Fresh Baked Bread

Yup, I did it... I made bread. First time this season - and it was WHITE bread - not whole wheat. 

The kind when my girls walked in from school they said 'you made bread' just by the smell in the house. 

The kind you eat with melted butter right when it is cool enough to slice. 

The kind you toast the next morning with butter and strawberry preserves because you can. 

The kind that has so many points on Weight Watchers you just don't write it down

I forget how easy and how little time it really takes to to make this from scratch. I this recipe it has never failed me.  It uses milk, so I can use Lactaid.

White Bread
Makes 1 loaf

3 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tsp salt
1 C warm milk (110º F)
1/3 C warm water (110º F)
2 tbsp butter, melted
3 tbsp honey
2 1/4 tsp rapid-rise yeast (1 package)

1. Adjust oven rack to low position and heat oven to 200ºF. Once oven reaches temperature, maintain heat 10 minutes, then turn off oven.

2. Mix flour and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with dough hook. 
Mix milk, water, butter, honey, and yeast in a liquid measuring cup. (We use Lactaid Milk)
Turn machine on and slowly add liquid.  
When dough comes together, increase speed to medium and mix until dough is smooth and satiny, about 10 minutes.
 
Turn dough onto lightly floured work surface; knead to form smooth, round ball, about 15 seconds.

3. Place dough in a very lightly oiled bowl, rubbing dough around bowl to lightly coat. Cover with plastic wrap; place in warm oven until dough doubles in size, 40 to 50 minutes.

4. Gently press dough into rectangle 1 inch thick and no longer than the length of your loaf pan. With a long side facing you, roll dough firmly into cylinder, pressing with your fingers to make sure dough sticks to itself. Turn dough seam side up and pinch it closed. Place dough in greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan and press it gently so it touches all four sides of pan.

5. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot until dough almost doubles in size, 20 to 30 minutes.
 
 Heat oven to 350º F (remove first if rising in oven) and place an empty loaf pan on bottom rack. Bring 2 cups water to boil.

6. Remove plastic wrap, and place loaf pan with dough into oven. Immediately pour heated water into empty loaf pan; close oven door. Bake until instant-read thermometer inserted at an angle from short end just above pan rim into center of loaf reads 195º F, about 40 to 50 minutes. Remove bread from pan, transfer to a wire rack, and cool to room temperature. Slice and serve.

It does not last long here.... but it is SO GOOD!

DECOR: Black Lab Silhouette Pillow

Julie over at Less than Perfect: Life of Bliss posted this pillow that just CALLED to me!  I was looking for something to sew for my Tween who is getting a new comforter set for Christmas.  But SHHHHHHH until then!!!

First, and this was the most important step - I emailed Julie and begged asked nicely for the image she used for her black dog.  She obliged!

Following her instructions - I used Heat and Bond to create the dog image in black felt.  Cutting the detail was the hardest part.

I also used Heat and Bond for the dog collar. 

I decided on a 12x18 sized pillow for her bedtop.  Just the right size I think.

I pressed the dog image onto the fabric then inverted for pinning and sewing.

I also took a few minutes to try out a new 'overstitch' stitch on my machine which is SO COOL!! Thank you Elizabeth <3.

 

Right side and all sewn.

 

I always prefer to cover a pillow insert, however I stuffed this one with filler.  

 Maybe after Christmas I will make one for HERE!!  I LOVE this project!!

Sharing: The Perfect Ornament!

I saw these yesterday over on  Live.Laugh.Rowe.  Are these just the PERFECT ornament?  I think so!!

A Little Red House!

Front Door Snowman

Here at the Little Red House one thing works in my favor - the house is RED!  Which helps out with Christmas decorating!

I seem to have a bit of the Christmas bug early this year - not sure why that is but none the less I am up at it with the decorating.

Front Door:

 I saw this on Pinterest and knew I HAD to do it!

I used a 12", 18" & 24" wreath sizes to create this.  I also did not have a perfect 'old black hat' laying around so I used weatherproofed black craft foam!  I stapled on the ribbon and berries.  The scarf is fleece from Joanns.

I think it came together rather nice!  Of course it may look better on a 'WHITE' door as it seems to blend in with my black but I love it.  I may keep looking for spray on snow for the wreath to highlight it more.  But all I can find for now is brush on flocking.  However, I do think it needs something to brighten it up a bit.

Fun and Festive!!



 
 
 

Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes

Today is a half day of school - the girls and I go out for lunch and a special shopping trip today.  It is one of my favorite days.

Even though I do not have to cook this year I wanted to share my tip for the most PERFECT Mashed Potatoes with you.

Go ahead and make your mashed potatoes the day before.  It is OK!  On Thanksgiving morning - pop them into  your crock pot and add a stick (yes, a Paula Deen stick) of butter.  And let them reheat up.

Something magical happens.... they turn into the best mashed potatoes ever.  My sister and I have been doing this for a few years now.

If you are running short on time on Thanksgiving day I suggest you give this a try!

HAVE A GREAT DAY WITH FAMILY!!

Dining Room Chairs: Redone

I wanted to share a change I made in my very small dining room.  When you walk into the Little Red House you notice my dining room first.  And it is what you see when you are sitting in the family room.  I try my best to keep it up to date.  I have noticed lately I have a little too much RED in the Little Red House!

It was time to update the chair fabric.  This is the chairs before:




I do love to handle the power drill!!


After some power stapling:

They are done!


I think it all comes together nicely now.  The colors have a more formal feel and blend better with the surrounding rooms.  And the BEST PART:  I used outdoor fabric - so they should hold up to the girls pretty well!

BEFORE & AFTER

Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Use What You Have

I had previously posted about wanting to update my table for a Thanksgiving Centerpiece.

I finally figured out what I wanted to do.  I chose to 'use what I have'.

I added some burlap that I had laying around as a runner across the table and assembled a collection of some of my favorite things on my round tray.

I think it is festive but not too much.  And the price was perfect!  That is my Waterford Wedding Bowl - a treasured gift from one of my oldest friends.  And my candles are burned down but that is a sign that we use them at dinner time.  A family tradition we started years ago.

 I also had the Glitter Pumkin that I made this year and the ribbon already and voila! This makes a nice statement too!

  My only other festive decorations for Thanksgiving are Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim.

NOW the best part is - I do not have to host Thanksgiving this year!  I get to visit with family at their homes. Ahhhhh!!  Have a GREAT Thanksgiving Day filled with football, food & family!