A not so Menu Plan Monday...

I logged on this afternoon prepared to type up a menu plan...and then realized we're only going to be home 2 nights this week so...no menu plan for this week! ;)

We had a really nice weekend... we ended up not doing hardly any of the stuff from my last post {which was niiice} and had a great relaxing weekend! 

I'm excited about heading back to spend Thanksgiving with our families.  Andrew and I will be spending Thursday in MO with my Grandma on Dad's side.  And Friday we'll be spending the day with the hubby's family.  I'm sure we'll watch way too much football.

Until then, I think I'll be taking a break.  Between my migraines, the upcoming holidays, and well...life I just don't have much time for blogging.  And no creative juices flowing either. :P   I'll keep up reading ya'lls posts, but until next time...

Hope ya'll have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!  =)

Homemade Bread...

Is there any better smell then freshly baked bread?  Mmm... I love it!  ;)   I set out a few months ago to find a good homemade bread recipe.  It was a bit harder than I thought it would be since almost everyone has a bread maker now...but not me. :P   So, I needed something simple that tasted yummy.  And that's what I found!  We love this bread and gobble it up every time I make it.  In fact, we've stopped buying store made bread in favor of the homemade bread.  It not only tastes better but is less expensive too!

Homemade Bread

Ingredients

6-7 Cups All Purpose Flour
3 Tbsp. Sugar
1 Tbsp. Salt
2 Tbsp. Shortening
2 packages regular or quick active dry years (4 1/2 tsp)
2 1/4 Cup Warm Water (a little warmer than lukewarm)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted, if desired



In a large bowl, stir 3 1/2 cups of flour, the sugar, salt, shortening and yeast until well mixed.  Add warm water.  Beat with mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently.  Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently.  Stir in enough remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.

Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead dough about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy {Note: I usually switch the handles on my Kitchen Aid mixer and let it knead the dough for me for 5 minutes}.  Grease large bowl with shortening {I just use vegetable oil}.  Place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides.  Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap or a dish cloth and let rise in warm place 40 - 60 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.    Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.

Grease bottoms and sides of two 8x4 in or 9x5 in loaf pans {If you won't have loaf pans you could also bake these on greased cookie sheets or on pizza stones} with shortening or cooking spray.

Gently push fists into dough to deflate.  Divide dough in half.  Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into about 18x 9 in rectangle on lightly flour surface.  Roll dough up tightly, beginning at the 9 in side.  Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal after each turn.  Pinch each end of roll to seal.  Fold ends under loaf.  Place seam side down in pan.  Brush loaves lightly with melted butter.  Cover loosely and let rise in warm place 35 - 50 minutes or until dough have doubled in size.

Moved oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of the oven.  Heat oven to 425 degrees F.   Bake loaves 25-30 minutes or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped.  Remove from pans to wire rack.  Brush loaves with butter; cool.  Or, if you are like me, cut a piece while it's still hot and enjoy!!!  ;)

C'est Moi...

My weekend trip my mom and Lauren went sooo well.  We had a BLAST!   

This is the hotel that was next to ours -- I thought the way they maximized their space was um, funny! ;)

Even though we've been to Branson, MO about a thousand times we still love going and playing tourist!

We visited the Titanic Museum.

I had been once before, but loved going again.  I saw a lot of things I missed last trip!

Mom and I in front of the Iceberg!

And ate some yummy, yummy food...

 

This cheese dip was to die for!

And no trip would be complete without a trip to the Olive Garden and Black Tie Mouse Cake!  ;)

Monday night I arrived home to flowers, chocolate and dinner!

Have I mentioned that I have the best husband?!  ;)

I've been a day behind all week.  I posted my menu plan on Tuesday... lol without even realizing it wasn't Monday.  :P     And yesterday I spent the day in bed with a migraine.  Ugh!  I hate those things.  I can count on one hand the times I've gotten migraines bad enough to make me sick and yesterday was one of those days.  Thankfully, I don't have a full blown migraine anymore, but I keep having headaches that just won't go away.  {sigh}  Hopefully, it will go away soon.

We have another busy weekend in front of us... this weekend we are both getting new phones, getting a part for my car, grocery shopping, picking up meds, painting our coffee table,  I have to bake 2 loaves of bread for a church potluck and make Mexican Chicken as well.  {double sigh} and I'm already tired.  :P

But next week is Thanksgiving -- can ya'll believe it's Thanksgiving already?!  -- and I am so looking forward to spending time with family and eating even more yummy food!  ;)

Menu Plan Monday...

Monday - Hubby made me dinner!  ;)

Tuesday - Salad

Wednesday - Pesto Chicken

Thursday - Hamburger Macaroni 

Friday -Fajitas

Saturday - Roast, homemade bread

Sunday -Left overs

Other baking/cooking - Homemade Tortillas {new recipe}, 4 loaves homemade bread (2 for our church pot luck), Raisin Bran Muffins

I didn't do much extra baking last week due to getting ready to head out of town... I plan on making up for it this week though!

I'm Trippin'...

Road Trippin' that is...!!!

This weekend I am headed to Missouri to spend the weekend with my mom and sister.

We plan on eating - a lot.

Shopping - a lot.

and talking non-stop!

Yay for all girl weekends!