in (a little) down time

 

Outside: rain, then sun

Reading: about ice cream.  what flavor should I make next?

On the needles: Yosemite (again)

Watching: This video.  I want to be my dog. 

Also, is it summer yet?

maple almond waffles with bannanas

Inspiration from here, and more bananas on top and regular maple syrup.  Some weekends are waffle weekends and those need some good banana waffles.  Now all we need is another good rain storm.  A song for your morning.  Happy weekend ~ !

apple wood

Apple blooms.  April storms.  A new hat.

The pattern is Robin's egg blue in a worsted natural white, with a button.  This is the second time I have tried to knit this hat for myself, and I am still not sure I like it.  What do you think?

happy easter

gluten less stromboli

Okay, so, some of you may take one look at all the different types of flours and starches in this recipe and scoff at me.  But I am telling you- this is worth it.  I have tried many, many pizza dough recipes since we became a gluten less house hold.  Some didn't rise.  One collapsed into a giant mess.  One tasted like pool.  One, granted, made some pretty good pizza.  But never yet had I found anything that could actually be stuffed with ham and pepperoni and cheese and rolled into Stromboli.  And we love Stromboli.  Love it.  You should too.  It is the prefect dinner/lunch/snack good hot or cold on a plate in a picnic in a lunch bag or at the airport.  Anyone can eat this, it is hearty and rich and wonderful.  It's adapted from the gluten free everyday cookbook.  It is love, rolled up into a wonderful package of gluten less dough.

Makes enough dough for 2 Stromboli, each will feed 2 happy people.  


You will need:

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsps)
• 1 Tbs sugar
• 1 cup sorghum flour
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup white rice flour
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour, plus more for dusting
• 1/4 cup flaxseed flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 3 Tbs dry milk powder
• 2 tsp xanthan gum
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup grated romano or parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped, or some garlic powder
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1 large egg
• Stuffing stuff: cheese, cold cuts, pepperoni, etc

What to do:

1.  In a bowl, combine the water, yeast, and sugar.  Cover with a towel and let the yeast foam up for 10 minutes.
2. Add everything else to the bowl.  Mix by hand or with a kitchen mixer until a nice ball begins to form.
3. Transfer dough to a surface lightly dusted with tapioca flour.  Divide dough in half and form each into a ball.  Place each ball in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the ball with oil.  Cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough springs back when touched.  After rising, you can store the dough for later in the fridge, or freeze it.  When you take it back out, let it come to room temperature before proceeding.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees C.  Place the dough on a tapioca floured surface, and flatten the dough into a rectangle shape, about half an inch thick.
5. Add your meat and cheese, then fold the edges in, and roll it up. 
6. Place on an baking sheet lined with parchment paper or oiled.  Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Slice and serve.

glutenless banana bread

This is one of our favorite snacks.  I finally found a recipe I like, and I had to share it with you.  Perfect for a spring breakfast with coffee, or add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and it's an excellent dessert.  Adapted from the gluten free everyday cookbook, which, if you are gluten free, you should get.  It is most excellent.

You will need:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
• 1/2 cup of cream cheese 
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup mashed banana (2 super ripe bananas) 
• 1 cup white rice flour
• 1/2 cup almond meal flour
• 1 tsp xanthan gum
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees C.  Butter a 9x5 in loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese, and sugars.  Beat with a mixer or by hand until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, vanilla, and banana, continue to mix until smooth. 
3. Add all the rest of the dry ingredients, and mix together until a smooth batter forms.
4. Pour into loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake for 50 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

~Enjoy!               

snapshots of a weekend

1.  New favorite easy dinner: Hasselback Potatoes (topped with store bought sour cream and pesto)  Not pictured: the Shepherd's Pie I made for Saturday.
2. Flowers for Mom.  Also ice cream.
3. Organization, spring cleaning... and proof that Kivrin came downstairs while the dog was inside!
4. Afternoon sun, beautiful weather, thinking more often about playing once I finish some work.

And you?  Is the weather beautiful where you are?  Should we just go outside already?
All our windows and doors are open  ....
~ Happy Spring ~