Thoughts on a Thursday...

Despite my vowing to myself that I would make posts at least 3 times a week (and probably more), I have come up woefully short.  It's so much easier to post of Facebook (check out my page http://www.facebook.com/sunshinecottage1) .  There's lot of pictures to see, and with the click of the 'share' button, everyone else who 'likes' me can see them too.

I do have exciting news - I've just landed a 'dream' job!  The YMCA in Keene, NH was looking for someone to take over their food concession.  So, together with my new friend Erika Kasser, we submitted a proposal.  I found out last night that our proposal was the one they accepted!!  Now for the work parts - Erika and I need to become an LLC partnership (lawyers involved), and then fill out applications for licences etc... After all of those things are in place, we get to finish putting the kitchen together, collect recipes and start cooking wonderful, healthy and nutritious foods for all the folks that use the Keene Family Y!

Well, I guess that's my thoughts for Thursday...

Foggy, Black Friday

Despite being assured that today was going to be the last of a string of glorious, almost winter, days - it has started out very foggy.

I have made my favorite breakfast, one that is very hearty and keeps me going - sometimes right through until dinner.

It is a delicious blend of sauteed onions, tomatoes and (in this case) arugula - this is made into a 'nest' over a corn tortilla, then I add an egg and sprinkle feta cheese over all.  It gets popped into a 350 oven and bakes until the egg is done to your liking - in my case, well done.  Lots of protein, and a generous helping of veggies - it's even gluten free!






I think I'm going to need all of my energy today.  Despite promising myself that I would spend the day finishing up hats, and tagging jewelry, all to go down to the Jelly Bean Tree, it seems Michael's had other plans for my day.  I am loathe to go out on Black Friday, but Michael's sent me 2 really great coupons in this morning's e-mail, and I am in desperate need of more 'Shrinky Dinks', so off to Michael's I go.  At least it's on the outskirts of Keene, so I shouldn't have to get to involved with the shopping madness.

I have a number of new designs for 'Tea Time' brooches and am committed to spending the rest of the weekend, baking, making, coating and designing a host of brooches for Etsy - after all, 'tis the season!

Let's begin at the beginning - today is Sunday the 18th of November.  Starting a blog is on my list of things to get to.  So, today's the day.  Having discovered fairly recently that I can no longer tolerate gluten - which is a terrible thing for a baker - I have started collecting gluten free flours, ingredients and recipes.  At some point I want to get into the kitchen and actually use the items I'm collecting.  Today I'm going to bake breads - I buy Bob's Red Mill bread mixes.  I find them tasty, the whole grain one is particularly good, but it's a little strong in flavor (onion-ey) to make a good toast and jam sort of bread, plus I find it doesn't cut well - it falls apart.  When I bake my breads I do 4 loaves at a time - they take a long time to rise and bake, so to me it makes more sense to bake more than one loaf.  I do 3 white breads, and 1 whole grain.  Being the whole grain fall apart I make crumbs out of it and use them in meatloaf, meatballs etc.. Yay!  Something else I can add back into my diet.

Here are 4 loaves almost ready for the oven




All done - wasn't that fun?