Grains

My apartment and I are slowly coming to terms with each other. The thermostat remains smarter than me, a few un-packed boxes linger in the back corner, picture frames sit on the floor rather than hang from walls, and I find myself shuffling kitchen items around every few days. However, at the end of the day, stepping into my largely mis-matched poorly situated apartment never tires. For now.

In the spirit of abusing my kitchen to the fullest, I now employ the majority of my free-time cooking and baking. My granola bar stash evaporated last week, so I whipped up a new batch using the Chewy Granola Bars recipe, sticky bun sugar, Harvest Grains Blend, oats, almonds, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and a little bit of sunshine.

My fresh bread supply also ran out a few days ago, creating a need for a fresh loaf. Enter sad severely neglected sourdough starter. I drug out my forlorn friend and put him to work making Clay's Multi-Grain Sourdough Sandwich Bread using Harvest Grains Blend, Bread Flour and Whole Wheat Flour. 

Can you tell I work at King Arthur Flour yet?

Movement

I seem to have a great deal of movement in my life these days. During the past five months I've moved from Kansas to Iowa to Norwich, VT and now most recently to Hartford, VT. A month ago, a small studio apartment became available in Hartford and I leapt at the opportunity.  Despite ample opportunity to improve my packing skills, I still find myself shoveling random items into boxes or bags without much thought to organization. Fortunately, this last move only required a short five mile drive down the road. Therefore allowing me to survive on minimal forethought. With a dozen extra hands helping, my belongings were stacked into vehicles, transported to my new apartment and unloaded in about 45 minutes. Such a blessing to have available and willing friends.

My pre-packed piles.

Unloaded and spewed all over my new apartment!

Futon my new landlords offered until I find my own furniture.

The bed my dear friend Karen gave me. It's so soft. 

My tiny kitchen! With a gas stove!

Drawer full of silverware.

Make-shift pantry. Since this picture I've actually re-done the pantry situation. I'll keep you updated - because I'm certain you are all very interested in the status of my pantry.

Inaugural breakfast in new apartment! None other than Cinnamon Banana French Toast. 

I've spent a fair amount of time (and money) situating my apartment this week. I still have a long way to go, but I'm beginning to feel slightly more at home in New England.

I Was Home for Christmas

On December 20th, 2010 I boarded a couple planes, slept through a few flights and found myself back in my native territory of Iowa. My mom and little brother picked my older brother, sister-in-law and I up from the airport and whisked us home. I was over-joyed to reunite with my family. We spent the next seven days eating, playing games, talking (95% about food - what food to eat, where to buy said food, how to prepare food, and what food does to our bodies after consuming) and visiting our extended family in Kansas. 

Breakfast Fake Christmas Morning:

Fake Christmas Dinner:

Desserts from Christmas Eve:

Breakfast Christmas Morning:

Dinner Christmas Day:

My Aunt Cheryl's Beautiful Cheesecake:

Sledding Adventure:

Pizza Night:

Sister-In-Law's annual snow angel:

I finally schlepped back to Vermont a week later with 90 lbs of luggage in tow. Next Sunday I am moving into my very own apartment! Merry Christmas!