My Kitchen | French Bread

Believe it or not I am finally going to post the french bread recipe my mom gave me. The one that the dough can be in the fridge for up to 4 days! As I sit with my box of kleenex and glass of ice cold ginger kombucha tea. It's another gorgeous fall day out and I'm sitting in my apt. I want to be on a long bike ride! But this cold must go away in two days! I can hardly wait to be on my way to Chicago! The bride called me screaming with excitement today! I love her, seriously! Sisters at heart!

 DO NOT freak out that it's long. It's only because there are different mixing methods! In case you don't have a mixer or what I like to use, a Cuisinart. Don't be a kitchen sissy! OK:) Bread is so easy especially this recipe!

The Recipe!

5 1/3 C unbleached bread flour

2 t. salt or 1 T. coarse kosher salt

2 1/4 t. instant yeast

2 C. lukewarm water 

The Sunday Currently Vol {21}

Currently I am sipping a homemade PSL and enjoying the beautiful view out my window! The leaves are starting to change color on the tree tops and the skies are beautiful blue!

From where I sit.....on the floor!

Loving: The beautiful fall weather! And this relaxing Sunday afternoon! Hoping to get a lot of odds and ends done today!

Thinking: I should spend more weekends home it's kind of nice actually. Not every weekend I would go crazy but it's nice every once in a while to just stay put! Especially this weekend since I just came down with a cold and don't really feel like doing much of anything! 

Hoping: This cold goes away quickly! And especially for a wonderful wedding week for miss Maggie! I can hardly belieave I'll be on my way in a few days! 

Wishing: For sunshine all week long=)

Smelling: Close lotion from the soap and paper factory. This is my favorite scent. I squeezed the last little bit out of my tube this morning! I need more asap I love it! I wish that I could find a store that carried it! Anthro used to! 

Anticipating: having way too much fun at Maggie's wedding!  

Thankful: forcing myself to be thankful for my job this week. I really didn't like it this past week. It enables me to do so much and to give so much in my life. I love what I do but sometimes I have those days when it just sucks! 

Blessed: with a faith in God that can get me through anything! 

Wearing: comfy yoga pants and a loose lazy day t and sweater! 

Listening: to the trees blow through my open windows and a Christian radio station on pandora:)

Have a blessed Sunday all!

Go link up with Lauren and the Sunday Currently!

~ Rachel

What it looks like

Mayo Gonda

I was never one to imagine what my life would be like when I was "grownup" at least not down to details. Were you? Before I could even read or write I said that I wanted to be a writer. Once I learned to read and write, I loved writing short stories (with terrible spelling and no grammer whatsoever) about a little girl who went on adventures with her cats! I used to be abscessed with cats. What was I thinking? Now believe it or not, I really don't like writing. Not in the strict sense anyway, I am not a fan of english or grammer whatsoever! It just doesn't click in my brain! If I have to write a paper I cringe and dread having to do it! I'd rather do math. Who knows maybe one day I'll be that writer that I always wanted to be. You never know! Maybe I am fulfilling that little dream with my little blog? I think that I liked the idea of sitting at a desk when I was younger. I don't really like sitting all that much either! Any way. What did I think that my life would look like at this point? I hoped that I would be married already and have some kids, and I would be homeschooling them. That's all no other fairytail details.

Isn't it amazing how God takes you on a completely different adventure than the one you had planned or imagined? He is always asking us to trust Him and His plan for us! I would have never picked to live in Mankato, after graduating college I thought I would get a job at Rochester Mayo. Heck I used to say I would never work in a hospital. What did I know?! I still don't know actually, see here.

I love my life just the way it is, and I always want to live it to the fullest free from what the world expects, and more of what God expects!

~ Rachel

spiced cake and autumn leaves

why do i blog? some days i have no clue! but for some reason i love doing it. what do i blog about? mostly my life and whats going on in it, or what thoughts are going through my head and occasionally i'll post a yummy recipe. i really need to get the french bread recipe up.

the table setting my goddaughter did for her parents anniversary!

i have been a bad blogger this week i haven't posted at all, i usually get about three posts up a week. i guess i just haven't had the motivation to get it done! i am so tired this week too and that doesns't help my motivation at all! it's one of those weeks where i feel like i just suck at everything that i try to do! hopefully it passes quickly! 

i had a really fun long weekend this past weekend though!!:) we celebrated one of my Goddaughters birthdays! it was so much fun! she loved her American girl doll that she got! we also had some delicious martinis that her mom made for the grownups! i might have had too many. on monday my day off i got my much needed rolfing done!!!! Happy happy dance! as long as i was up in the cities i needed to get some shopping done, of course:) after my appointment i went to my favorite Ave to shop! Grand Ave has most of my favorite stores to shop in and some yummy cafes to eat in for lunch! There is one cafe that has the best salads, i love going there! i was in need of a cute dress for the grooms dinner, that's in a week (EXCITING)!!! big score on that too, JCrew had 25% off everything in the store, that never happens to me! i usually just miss the sale or it's happening the next day! i also needed a sweet wedding gift that i can't tell you about, duh! pier one, another great store to get into trouble in was really close, so i had to go in! i found some super cute fall candles for my fireplace! it was so fun to decorate it and freshen it up! and my apartment smells sooo good, the cents are spiced cake and autumn leaves! now i can't wait to get some squash and make squash soup and stews! YUM! i got my pumpkin spice syrup for lattes made this week! i'll post that recipe too it's so easy! after my fun shopping spree i visited my sister and brother in law and their three kids! it was the their 7 year anniversary! the kids and i played outside and enjoyed the gorgeous fall day! and my sister made the most delicious fish tacos! i can't wait to have them again!

I hope that you had a great week!
~ Rachel  

The Sunday currently vol {20}

HAppy first day of fall! I want it to last forever! I love this weather! 

From where I sit on my parents front porch! With my dog and my niece! Enjoying every bit of the outdoors as possible while its still beautiful out!

Writing: this post and hopefully a bread post soon!! 

Anticipating: my nieces birthday party that we'll be leaving for in just a bit! And tomorrow's adventures in the cities!

Grateful: that I am going to the rolfers tomorrow!!! I cannot wait!

Thinking: my parents have a gorgeous yard! I love coming home to it! And to them and my sister of course:)

Feeling: the cool fall breeze and content and happy with life for the moment!

Needing: a dress for the grooms dinner, a gift for the bride and groom and a camera! 

Hoping: to get all of my needing accomplished tomorrow while I'm in the cities! 

Loving: this gorgeous fall weather!!!! I know I can't shut up about it, I'm  abscessed! 

Listening: to the wind in the trees and my niece chasing the chickens around. She's crazy! 

            Have a blessed Sunday!

                      ~ Rachel

Life's little joys

Little moments of my life via Instagram!!:) @ranelson1

1) I spent a nice relaxing Friday night sipping on a Cidre and finally finished up Downton Abbey! Has anyone watched it? I hated the ending of season 3! Ugh

2) one of the many gorgeous views from my bike ride Saturday morning! I love that trail especially in the fall!

3) some fun fall table decorations! 

4) warm peach cobbler and ice cream on a chilly Sunday at my parents! It was so good! Thanks Mom!

5) I used my crock pot for the first time this week! I got it fir Christmas and am finally using it! I made chicken thighs carrots onions mushrooms and garlic with some seasonings! It was delicious and so nice to come home from work and have supper dine! I'm going to have to use it more often!

Other things lately: working and celebrating a co-workers birthday this week! That pretty much means we all brought in yummy snacks and ate too much for a couple days! Good thing birthdays only come around once a year and there's only 6 of us! And getting ready for another birthday this weekend! This time my goddaughter is turning four and it's an American Girl Dall party! I can't wait! 

What have you been up to lately?

Link up with Heather and Rachel

~ Rachel

food and frustration

The windows are open and the smell coming from the oven is amazing! I'm making my banana nut chocolate chip muffins! It's another co-workers bday tomorrow! I feel like I make these muffins or guacamole for all of my co-workers birthdays! I guess if you find something good that everyone loves, stick with it:) 

I am a mix of immotions lately. Really happy and content with life one moment and the next extremely frustrated and feeling like i'm in a rut with life. I am sick of my body always hurting from my job. I want to go back to school for something else, but i don't know what....... gah i don't know what i want to do with my life! If I do start school I want it to be something that I am passionate about and LOVE doing! I want to love studying it and I want it to be something that will truly help other people. I know that I am helping people now but I want something more. I feel as though I can do so much more and that I am capable of so much more. What is God calling me to do? What does He want of me? Or am I supposed to stick with what I am doing? I think that I should do what I always do and stop thinking so much and just go for it!     

I'm going to go eat a muffin! 

~ Rachel           

The Sunday Currently vol {19}

Not doing much today. I should be and could be making bread, banana muffins and starting an itinerary for someone;) 

A shot from my bike ride yesterday morning!

CURRENTLY

Reading: Northdanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I haven't read much this past week. Hopefully I'll do more of that in the coming week!

Writing: Blog posts amazingly! And hopefully start writing up a little itinerary for all the bridesmaids for Maggie's wedding! So we all know where we need to be when! 

Anticipating:  so many fun things this fall! My best friends wedding that I am so honored to be her made of honor! black belt testing! and my trip to europe!!!! I cannot wait for it all!

Grateful: for my Faith in God, and trusting in Him that i am exactly where He wants me to be!

Listening: to relevant radio. a Catholic talk radio station. it's perfect for a Sunday!

Thinking: i am sad to see summer over already but i am loving fall! I can't wait for some squash, and pumpkin spice latte's!

Smelling: All the fresh air coming in my wide open windows! I love love love the windowns open especially for sleaping! 

Wishing: Time would slow down. It seems to go faster and faster with every year! I don't like it I feel like I can't keep up! 

Hoping: I get an appointment for a Rolfing session! My shoulders are sooooo tight I can't stand it anymore! 

Wearing: My red AG's and my fox t shirt from Antrho. and a light sweater.

Loving: This calm weekend! i spent the afternoon and evening with my sister yesterday and we went for a nice long walk! it's one of my favorite things to do in the fall!

Wanting: to see my nieces and nephews. it's only been a week since i've seen them but i miss them:) they are way too cute and way too much fun!

Needing: to be ok with the fact that sometimes i can't fit it all into a day. sometimes i'm tired and i need to allow myself to be tired and not just push through it bceause i have to get it done. i don't have to go for that run, or to tkd it's ok to take an evening off.

Feeling: tired today. it's gray outside and i feel like watching a movie or reading my book!

Clicking: instagram! i love looking at pictures!! You can follow me @ranelson1 

Linked up with Lauren

Have a Blessed Sunday!

~ Rachel

My kitchen | Basil

Friday the 13th 2013! What? Is that double bad luck because it's 2013? Hmm it's a good thing I'm not supersticious!   

I can hardly believe that it is Friday already! Where did this week go? Time goes too fast, I want it so slow down!!! It ended up being a good week though, it had a rough start but that was my own fault;)  

 I love this time of year for all of the fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden! From my parents garden that is, I live in an apartment. I think one of my favorite herbs is BASIL! A few weekends ago while at home I made a big batch of basil pesto!   

 

 You can do so much with basil pesto I love it. Put it on pasta the obvious, put it on pizza, make a pesto mayo sauce for a dilicious chicken sandwich! I also love it on halibut with some bread crumbs sprinked on top! 

Recently I have made basil pesto pizza with roasted veggies on it zuccchini onion and fresh tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, mascarpone, and parmesan cheese. I ran out of cheese when I made this pizza and I didn't want to make a run to the store so I used what I had. I think that was one of the yummiest pizza's I've made! 

The other dish that I have made with it ;ately is a pasta with roasted zucchini, egg plant, carmalized onion and some chicken! I LOVE basil pesto can you tell?!!

Here's the recipe:

2C fresh basil leaves (I blanched mine so they would keep their green color)

1/4C grated Parmesan cheese

1/2C olive oil

2T pine nuts or walnuts

3 garlic cloves finely minced. (I put mine in the cuisinart whole)

1t salt

Put it all in a food precessor, (I used a cuisinart) and process it until it's smooth! I quadrupled the recipe and put it into dixie cups to freeze. It makes having basil pesto so easy and quick!

~ Rachel   

Lately

1 2)this past weekend I headed off to Chicago you can read about my trip here. I love flying, and though I've been to the Chicago O'Hare airport a few times I had never seen the walkway with all the neon lights everywhere! It was pretty cool!

3) my first pumpkin spice latte of the season! It was delicious and made me excited for fall!

4) this cider was amazing! It was basically fall in a bottle i know thats cliche but it was! I love hard ciders but I don't know if i'm going to be able to drink any other hard ciders after Stella Artois cidre! Have you tried it?

5) enjoying a nice walk over one of my lunch breaks! I am soaking up every last bit of sunshine I can! Before I know it I don't want to say it but its going to be another MN winter. 

Other things lately. It's been a busy and slow week all at the same time if that's possible? I do feel as though I'm caught up on sleep from my weekend, thank goodness! I am finally finishing up Downton Abbey season 3! Ha I'm slow! I have to be in the mood to sit down and watch a movie, I'm not much for sitting! I've also been trying to get back into Pilates. I used to do it almost daily in high school when I was in figure skating. I love how strong your core gets and I am kinda missing that kind of a workout!

What are you up to lately?

Linked up with Rachel Heather and Laurie!

Rachel

Weekend shenanigans Chicago style

Remember how I said that I hoped Monday would be unusually slow at work? It definitely wasn't! Oh well it was worth it though:) because my weekend in Chicago was so much fun and I am so glad I didn't miss it! I went to celebrate another of my best friends wedding showers! This one was her lingerie shower! So fun and we had so many laughs! And so many people blushing hmm I think the mothers blushed the most though;) I'll save the wedding shower pictures for Maggie to post but here are some of the other shots from the weekend! Oh I just love all the festivities that lead up to a wedding day!

Our Saturday morning started out with an amazing boot camp class! Im still sore! 

Wow that guy in the background....what a photo bomber!

We even snuck in a manicure before the shower!

Ok I had to put in one picture from the shower!

Beautiful bride to be!

Out for a late night dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Where they make the guacamole fresh at your table! It was delicious!

I can hardly believe that her wedding is less than a month away already! I am getting so excited!

Rachel

Sunday currently vol {18}

Sitting in an airplane waiting to fly home from my amazing weekend in Chicago!

Wishing: I could hit the pause button I don't want it to be Monday already tomorrow! 

Enjoying: the company of Maggie this weekend and being able to be at her lingerie party!!! What a fun fun evening with some lovely ladies!

Sipping: pumpkin spice lattes and Stella Artois cidre! Fall is in the air!!!

Loving: feeling fall in the air! It's my favorite season I really hope it's a long and beautiful fall this year!!

Wishing: I could teleport to my bed right now! 

Needing: tomorrow to be an unusually slow Monday. 

Wanting: I can't think of anything. I'm tired. Hah that's what I want is to go to bed:)

Well I have to shut my phone off soon... That's all for now here's to a great week ahead!

Rachel

Daughters

We do do sophisticated and fun too:)

It was my sisters first time coming to the vineyard with us! She was always pregnant when we went in the past.

Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery is where we spent most of our Labor day. Can you believe there is a local winery in rural Minnesota?! It's in a small town over looking vineyards and bean fields! I love it! The wine is so good so clean and way too easy to sip on! The food that we feasted on was absolutely delicious! I think we spent a good two hours there! While the men took the kids to Wendy's and the park, they are great to have been such good sports while we were at the vineyard!  

This is how we role.....

The beginning of our long labor day weekend looked a lot like this!

My PASSION right here!

My sweet sweet loves!

 Another one of my loves:) I love her to pieces!

 My amazing sister and her youngest!

This is what I mean by this is how we role! ha ha 

We were playing bean bags and we wanted our snacks close! So we made do:)

More cute loves! 

I think this was the kids' favorite part of the day! Hide n seek in the dark! They all came prepared with their camouflage this time!

I love my brothers!

........and I wouldn't have it any other way!

~ Rachel