how about a bagel?

bagels.  from scratch.  why had i not thought to try it before? 

 well, i tried them, and i'm in love

and i may have found a recipe to rival my happy husband bread

because these were a huge hit at our house.

 

sprinkled with sea salt or asiago cheese (our favorite),

 these were chewy and delicious fresh out of the oven

or in lunches with wedge of laughing cow the next day.

  i store mine in paper bags so they don't get soggy.

and i'd love to try other toppings. 

cinnamon, poppy seeds, onion flakes?

or maybe we'll just stick with cheese. 

it was sooo delish!

i think i have it figured out where you can print this recipe and it'll be a half page,

but let me know if you have problems...

best. smell. ever.

onions and garlic sizzling in a hot pan.
definitely on my top ten list of smells i love.

fall = cooking, baking, warming up my home through my kitchen. 

that's all i want to do these days. 

thank you steve jobs

Source: google.com via Sara on Pinterest

the creative family

"living a creative life is made all the more fulfilling and rewarding when we are creating with, for, or because of others." -amanda soule

i read this book over the weekend. loved every page of it. it's not about making your house craft-central. it's about encouraging your kids to discover everything they can and be creative in any way they know how. it's about building strong relationships with your children by doing meaningful activities together because we all know that watching tv is not 'quality family time.' i just loved it. that's all.

why rhubarb marmalade?

i'm still here. i've had a nice break from 'creative blogging.' and during that time i kept thinking, "why rhubarb marmalade?" my family blog (and reading the hundred blogs i subscribe to) takes plenty of time already, so why this too? and i kept going back to the name of this blog and where it came from which is why i plan to keep it up as best i can. so why rhubarb marmalade? i was first introduced to rhubarb marmalade when i was about 10. each summer i would go to visit my grandparents all by myself for a week. i always felt so privileged to get to spend time alone with my grandparents when i was one of at least 25 grandchildren. looking back, i realized those weeks shaped a lot of who i am and taught me to really be proud of that. during those weeks my grandma and i made a point of doing crafts. one year she taught me to crochet. one year she taught me to embroider tea towels. one year we made a quilt out of her old running t-shirts. every year we went thrift store shopping and every year we made rhubarb marmalade with rhubarb from my dad's garden. we made more batches than we could count. the stove was always going. and in doing so we came up with our own recipe for the best rhubarb marmalade ever. this didn't happen every year of my life, but the visits happened enough to leave an impression on me. i learned that a love of crafting isn't about the tangible good you get out of it, but the process and joy of creating. i learned so many valuable skills but more importantly i learned that in sharing what we love we learn to really love those with whom we share.

a christmas vacation

christmas was fabulous. as per tradition i was gifted materials for a new quilt by my sweet husband(and have since ordered another kit from here with christmas money- i'm an addict, i tell ya!) i couldn't wait to get into it so we stayed up way too late doing this and watching this and loving every minute of it!

oh- and the 'we' i'm talking about-me and her. i couldn't help but let her stay up and hang out- afterall it's christmas vacation.

i'm going to walk away from this blog for a while. i've been thinking i need more direction with it. i started it as a journal for craft ideas and inspiration- and feel like it's a little jumbled. so i need to rethink my goals and find more direction- be back soon!

a room for the boy

i keep getting asked what my nursery is going to look like now that i can't make it all girly. and to be honest, it's been way more fun converting my current nursery into a little girly room. but i decided i better do something for this boy since i have only a month before he's here with all his boyishness.... the main colors i wanted were brown and cream. i just can't do blue or green for some reason right now. but this worked great because the room he will be in was going to be a guest room until i decided i didn't want my boy and my girl to share, so it was already painted very neutral tan with an oatmeal rug over the hardwoods.

i have to admit, i feel a little like i caved by not making the bedding this time- but it was justifiable... and that's another story.

after i decided on the brown and cream i just couldn't let go of the mirror i had in macy's nursery, so i added a few accent colors- like lots. the mirror was on martha stewart a few years ago, and i couldn't resist making it. the baby letters are just sitting on top of it and will most likely get moved and changed when we actually have a name.

and just so you don't think i have a perfect little nursery set up- you can see the closet is still a mishmash of things we keep and don't need, like an old vcr... hey it might come in handy someday. and for my most favorite part of the room, (and probably my whole house) the doorframe. i am in love with it. i could sit and stare at it all day. my dad came and installed all the woodwork on our house and did a smashing job! (did i just say smashing?) really, i can't say enough about his brilliance. my original idea was the plain square look, but my dad insisted the little piece on top would make it look better and i am so glad he did.

as this room looks so peaceful now, i can't help imagining the whirlwind of stress it is going to go through. i'm sure no tree will be crashing through the ceiling like in macy's nursery, but i can't help but think about how much tiredness this room really represents in the next year or more... and of course the fun. we are so excited for the sweetness and fun a baby boy will bring into our home.

rolls? really?

FINALLY!

i think i have found a recipe for homemade rolls that i can't completely ruin. it's no secret that i love to cook and bake, but when it comes to yeast breads i feel like a total failure. actually that was yesterday. thanks to a recipe from a friend at church, today is looking much brighter!

"Feel Good About Yourself Rolls"

(i changed the name)

1 3/4 C warm water

1/2 C oil

1/2 C sugar

3 TBS. yeast

Combine above and let sit until yeast is bubbly. Then add:

2 eggs

5-5 1/2 C flour

1 tsp salt

Mix well, then pour onto conter and knead until smooth. Add flour as needed, but use as little as you can get away with. Spray the bowl before returning dough to it. Allow to rise until at least double in size. Divide dough into 4 balls, roll each ball into an 8" circle(or so) and cut into 8 wedges. Roll like cresents and place on greased pan. Allow to rise about 15 minutes. Bake at 375 for 10-12 min.

Can also substitute all or part wheat flour

Can also allow to rise only once(on pan).

Can also be made into sweet rolls (but they will be gone sooner)

in memory

"In all of living,
have much fun and laughter.
Life is to be enjoyed,
not just endured."
-a favorite quote in our home from
President Gordon B. Hinckley
1910-2008