Sunday, August 15, 2010

2nd Ride, Same as the First...

...A whole lot longer and a whole lot worse!  Just kidding!!!

Our church was having a church campout with the Hermiston SDA Church at Camp Elkanah in the Blue Mountains between Ukiah and LaGrande so Hubby and I decided to ride the motorcycle over on Saturday to enjoy the camp and campers for the day.  Camp Elkanah is a beautiful camp with extraordinary facilities.  The kitchen and dining hall are modern facilities that are easy to work and serve in.  The "cabins" are old railroad cars that are still on their wheels.  There is a game facility with ping pong, foos ball, air hockey, carpet bowling, etc.  Outdoors there are walking trails, miniature golf, a creek, playground and grassy places to sit and visit and a challenge course (if special arrangements are made in advance).

The ride over on the motorcycle was twice as long as the ride to The Dalles but uneventful.  Beautiful weather, a few stops to stretch my legs, and paved roads winding into the Blue Mountains.  It was great! About 7:00 pm we decided to get going as we had hopes of being home before it got too dark.  What we hadn't thought through was that the sun would be shining in our eyes:(  Just before we got to Ukiah, we very nearly hit a deer--just didn't see it!  However, Hubby was able to swerve, skid, miss the deer AND keep the bike upright!  Yay!!  Actually, it all happened before I really knew what was going on so didn't wet my pants:D  I really enjoyed the ride home; was getting into the movement and sound of the bike.  I think I'm going to like this.  A few more of these shorter trips and I will be ready to hit the road.  I am already planning our next trip:)

One thing is for sure though.  I am going to purchase a new helmet.  The one I am using is my son's and while it does fit, it is sooo heavy and has the mouth protection, face shield, etc.  It looks like a space helmet and by the time we got home my neck was sore from holding that silly helmet up:(  I just want a pink or purple helmet with a face shield (the wind seems to go over our windshield right into my face).  Guess we will be shopping in the next week or two for one.

Now, I have laid down a few ground rules--one of which is NO SLEEPING ON THE GROUND!  Also, we will eat in restaurants and make frequent stops to stretch my legs; potty stops too:)

Wish me luck on my next ride--Kat!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Learning Curve

I am suspecting that my adult son who lives at home is gluten intolerant.  Not sure, no testing done yet, but suspicious.  My first thought was, "Help! Now what do I do?!!!"  Well, I am thankful for the internet.  I did some research and found out it won't be impossible, just challenging.  There are so many recipes available on the internet that I won't have to purchase a new cookbook right away.  I have a VitaMix blender with a dry blender container so will be able to grind some of the gluten free grains I will need to bake with.  And we have access to a great bulk food "store" located in Dufur/Moro where we can purchase many gluten free items.  I have decided it will be easier for the whole family to go gluten free during the initial 30-60 day period to see if my son's symptoms abate.  I don't plan to become a restaurant!  Besides, it will probably be good for all of us to "rest" from gluten for a bit.

To get us started, I remembered a recipe I used a lot when I had Candida many years ago and could not have baking yeast for two years.  This recipe is sooo good.  I made it this morning for my son to use for his cucumber, tomato & lettuce sandwich (he packs his lunch) but then hubby and I scarfed up the rest of them for breakfast--yummm!

Note:  To print a recipe I post, the easiest way would be to highlight the portion you want to print, copy, then paste to your word processing software.  Then you can edit and print.

GARBANZO OAT WAFFLES
from Recipes from the Weimar Kitchen (1983 edition)

2 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups rolled oats (Bob's Red Mill has gluten free rolled oats)
1 cup soaked garbanzo beans (or 1 can of garbanzo beans)
2 Tbsp date sugar (I used dried cane crystals)
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds

Whiz all ingredients together in a blender.  Coat waffle iron with non-stick spray.  Bake in hot waffle iron 8-10 minutes.  These freeze well and heat up great in the waffle iron.

I wish I had a picture of these beautiful and delicious waffles to share but...we ate them all!

Have a great day.  I hope you are able to meet all challenges today with a "can-do" attitude and a smile on your face:)  Bon Apetit!  Kat

www.bobsredmill.com
www.azurestandard.com

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

One of My Favorite Things

On the sidebar, I have a list of my favorite things.  One of my favorite things is Stamping Club!  The third Thursday of every month I meet with a group of friends to do rubber stamping and paper crafts!  LOVE IT! One friend supplies the house, another brings the eats and I bring the "project(s)" of the evening.  We have a great time!

Treat Pouches 
This month I have asked to be "the hostess".  I will bring the eats--Strawberry Shortcake and I will be bringing party favors for those who attend (see photo).  The surprise for the ladies will be what's inside since many of them read my blog:)  I'm afraid I have a long way to go in the photography department as these are so much cuter than the picture shows.  Can you see the Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the initials?  Well, trust me, it's there. Since I don't have an original idea--ever, I want to give credit to Dawn Griffith for these Treat Pouches and also for the adorable Shirt Card in the next photo.  You can view Dawn's wonderful card ideas and videos at www.dawnsstampingthoughts.net .

This Shirt Card was a little tricky at first but sooo much fun once I got the hang of it.  I will most likely make dozens of them.  I have already decided to make them for Father's Day next year.  Now that's thinking ahead.  Now I said I had decided to make them but if history is any indicator, I will start making them the week before Father's Day.  I always struggle with making appropriate cards for men.  Women's and kids' cards are EASY but men's can be a challenge.  Funny story:  My dear hubby is really not into cards and gifts at all.  He looks at the card, says, "Thanks, nice card!" then sets it aside.  Well, on Father's Day, when he wasn't looking, I scooped up the cards and put them away to give him again next year.  We'll see how many years it takes before he notices:)))

My favorite thing about Stamping Club is the people who come to share with me in the joy of paper crafting.  This group of ladies make me laugh even when I have had a bad day.  I always leave Stamping Club happy that I went and thankful for each person who comes.

So I'm off to make more Treat Pouches for Stamping Club and a few Thank You notes while I'm at it.

Stamp Happy Kat!

Friday, August 6, 2010

County Fair Entry?

Chevron Baby Afghan 
My mind is full of ideas for fair entries.  I just might get my bread entered this year!  Then I have paper crafts to enter!  And needlework, oh my! 

I just finished the baby afghan I have been working on for a baby girl due in October and wanted to share it with you.  I just might enter it at the fair if I can wait that long to give it to the momma.  If not, I am working on another one for a baby boy and should have it done in time for the fair.  The pattern is called Chevron Afghan and was in a magazine my mom bought back in the early 70s.  The original pattern was for a full size afghan crocheted using worsted weight yarn and I made several of those.  However, the pattern was easily adapted to the baby afghan size.  The afghan is made in strips using the afghan stitch with "chevrons" being crocheted on top every other row. The one I have pictured is made with Bernat Baby Coordinates in Baby Pink and is machine washable and dryable (of course!).  I wish I knew how many of these I have made in the last 30+ years!  Trust me, it's been a lot!!!  Normally I make something once and then want to move on to something else--new and exciting.  However, this pattern is very relaxing for me and I never get tired of making these afghans. Seeing the faces of the recipients is enough to keep me making then over and over again for another 30 years! I have never seen another pattern like it and tried to find it on the internet but to no avail.  Fortunately, I learned to make it before I learned to read crochet patterns so have it memorized. Don't ask me for the pattern because I don't have it but I would be glad to sit with you and teach you how like my mother did for me:)
Closeup of double crochet cross stitch border
Close up of "chevrons"










Do you have your fair projects ready?  I'm working on mine!  Kat

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Fair Time

Kat's Whole Wheat Bread, banana bread and oatmeal raisin cookies baked on Tuesday

August!  Time for harvest; time for county fairs.  Our county fair is one of the last--doesn't start till September 1; coincides with the Oregon State Fair.  My post for today is a recipe worthy of any county fair.  I got this recipe about ten years ago when I had plans to enter a bread contest at our county fair sponsored by Bob's Red Mill.  The main rule was to use Bob's Red Mill whole wheat flour in the recipe.  I usually grind my own flour but off to the store I went for a sack of Bob's Red Mill whole wheat flour.  I had the best of intentions, but did not get the bread baked for the fair.  Since I needed to use the purchased flour before it went bad, I decided to use the recipe on the back of the package.  Always on the lookout for great bread recipes:D  Well, let me tell you, it was the best whole wheat bread I had ever tasted and my family agreed.  Well, ten years down the road and a few "improvements" bring me to the recipe I am sharing with you today (Sorry, Bob, I went back to my stone ground flour).  This bread makes up well in a bread machine but I bake mine in Pampered Chef Stoneware Loaf pans.  It's the next best thing to a stone oven:)

Kat's Whole Wheat Bread


Makes large 1 1/2 pound loaf

1 1/2 cups warm (not hot) water
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup ground flax seed meal
2 Tbsp dry milk (I use soy or rice milk powder)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Tbsp soy lecithin granules
2 Tbsp olive or grapeseed oil
2 Tbsp sugar (I use sucanat; omit molasses)
1 1/2 Tbsp gluten flour
1 Tbsp molasses
1 Tbsp active dry yeast

I use a bread mixer to mix and knead the bread so put water, dry milk, salt, lecithin granules, oil, sugar, molasses and active dry yeast in mixing bowl. Mix slightly.  Add gluten flour, flax seed meal and whole wheat flour. If using mixer, add flour slowly till dough cleans the sides of the bowl.  If mixing by hand, add flour just till dough is not sticky.  Knead for 10 minutes by machine or by hand.  Place dough in oiled bowl, cover and let rise till double.  Punch dough down and let rise again till double.  Punch dough down; form into loaf and place in well-oiled large loaf pan.  Let rise till nice loaf is formed--about double.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 50 minutes.  For a soft crust, quickly run the loaf under cold water then let cool on rack covered with a flour sack dish towel. As hard as it is, let loaf cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

If using a bread machine, add all ingredients in the order suggested by your bread machine manual and process on the basic bread cycle.

This fall I will be experimenting with Pugliese Bread recipes so check back to find out how I do.

Let me know how your bread turns out!  Bon Apetit!  Kat

www.bobsredmill.com
www.pamperedchef.biz/conniebuescher
www.azurestandard.com