Wednesday, September 29, 2010

the best things in life go in your tummy.

I want to be a better baker. I enjoy making cupcakes and cookies, but I want to make pies, breads, and when I saw these pumpkin cinnamon rolls I envied the skills and tastes that I would miss out on if I never try them. So, I need to make them. NOM NOM NOM!!!! With a large glass of milk!



Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
roll dough adapted from King Arthur Flour
makes approximately 15-16 rolls

Ingredients:
Roll Dough:
1/4 cup warm water (not hot, about 110 degrees)
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/3 cup warm milk
1 large egg, beaten
3/4 cup pumpkin puree, either fresh or canned
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 cups (approximately) All-Purpose Flour
1 1 /4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Filling:
1 stick butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon each of allspice and ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese
1 stick (4 ounces) butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon lemon juice
2-3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir yeast into water to soften. Let rest for 5 minutes before stirring. Add milk, eggs, pumpkin, butter, 2 cups flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to yeast mixture. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes.

Gradually add remaining flour, a little at a time, until you have a dough stiff enough to knead. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead, adding flour as necessary, until you have a smooth, elastic dough.

Put dough into an oiled bowl. Turn once to coat entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with a towel and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Combine the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves in a small bowl, set aside. Transfer the risen dough to a lightly greased work surface, and pat or roll it into a 16" x 12" rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough and then sprinkle with the sugar mixture.

Roll the dough into a log the long way; it'll stretch to about 20" long as you roll. Using a very sharp knife, slice the log into 15 slices. In order to cut down on drag, it helps to rinse the blade in hot water, and wipe it off, between slices. Place slices in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan (or in two 8 or 9 inch round cake or pie pans). Cover with a towel and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven. Bake the rolls till they're brown around the edges and beginning to turn golden brown across the center, about 20-30 minutes.

While rolls bake, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Add the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and lemon juice to a small food processor. Blend until smooth and combined. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, blending in between, until well mixed and desired consistency is reached. (I used 2 cups powdered sugar)

Frost warm rolls with the cream cheese frosting and serve immediately.

For night before prep: Prepare the rolls up to the point where you roll and place in the pan. Then, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, remove the pan from the fridge and proceed with the instructions where you left off. Rising time may be slightly longer than noted in the recipe due to the dough being cold vs room temp.Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting | Good Life Eats

I found this at GOOD LIFE EATS!!!

if you want to change the world...love a woman.

If you want to change the world…love a woman
A poem by Lisa Citore

Photo by Elizabeth Messina

If you want to change the world… love a woman-really love her.
Find the one who calls to your soul, who doesn’t make sense.
Throw away your check list and put your ear to her heart and listen.
Hear the names, the prayers, the songs of every living thing-
every winged one, every furry and scaled one,
every underground and underwater one, every green and flowering one,
every not yet born and dying one…
Hear their melancholy praises back to the One who gave them life.
If you haven’t heard your own name yet, you haven’t listened long enough.
If your eyes aren’t filled with tears, if you aren’t bowing at her feet,
you haven’t ever grieved having almost lost her.

If you want to change the world… love a woman-one woman
beyond yourself, beyond desire and reason,
beyond your male preferences for youth, beauty and variety
and all your superficial concepts of freedom.
We have given ourselves so many choices
we have forgotten that true liberation
comes from standing in the middle of the soul’s fire
and burning through our resistance to Love.
There is only one Goddess.
Look into Her eyes and see-really see
if she is the one to bring the axe to your head.
If not, walk away. Right now.
Don’t waste time “trying.”
Know that your decision has nothing to do with her
because ultimately it’s not with who,
but when we choose to surrender.

If you want to change the world… love a woman.
Love her for life-beyond your fear of death,
beyond your fear of being manipulated
by the Mother inside your head.
Don’t tell her you’re willing to die for her.
Say you’re willing to LIVE with her,
plant trees with her and watch them grow.
Be her hero by telling her how beautiful she is in her vulnerable majesty,
by helping her to remember every day that she IS Goddess
through your adoration and devotion.

If you want to change the world… love a woman
in all her faces, through all her seasons
and she will heal you of your schizophrenia-
your double-mindedness and half-heartedness
which keeps your Spirit and body separate-
which keeps you alone and always looking outside your Self
for something to make your life worth living.
There will always be another woman.
Soon the new shiny one will become the old dull one
and you’ll grow restless again, trading in women like cars,
trading in the Goddess for the latest object of your desire.
Man doesn’t need any more choices.
What man needs is Woman, the Way of the Feminine,
of Patience and Compassion, non-seeking, non-doing,
of breathing in one place and sinking deep intertwining roots
strong enough to hold the Earth together
while she shakes off the cement and steel from her skin.

If you want to change the world… love a woman, just one woman .
Love and protect her as if she is the last holy vessel.
Love her through her fear of abandonment
which she has been holding for all of humanity.
No, the wound is not hers to heal alone.
No, she is not weak in her codependence.

If you want to change the world… love a woman
all the way through
until she believes you,
until her instincts, her visions, her voice, her art, her passion,
her wildness have returned to her-
until she is a force of love more powerful
than all the political media demons who seek to devalue and destroy her.

If you want to change the world,
lay down your causes, your guns and protest signs.
Lay down your inner war, your righteous anger
and love a woman…
beyond all of your striving for greatness,
beyond your tenacious quest for enlightenment.
The holy grail stands before you
if you would only take her in your arms
and let go of searching for something beyond this intimacy.

What if peace is a dream which can only be re-membered
through the heart of Woman?
What if a man’s love for Woman, the Way of the Feminine
is the key to opening Her heart?

If you want to change the world…love a woman
to the depths of your shadow,
to the highest reaches of your Being,
back to the Garden where you first met her,
to the gateway of the rainbow realm
where you walk through together as Light as One,
to the point of no return,
to the ends and the beginning of a new Earth.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

goals.



In the spirit of my birthday and a changing season when I saw this in Stephanie's blog I really thought I needed to participate.

1. choose simple goals that will make your life richer and happier on a daily basis. choose things you may not otherwise get done, but that are not difficult to accomplish.

-Keep my home clean every day and don't just set things down. I'm a much more happy and productive person when I'm not worried about cleaning the next day.

2. do not choose result oriented goals, choose activity oriented goals. for example.... instead of "lose 10 pounds", choose something like "eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day". get what i'm saying? positive actions instead of just the end result!

-Eat healthier, avoid fried foods and quit drinking so much soda! Make more things for myself-clothes, jewelry, scarves, etc.

3. choose goals that are personal that you believe will truly make your life richer just by doing them! they can be daily, weekly or one time experiences.

-Call my family more and make more time for my friends and family.

4. choose a reward for each goal as it is accomplished! it can be a small or large reward.

-I want my rewards to be traveling some where-any where-even just in Iowa. There are so many wonderful places in Iowa and of course, every state. Perhaps my big reward should be my return trip to Europe!

5. blog your goals, each one as you achieve it and a big post when they are all finished before the new year! i'll be doing this too! links back to this post are appreciated.

-COMING SOON!!!

the day after.

My days off are pretty much the same-clean, errands, Broadlawn's, laundry, editing, pay bills, and watch tv-some times a little knitting. Today wasn't much different aside from my trip to the East Village. I've never actually been in Raygun and was excited to walk thru the doors and see some of the infamously funny city shirts. I told them as a Valley Junctionite I felt quite left out of the shirt business-even though I know I'd probably be the only person to purchase one. We attempted to go to Ephemera and Found Things, but sadly they were both closed. With my thirst we wandered into Gung Fu Tea where I got a large glass of White Peony iced tea and it was heaven!
So the day after my birthday was pretty good even if I had to spend time at Broadlawn's...one day into 25 and it's been pretty darn good.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

i love junk.

I have antiquing in my blood-along with many other eccentric hobbies and habits-so when I came across the FLEA MARKET STYLE blog and a local company called OLD CROW FARM ANTIQUES I was hooked. I received the most fabulous $10 birthday gift from Megan, a old oak dresser!! It changes the mood in my bedroom so much and although I'm renting it really does make my room feel like home. I cannot wait until I go see my antique mall owning Aunt and Uncle in California-they always let me pick some thing for my birthday or whatever crazy occasion. Oh the joys of junk!!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

key.


I've been wrestling around with the thought of getting a tattoo of the Key overalls logo. They are the overalls my grandpa wore and I really want to get some thing to remember him. His overalls are one of the things I'll remember the forever about him, along with his strong hands, big laugh, and smile. I want to have a special piece just for him-since he is such a big part of me.

kitchen love.


I want every thing in this kitchen-especially the canned goodies. Spices, noodles, flour-I want it all! Even the wall color and flowers are fantastic.

kitchen love.

I want every thing in this kitchen-especially the canned goodies-spices, noodles. I want it all!
Destined to Design: [interior] robin's egg blue: "{image source} Such a beautifully rustic kitchen. I can't stop staring at that robin's egg blue wall. Got some exciting news yesterday that ..."
I had a big birthday celebration for my friends and I turning the big 2-5. I really enjoyed getting ready-the food, the smell, the beautiful weather, wonderful setup-it was really the best atmosphere for our celebration. There couldn't have been a better night-camp fire, amazing friends, and a lot of love. I don't know how another night can live up to how fantastic it was.



Thursday, September 23, 2010

mr. brown eyes.

I took some really fun photos of a little guy on Sunday for his first birthday. He's so darn adorable and has the biggest brown eyes. He's quite the mover as well-he was all over the yard!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

spun like a pro.

I got the most wonderful birthday gift the other day. 2 spools of yarn, one of which was hand spun and purchased off Etsy by my friend, Nicole. It is so beautiful, I sure hope I don't mess it up and waste it. So far, so good...and I'm learning fast! I am really looking forward to Stitch and Bitch nights again this year.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

support.

I used to volunteer quite a bit in high school and I honestly miss it. As an adult I've donated money to Susan G. Komen, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Stand Up To Cancer, and The Neuroblastoma Society. Next month my family will be participating in the Walk to Remember for my cousin's still born daughter, Kyrah. Next year I would really like to contribute more and do my part to volunteer. My family is affected by cancer in so many forms and having some thing to believe in and support makes me heart sing.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

owner.

I want to own metal stampers, a screen printing kit, a larger table to work on, a better storage space for all my junk, and the time to do all the wonderful handmade Christmas gifts I want to do. I need to buckle down and get this all accomplished before the end of September-which sadly-is approaching very quickly. I'm hoping the photos today and the wedding I have in October can help fund my California vacation and a few things on my wish list for creating wonderfulness. I can't wait to let the magic begin-oh yes, I also need to fix the bobbin on my sewing machine so I can fix a few pairs of pants. Oh this to do list is KILLING me!!! Write it down or I may forget as soon as I type it.

Soon I'll be 25-one week to be exact-and I have many a projects in mind for my quarter century life. In the next year I plan on doing more crafty/artsy fartsy stuff and traveling as much as I can afford. God forbid if I get that money from my previous employer I will be golden-cross your fingers because my faith is fading. I think that's what I'll call this year though-THE QUARTER CENTURY LIFE PROJECT: When art meets exactly who I am. Yes....I like it.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

hippy scrabble.

I really enjoy a challenging game of scrabble-but what about a harmonizing, joyful, and positive game? Probably not in the real world since I'm a competitive little spelling freak, but I thought this photo I took was fun.

caliente.

I finally have peppers coming up! Last year I didn't cross pollinate, so I had small plants and only 3 peppers for harvest. This year on just one of my plants I have 4-GO ME! I can't wait to add these to my birthday kabob. Yummy yummy! Next year I plan on doing a more organized and well kept garden, my new job's schedule wasn't helpful with garden, especially when the time I had was presented with 108° days. Next year will be better-pumpkin, cucumber, watermelon, cantaloupe...the whole sha-bang!!



Monday, September 13, 2010

I think this is going to be another one of my project ideas....

Sunday, September 12, 2010

september the eleventh.

9 years ago today I was a sophomore in high school driving to school. I was new and barely knew where all my classes were-just a few weeks into the semester actually. I remember a very odd silence in school, seeing every tv on inside each classroom I passed, and arriving to my first hour biology class. I was the first to be seated and my biology and world history teacher were standing at his desk talking in very low voices. I remember seeing the tv and not understanding what was happening. I don't recall opening a book in any class that day or doing any thing previously scheduled as far as projects or tests. I remember sitting in room after room with people I barely knew sharing this momentous moment with them. I also remember being extremely scared because my grandparents, who I lived with, were in Oregon and I kept hearing that no one would be flying any where soon. I wasn't sure when they were going to make it home or if they did get on a plane if they would be safe. If any of us were safe.

9 years ago-I mourned for people I never got to meet.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

frustration.

After a month or so of physical therapy I'm really trying not to get discouraged since my knee hurts so much more than it did 3 months ago. Currently my diagnosis is that my knee cap rolls too far inward and I walk on the outside of my feet so I'm pulling my ligaments in odd directions. SO...my knee caps is tapped down so it doesn't roll in the wrong direction. It's better painful and when I bend my knee a sharp pain goes through my knee cap and it pops which coensides with the back of my knee making this squishy sound and popping. Not only does it sounds gross it hurts horribly. I only hope all this pain and aching makes things better. After 4 years I'm not the most patient person with matters of my knee...

Saturday, September 4, 2010

earrings.

for the curious folks, this is where i got my earrings. http://www.woodenpegearrings.com/ you can also find them on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/TribalStyle. Eat your heart out!!!!