Potato Rolls

This have always reminded me of my great grandmother.  We always had these rolls at every family gathering.  This is the ultimate comfort food to me- absolutely nothing is better than the smell of these melt in your mouth rolls baking on a cold winter day.

Ingredients:
5 cups flour
1 package yeast
1 1/2 cup warm water
1/2 c mashed potatoes
1/3 c unsalted butte, melted
1/4 c white sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine 2 cups flour and the yeast, set aside
In a mixing bowl, combine the warm water, mashed potatoes, melted butter, sugar and salt.
Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients, beat on low, for 30 seconds, scraping the sides.
Increase speed to high and beat for 3 minutes.
Stir in remaining flour with dough hook or by hand.
Grease large mixing bowl, add dough to bowl, cover and let raise, until double, about 2 hours.
Punch dough down. Turn on floured surface, divide into 12 rolls
place rolls in greased 9x13 baking dish
cover and let raise, about 30-60 minutes longer.
Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through

Wedding Update

So I took a break from wedding planning for a little while, but have started again, and with a vengeance.  So here are the things that I have accomplished so far:


Transportation:
                                    
We rented a vintage 1957 Bentley to take us from the wedding reception to the Anniversary Inn.

Rehearsal:
We have decided to have our rehearsal dinner at Louie's Italian restaurant in Meridian.  Louis' favorite food is Italian, and we both really like Louie's, plus, I'm a little partial to the name... :)  I went ahead and booked that and since its all served family style, they ask for a set menu.  We have decided on baked rigatoni with marinara sauce and chicken marsala. There will also be salad, bread and several different types of pizzas.  

DJ:
I have booked our DJ.  He also is a performer and does live music and stuff, so it should be interesting to see what he comes up with.  To be honest, I wasn't even going to have a DJ...I just figured as long as someone was playing music on an ipod or something that I'd be ok, but then I realized that's stupid...so I booked myself a dj.. :)

Alterations:
I have decided to take my dress to Transformations.  I read their reviews and they are great.  I haven't had the pleasure of meeting them in person yet, but am looking forward to working with both of them.

Officiant:
I have, just today, decided on an officiant- well, to be more specific, a company of officiants.  I did not have one in mind since we're not really religious.  We aren't needing anything crazy, just a basic ceremony, but we want to include the girls so we can do the sand ceremony thing..I know that seems kinda dopey, but I found this really cool thing were you can take you little sand vase with everyone's sand and send it in and they will make a blown glass vase out of it..it was pretty cool actually.  So, really it shouldn't be all that difficult.

Field trip to the Capitol

I went with Bella's class to the Capitol a few weeks ago.  They were ther efor Idaho day, sang a few songs, got on the news, got to meet the governor and got a private tour of his ceremonial office...no this is not the standard way Mr.Otter, the governor...ick, treats field trips, but his niece is one of b-bop's really good friends, so they all got the "treatment"...

getting in position to sing

fa-la-la-la-la-la-la

in the Senate

Senator Martin

Getting ready to meet the Otter

and in the House of Representatives

Bella's 10th Birthday

Bella chose Subway for her birthday lunch

She got a detective crime scene science kit from nana and papa for her birthday

Batman!!!

a girl after my own heart... a german chocolate cake... :)

papa thining he's funny

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Banana Cream Pie

Another one of our all time favorites!! Great for Easter!!

Ingredients:
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c flour
pinch salt
2 c whole milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 9 in pie crust, blind baked
2-4 bananas. sliced

Directions:
In saucepan, mix sugar, flour, salt/ Mix milk in, gradually.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is bubbly.
Keep stirring for 2 more minutes
remove from burner
add butter and vanilla
stir until smooth and glossy

let cool to room temp

pour small amount into baked pie crust

add sliced bananas, 2-4 to personal taste...i usually use 2

cover with remaining custard

put in fridge. when completely cool, you can top with meringue or whipped cream if desired

French Coconut Pie

This pie is so simple and sooooo good.  Give it a try! 

Ingredients:
3 whole eggs, beaten
 1 1/2 cup sugar
1 c flaked coconut
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1pinch salt
9 in unbaked pie crust

Directions:
Mix all ingredients well, and pour into pie shell. Bake at 350 for one hour.

2016 Photo Dump III

this picture was taken at 3:15 am....party hard homies!!!

fondue for dinner!!

chocolate fondue for dessert

my pretty nails

amd the other hand

Stella and Zoe at school

Im starting to be quite the little frontier gal...

the girls on mustache day at school

Bella on crazy hair day at school

Zoe on crazy hair day at school

French coconut pie...soooo good!!

my lover and I at Louie's, eating diner

this came on Pandora as I was pulling in to work....ahhh, one of THOSE days... :)

how do you know your boss loves you?? When she schedules you a massage on the day your working, and tells you shes gonna find you coverage and you don't even have to clock out when youre out and about getting the rub down.. :)