Rice Krispies Treat Christmas Trees Before Covid in December of years past, my husband and I would skip town and head straight to Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington. You can have Disneyland. That is my happy place. . It is always cold and rainy outside, but all is merry and bright inside. There is a fire roaring in the lobby fireplace across from a huge Christmas tree. Big armchairs are parked in front of the huge windows, looking out over the Columbia River. There are miles of hiking trails and a hot tub just waiting outside. Everything is decked out for Christmas and feels cozy and festive and magical. Did I just say magical? It's true. A Keep Reading
The Best Gingersnap Cookies (recipe)
Gingersnap Cookies A few years ago, my mother-in-law had been visiting for a few weeks from a very rainy, cold Alaska. She enjoyed each and every crisp morning and warm afternoon, the smells and sights of the slowly changing leaves. It made me stop and soak up these dry days and sunny skies even more, to slow down and appreciate the gift of fall. I know the rain is coming. I know I am going to be Googling "dry destinations" in January. I know boots are about to become the footwear of choice. But good grief, we are spoiled in the Pacific NW. Fall is my happy place, and I am going to tuck this one away in my mind for a quick retreat when winter's Keep Reading
DIY: Making holiday wreaths
DIY Holiday Wreaths You could easily drop $10 for a plain old wreath at any store, but it has no personality! No pizazz! For those, you're looking at a price tag of $50 or more. Or... making your own wreath for a couple of bucks. This may seem like a strange topic for me to tackle as I'm not exactly skilled in the craft department. A walk through Michael's makes me break out in a cold sweat. Craft stores do not inspire me; they intimidate me. I don't do glitter or paint or yarn. Even Play-doh is pushing it. But making wreaths? Now that I can handle. So before you blow it off as too much effort or expense, hear me out. If I can do it, anyone can Keep Reading
Why every baker needs a Danish Dough Whisk (great Christmas gift idea!)
I first read about this crazy tool called a Danish Dough Whisk when I started making Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day. It seemed like an unnecessary utensil that would just junk up one of my kitchen drawers. Why get a dough whisk when I already own a bunch of wooden spoons that work just fine? Then my sister bought one for me as a gift. Now it's the only thing I use when mixing stiffer cookie dough or No-Knead Bread dough by hand. The three "loops" pass through wet and dry ingredients and mix them super quickly and with way less effort. The whisk itself is made of really sturdy material, so doesn't bend with stiff dough of any kind. And it's Keep Reading
Easy Advent Activities
Easy Advent Activities When I was a kid, my mom hung a homemade advent calendar on the wall. It had these big pockets which my mom would fill with chocolate or little gifts or slips of paper with Bible verses or scavenger hunt clues on them. We marked each day leading up to Christmas in a simple, meaningful way. It was nothing fancy, but I have the best memories of that tradition. Two Decembers ago, my husband and I wanted to start the same tradition with our then 8-month old daughter. It's funny how kids bring out the desire for starting traditions. We kept the activities simple, spent very little money, and made some priceless memories. Last Keep Reading
Yams and Sweet Potatoes: Is there a difference?
Yams and Sweet Potatoes: Is there a difference? Grocery stores used to be so simple to me. We are out of food? I will get food! I could walk in with confidence, consult my list, fill my cart, and push my way to the check out stand without a single, solitary dilemma. Now I feel like I have to make a hundred different decisions. And that's just to get through the produce section. Local? Organic? Conventional? Pre-washed? Spray-free? The humble potato should be simple, right? Wrong. Oh, so wrong. The whole yam vs. sweet potato mix-up is both fascinating and frustrating to me. Mostly frustrating. Different stores and growers label them different ways. Keep Reading
Butternut Bread Braid + Whipped Honey Butter recipes
Butternut Braid Bread After 2 years of home schooling my young kids, it finally hit me. We actually have to be home sometimes to do this school thing well. So, since September, we've cut back on our commitments to bump up our time at home. It's been (mostly) good. In addition to more reading, writing, and arithmetic, there have been other bonuses, as well. For example, it's forced me to stay on top of the laundry pile. I try to always show up for class wearing clean yoga pants (and holding a strong cup of coffee). Since we're home anyway, I've also been baking and making more of our food from scratch again. I can't remember the last time I bought Keep Reading
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