once every other month and it seems to keep the clog away. I also brush my hair in the shower so that my comb catches most of the loose hairs that would otherwise go down the drain, this slows the process for a clogged drain but doesn't stop it! TMI I know... 
Hair Stopper - Drain Protector / Strainer
Image from amazon.
Also-
Getting a vent: one of those  Drain cover things help in the bathroom... but that still means cleaning up hair. Unfortunately My drain is not the kind with a big hole like the ones used with these:






 TIPS AND TRICKS:

Unfortunately we can do lots to try and avoid this altogether but it is typical to have to deal with the clogged drain in the kitchen, the toilet an the shower/tub... 
 
 Thankfully there are some tricks to unclogging the drain when precautions just don't cut it and its stopped up!

1st: Flushing 
Remove as much of the water that’s backed up in the sink/tub as you can. Toss 1 cup of baking soda into the drain then pour a large pot or kettle of boiling hot water over top. If the sink/tub empties completely, pour another kettle of boiling water to give it another clean flush and then let cool water run from the faucet for a couple minutes.

2nd: Vinegar Flush 
This tried and true method really works!
 Remove as much water as you can. Toss 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour down a cup of household vinegar, plug with the sink stopper then let sit for half an hour.
 After about 30 minutes, unplug the sink and pour a kettle full of hot water on top. This truly works and I have found that is even works with water still in the sink, just add double the baking soda and vinegar and allow extra time for it to work. Once the water in the sink has fully emptied, flush with fresh batches of boiling water 2 or 3 times to completely clear out the gunk.  
I like to follow it up with some bleach as well so that vinegar smell is not there any longer.


3rd: Plunger! 

We must not forget there is the trusty Plunger!

Use a sink plunger to try forcing the drain to clear. You’ll need a few inches of water in the sink to help make a vacuum seal for the plunger and a few forceful plunges to make this work. You can buy a sink plunger that’s about a 1/3 of the size of a regular toilet plunger. These are only a couple bucks, need very little room and they’re great to keep under the kitchen sink just in case. you can use a full sized sink or toilet plunger if you can’t find a small sink plunger. (just sanitize!)

I use this for the Sink when I get a clog there as well as the toilet (of course never for myself, I am not willing to admit that haha) and the shower.. this works wonders but must be done carefully.. lets not cause hernias

I learned recently that you can put petroleum jelly around the rim on the plunger and it will add suction and help with plunging when submerging into water.

I tried it when I got sweet potato skins stuck in my sink and had to plunge the sink twice (on both sides) as it made its way through the pipes! 
*don't put sweet potato skins down the sink.. you think they will get shredded in the disposal but they don't, BIG MESS!!

4th: The Snake
These are gross, and seriously smelly sometimes! 
make sure to be careful and to always wear gloves... we aren't savages here, lets keep some dignity!
IF snaking from the top of drain is not working you can always take it apart and open and remove the trap or (clean-out plug) underneath the sink to try clearing the clogged mass. Use a plumber’s snake or a wire coat hanger to poke into the drain and break apart the clog. You’ll need an empty bucket on hand to catch all the water as well as eye goggles firmly in place. This is messy and must be done smart, don't hold me accountable if you make it worse than when you started!

5th: Commercial Drain Cleaners
 The drain-o, plumber clearer... and products alike are always helpful. just be careful if using chemical commercial drain cleaners, wear eye goggles since the water can splash back up at you. If you’ve used a commercial cleaner and it didn’t clear out the clog, call a plumber. You don’t want to add anything to the backed up water that might react badly to the chemicals in the cleaner. Also don’t try removing the drain trap since the chemical water can splash into your eyes and face. A professional is better equipped to handle this situation.


6th:Plumber
If all else fails just call the plumber already! 
there is no shame in that! 

Hopefully this is helpful!
Remember to always check the drain in your tub to make sure it is open before freaking out! And be careful when unclogging pipes... 
have a happy Thursday!
Blessings,
Janelle

Monday, March 19, 2012

Aromatherapy Home Recipe



 This will make your home smell wonderful!
I found this online and had to try it out. 
This is an organic and cheap way to make your home smell like William-Sonoma! 
I don't know about you but I love going to that store... of course to just look (wayy to expensive)and they always have that fresh and sweet smell in the air. Well this reminds me of that wonderful scent. 



Start with a cup of water
1 lemon
a few sprigs of rosemary 
and a tsp of vanilla

add those to your pot and let simmer.
make sure to squeeze your lemon a bit to release a little more citrus smell. 

I set a timer for 30 minutes and every thirty minutes I added more water and reset the timer. This was sooo easy and dirt cheap. I had a few lemons going bad, vanilla and rosemary on hand and it was as simple as throwing it all together and turning on the burner! 

This was a great smell that filled the whole house. I do this often now and hope you enjoy it too!

You can really get creative with this. I have heard many people use different variations of this at home.
Just lemon is great, Cinnamon, lemon, rosemary, oranges, lavendar, sage or thyme are all great scents that are easily available. Mix and match to find what scent you like best. 

Have fun, and tell me about your favorite scent!
Blessings,
Janelle


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Aunt Karen's Famous Bread Recipe

I have been spoiled with a great family. My dad's sister (My aunt) Is the Martha Stewart of the family and she makes the BEST bread.. 
thankfully she shares the recipe so I can make it too!
And I am eager to share it with you so you can all enjoy it...

Chad came Home to some delicious smells this week. 
I have actually made 5 loaves over the past weekend.
I love to give them to people... easy gift!

 Ingredients:
1 1/8 cup warm water (between 110-120 degrees)
2 tbs honey
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 tbs olive oil
1 tsp salt
3 cup flour

 Proof the yeast in warm water and honey until foamy and smelly (about 5 minutes) 
In your mixer with bread hook add salt and olive oil. 
Once yeast is proofed slowly add flour and water to mixer till ball is formed in mixer on the hook. 
Remove from hook, and let rise covered for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
Shape and cover for another hour to let rise again. 
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes
let cook for a bit so it doesn't stick together when sliced, and enjoy! 

I thought I'd put the whole recipe together at the beginning so that you cannot make the mistake of missing a step in my tutorial. 
This way you can copy and paste it to print much easier as well...

Alright lets get started:
Get your water nice and warm. I use a candy thermometer to make sure the water is at 110-120 degrees. 
Before you add your yeast add your honey and stir it in to the water to proof the yeast. 
make sure to warm up your honey so that it will not make your water cold if you have your honey in the fridge.
after honey and water are mixed and the water is nice and yellow add your 2 1/2 tsp yeast and let sit for a while till foamy and really smelly... make sure to get a good yeast, don't skimp on that, it makes the world of a difference! 

 When its nice and bubbly its good to go and can be put into your mixer
 make sure to add your salt and olive oil and then alternate flour and yeast
 you will get a great dough ball... don't beat this dough, keep your mixer at a low speed.
 remove the hook and shape a bit into a ball.. let this sit and rise.
Be sure to cover and set a timer...

Once it has risen for an hour it will be twice the size and nice and airy...

 I always pour it out into my hand by tilting it so that it falls out of bowl and doesn't break all the great rise that it has taken an hour to make... don't over handle it but shape it delicately.
Put onto a well floured pan that you will put into the oven.
 Once you have shaped it to your liking...
I like to add slits in the dough by poking a line out with a knife.. don't try to slice it like bread, it will stick to your knife so simply poke it with the knife in a line...
add some garlic salt and some basil even some grated Parmesan cheese and let this rise for an hour. 
 Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. At about the 10 minute mark turn the bread to get an even browning.
It will come out nice and golden brown with beautiful markings with a thin crust and some delicious soft center that is sweet!

If thicker crust is desired let bake a bit longer (make sure to watch the bread so it does not burn!)
 serve with salted butter or
 some balsamic vinegar and olive oil with some fresh garlic and roasted almonds!

Happy baking!
Share your pics of finished bread... I'd love to see em!
Blessings,
Janelle Dutcher