Wednesday, June 29, 2011

donuts...

Woke up and decided to make donuts. I have never made donuts before. How hard could it be? Turns out not hard at all except transferring the round donuts into the hot oil and trying to keep them in the round shape. Despite this, they still tasted good.







In case you want to make your own, here is the recipe I followed.

Krispy Kreme knock-off

Ingredients
Raised doughnuts:
2 pkgs. regular or rapid rise yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105−115 degrees)
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all−purpose flour
Vegetable oil
Creamy glaze or chocolate glaze
Cooking Directions
Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2−quart bowl. Add milk, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low speed scraping bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed scraping bowl occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in warm place, until double, 50−60 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour. Gently roll dough 1/2−inch thick with floured rolling
pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30−40 minutes. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze, set on rack, then when slightly cooled spread chocolate
glaze on top. Can dip in sprinkles or other toppings after chocolate if desired.
Creamy glaze:
1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4−6 tbsp. hot water
Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
Chocolate glaze:
1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4−6 tbsp. hot water
4−oz milk chocolate or semi−sweet chips
Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted; remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
Makes: 2−3 dozen doughnuts

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

couldn't take the beige...

I couldn't take the beige color in my dining room so I repainted (with free paint thanks to a gift certificate!) to Benjamin Moore's Pale Oak 0C-20. It is a gray with brown undertones and is a warmer color than the gray that was there.

I painted the living room the same color but need to finish the stripes so I'll snap a picture later.

I do like the Rice Grain color in my hallway so that is staying.

Before (not bad but not me):






I also found two brand new black and white pillows for my couch at Goodwill for $1.99 each. Score!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

my boy...





Hard at work on the kitchen cabinet doors.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

more painting...

I admit I'm not a beige person. I love color but since we want to sell this house soonish, I figured I would need to get rid of my bright colors. So since I don't want to paint later, I'm painting now (even though we probably won't sell until next Spring).

Color is Rice Grain by Sherwin Williams.

Hallway:


See how the yellow paint doesn't looks so hot anymore.


Dining room is the same color even though it doesn't look like it. I think I will add the stenciled wall back in. It needs something.


Now I need to get the living room painted. It will be Rice Grain as well but I think I will reduce the darkness by 50%. The living room doesn't get as much light.

Monday, May 9, 2011

painting again...

Rice Grain by Sherwin Williams.



Cutting in is the worst.




Of course now the yellow door looks bad so I'm going to paint it black.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

pictures...

When on a walk the other day, I asked Ava to take a picture of me. I'm afraid that when I die no one will remember what I looked like since there are very few pictures of me. I HATE having my picture taken, am not the least bit photogenic and the pictures never turn out.

However since I happened to have my hair brushed and some makeup on, I went for it.

PS: Please ignore my freckles. Thank you.


Umm...


Looks like I'm trying to have a staring contest with the camera. Blank, vacant expression.


Err....my mad face?

There were a few of me talking and some with my eyes closed. So finally I stuck my sunglasses on and called it good. :)