Sunday Happy

Ok so Its some of you may know I am not the biggest fan of summer. (to say the least.) But you know what, this summer so far has been pretty fantastic weather wise. Only a day or two of unbearable heat but mostly just super freaking nice. If this was how summer always was well then I might just really like summer.

And we blasted through another week. After last weekends market I thought I was chillin pretty for a few weeks but last minute was set up to be in na big art festival on Saturday. So basically I spent the week getting as much done (pottery is not a fast process) for that. Bedside running around with my head chopped off, I did other stuff. The mr and I went for a long bike ride. I went and picked myself a bucket of lovely flowers at the farm. I ate no less then 4 lbs of lettuce and spinach (our farm share is HUMONGOUS), had dinner with the fam at my moms, and fed Megan’s evil cat.

Saturday was the art festival. We woke up early, headed into the mountains on the finest summer day, set up, and slung those pots! People were all about being super awesome, many a pots went to new homes, and I damn near lost my voice from all the talking I did. The mr was with me the whole time, helping me set up, keeping hydrated, forcing me to eat, and letting me take a break to relieve my bladder. He is the best. And you know what else is the best, not having to repack most of the pots. Break down is always so much easier when the crates are empty. HA! (Thanks again to everyone that came out!)

Sunday. So we were going to start our camping adventures but we have pushed it back to next weekend due to the fact that I am exhausted, haven’t pulled out the tent and stuff, and I still need to unpack the car from the festival yesterday. Yes I am bummed but It’s ok, we still have like 15 or so more good weekends of camping coming our way. So instead we are going to go for a hike and then pick flowers down at the farm then I am going to unpack said car, eat some food sitting down, wash my hair like an adult, and go to bed early. It’s gonna be a long week of sitting at my wheel to get pots made for the next market. My back will probably hate me but I will love every second of it.

Internet from the week.

-Know your boundaries and respect. It is ok to tell people to fuck off once in a while. The boundaries we set help us guard our energy. Here's how to do it

'Glamping' Is a Stupid Word, but a Great Idea. I also agree it is a stupid word but a great idea. Anything involving that outdoors is a great idea.

-What Do You Call It? 10 Common Items That Have Different Names. Creemes are soft serve and a Jimmie is not a sprinkle. It is the name of a mechanic. HA!

-I remember years ago when I worked at a coffee shop one guy coming in and telling the mr that he peed on is tomatoes, then wanted to give us some of those tomatoes. The mr was flabbergasted. He still mentions it today. Little did he know. Pee makes for great fertilizer. But is it safe?

-How Tyrus Wong’s Christmas Cards Captivated the American Public. Christmas in July my friends. Get your cards ready.

-How to be a little less judgmental. A good lesson for everyone.

-Always in for a cool house. 20 Impressive Floating Homes That Go With the Flow

-How To Test If Baking Soda or Baking Powder Is Expired because is sucks when it doens’t active and you end up with flat banana bread.

-Ceiling Planter Boxes Give This Space All the Drama With Little Greenery Upkeep. Yes please.

Pictures from the week.

peppermint candy cane sugar cookies

When is the last time you have eaten a candy cane? I feel like I never see people actually eating them, that they use them more as decorations on the tree. And as I say that I realize I am thinking of adults. I never see adults eating candy canes. The littles, well they have stripped my tree bare of the candy many of times. They will, and enjoy eating anything and everything that contains sugar. Especially if you can suck it into a sharp object and I guess that probably makes candy canes are the perfect candy. Ha!

Anyway I forgot to buy candy canes this year and I was planning on adding one to each of my Christmas cards (cause I am an adult!). Sure I could and can still go to the store and get them but I decided cookies are better so I just made candy cane cookies instead band which I think are way better.

These cookies are essentially just sugar cookies with peppermint extract, dyed a little, and twisted into canes. They are fun to make, smell really good, and eaten by littles and adults alike. I would know. Out of 24 candy cane cookies I had made to give out with my cards, I think I ended up with a handful left. The littles came over and ate them all. And the mr too. Oh well, whatcha gonna do?

Now to the candy cane cookies!

The stuff. Sugar, plant butter, oil, peppermint and vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, salt, a flax egg, and some red food coloring.

Make cookie dough. Creamy together the sugar, butter, oil, and extracts until light and fluffy. Then add I the lax egg and mix until combined. The dry then goes into bowl and gets mixed with a spoon until it is just easier to use your hands and knead the mixture until a dough forms. Once a dough, let it sit for a few minutes.

After resting, take dough and on a lightly floured surface, cut in half. Take half and set aside and the other knead red dye into it. How red you make it is up to you.

Now take a chunk or red and white and roll each piece out into 1/2 inch thick ropes that are the same length. Place ropes next to each other and kind of squish them together.

Cut a section of the rope (about 4-5 inches long) and then twist the dough until it resembles the twist of a candy cane. Then shape it into a cane.

Also, if you doughs start o get a little misxd up, well that is quite all right. They will still look like candy canes and people will still eat them.

Place canes onto a baking sheet and pop into a hot oven.

Out of the oven, smelling all like a candy cane cookie should.

Move them to a wire rack to cool and if you just so happen to have a handful of white chocolate chips on hand that you want to melt down and drizzle on top, well then you should do that too.

Make some cookies!

-C

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peppermint candy cane sugar cookies

makes about 2 dozen

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 3/4 cups white graduated sugar

• 1/2 cup (one stick) vegan butter

• 2 tablespoon neutral oil

• 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax seed plus 4 tablespoons plant milk or water)

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

• red food coloring

• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (and teaspoon coconut oil optional)

In a large bowl mix together the sugar, butter, oil, vanilla, and peppermint oil until light and fluffy. Add in flax eg and mix until combined then add in the flour, baking powder ask salt ans mix with wooden spoon until it is easier to just knead it together with you hands until a firm dough forms. Let dough rest for 5-10 minutes

Preheat oven 350

Take dough and divide in half. One half dye red, as red as you like, and leave the other half white. Now take a chunk of each color and roll into a rope about 1/2 inch thick and the same length. Place the ropes next to each other and kind of squish together to form one rope then gently start to twist the dough until it resembles a candy can twist. Cut a section any length you want ( I recommend about 4-5 inches) and place on a baking sheet, curling the top to look like a candy cane. Once you have assembled a baking sheets worth, place in oven and bake for 122-13 minutes or until the cookies are barely golden brown on bottom.

Once baked remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. If you want, melt white choclate and coconut oil in microwave for 20-30 seconds or until almost melted. Stir together until completely melted and drizzle onto cookies.

Now eat some cookies. Or give them to you people. Or some of both.

Cookies are best for about a week at room temperature in airtight container.

Raspberry Danishes

When your neighbor tells you to pick as many raspberries as you can, well you go pick as many raspberries as you can. Just a few houses down the street, she has a yard full of the heaviest fruited raspberry bushes that have seen. So I grabbed my biggest mixing bowl and went at it. So many raspberries, they were basically falling off into the bowl (and into my mouth). Fresh raspberries, there is not much better.

And she wants me to come back for anther round. We have good neighbors.

I had quite the raspberry loot. The mr and I ate some (maybe too many), froze some, and then I made danishes for no other reason then I wanted to. And that was a just decision because everyone loves a good danish.

And these were good, or sooo good, according to the mr. He ate half while the other half were demolished when I brought them to my moms for dessert which was the plan so it worked out. People and their danishes. It’s a thing you know.(No, not really)

Now to the danishes!

The stuff. Fresh raspberries (You can use frozen or if you really want, raspberry jam) flour, sugar, salt, plant milk, oil, yeast, a lemon, powdered sugar, vanilla. and that is it.

Start with mixing the yeast with the oil, milk, and sugar in a large bowl. Add in the flour and slat ads mix mix mix until you can’t mix no more.

Dough.

Dump onto a floured surface aaaaaanf. Knead. 5-8 minutes until the dough is all soft and smooth and uniformly dough.

Place the dough into cleaned bowl and cover. Set somewhere warm to rise.

In the mean time, make raspberry jam. Place raspberries and sugar into a pot and cook down until mixture is thick and jam like. Once the mixture sticks to a spoon like warm jam, turn heat off and let cool.

Dough doubled and ready.

Dump dough out and cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into ball then roll out into a dish about a 1/2 inch thick.

Place dough disks onto splat or parchment lined baking sheet then indent each dough disk with a spoon or your fingers. Dollop a good plop of raspberry jammy into said intents. Once they are all jammed, pop them into the oven to bake. 15-18 minute should do it.

Look at those. Get them out of the oven and on to a wire rack for cooling time.

Make glaze. Sugar, lemon zest, vanilla, and lemon juice Mix until combined and yeah, that it glaze.

Drizzle the glaze all over those lovelies.

And then you eat becucae that is why you made them.

Share with your people. Or just eat them all to yourself, you made them and they are yours.

-C

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Raspberry Danishes 

makes 12

• 4 cups of all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons yeast

• 1 cup room temperature plant based milk

• 1/2 cup neutral oil

• 1/3 cup white sugar

  For raspberry jam

• 1/4 cup white sugar

• 2 cups fresh raspberry

  For glaze

• 1 lemon

• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

• splash of vanilla

In a large bowl combine the yeast, sugar, oil and milk. Really mix well and let sit for a minute to just get yeast activated. Dump in flour and salt and mix with a wooden spoon or whisk until it becomes to hard to stir. Dump mixture onto a lightly floured surface and knead dough for about 5-8 minutes or until the dough is soft and smooth. Place dough in a clean bowl and cover and let rise for about an hour or so or until the dough doubles in size.

While dough is rising, make raspberry jam. Mix raspberries and sugar together into a pot and place on medium heat on stove. Let cook for a couple minutes and once the raspebrries start to break down, stir. Let mixture cook down for about 10 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture becomes thick and sticks to a spoon like warm jam should. Take off heat and let cool.

Preheat oven to 350

Once dough has doubled in size, dump onto it onto a floured surface and with a knife or dough scraper, cut into 12 equal sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball then flatten out into a disk about 1/2 inch thick. Place dough disks on a parchment or splat mat lined baking sheets (you will need 2). With a spoon, lightly push a intent into the center of each disk then place a good plop or the cooled raspberry jam into the intent. Once all the dough has its berries, place the baking sheets into the oven to bake, for about 15-18 minutes, or until the danishes are a nice golden brown.

When they are done baking, remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool.

While cooling, make the glaze. Zest lemon and place in a bowl with the powdered sugar and vanilla. Add in half the juice of the lemon and stir until completely combined. If the mixture is too thick, add more juice, to thin, add a little more powdered sugar.

And once the danishes are cooled, drizzle on the glaze. And then thats it. You can eat them now.

Any left over why are there left overs?) should be stored in a airtight container for a few days at room temp or in the fridge . They also freeze well.

Carrot Sugar Cookies with Orange glaze

These are definitely my favorite shaped cutout cookies I have ever made. I mean seriously, carrot shaped carrot cookies, what could possibly ever be better? Nothing, and that’s truth for you.

Not only are they carrot shaped, they are also carrot flavored. Yup, Carrot shaped, carrot flavored, awesomeness. A little cinnamon added to the cookie for little extra boost of flavor and an orange glaze because it works and orange is good and fresh and springing. All good stuff.

You might be thinking, huh, carrot puree in a cookie, well that doesn’t sound right. But it is, it is right. And you know how I know that these cookies are awesome? Well I packed them up, (2 dozen of them) and took them over to the littles house for an after school treat. When I got there, the two older ones had friends over. I asked them if they wanted a carrot which earned me that look that said “are you serious” but them showed them the cookies. Of course the wanted a carrot so I gave them each one. They ate their cookies then proceeded to beat the shit out of the mr. Then they asked for another cookies and beat the shit out of the mr some more. This when on and on for about a 1/2 hour until all the cookies were gone and the mr was crouched in the corner with a broom trying to defend himself against 4 rulely kids who where slashing at him with light sabers and spraying him in he face with kitchen cleaner. It’s because they wanted more cookies. (and yes, the littles are getting crazy). So yeah, the cookies are good. Ass kicking good.

Anyway, a cookie with some goodness mix into it, shaped into a great shape, that will make everyone smile and happy. You could make them by yourself, make them with your friends, make them with some kids, with some old people. They are the perfect cookie to leave out for the easter bunny(do you leave carrots out for the easter bunny?) or to serve up at any easter party, spring party, or any garden party you might be attending. This cookie is pretty much perfect for any and every occasion that required a cookie. Or a carrot because carrots are always welcome.

To the carrots! I mean, the cookies!

The stuff. Flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, vegan butter, carrot puree, cinnamon, an orange, some powdered sugar, and food coloring.

Into a big bowl the sugar, vegan butter, and carrot puree go.

Beat for a minute or two until completely incorporated.

Add in all the rest of the dry stuff and mix by hand until it turns to dough.

This is the dough it turned into.

Gather the dough and wrap it or place in a plastic bag and stick it Into the fridge for a few hours or overnight. The dough NEEDS to chill.

After you let the dough be, remove from fridge, liberally dust counter, and roll out dough about 1/4 inch thick.

And then it’s time to cut the cookies out. I unfortunately do not have a cookie cutter so I improvised and make 2 carrot cutouts from paper and hand cut each cookie. That worked but took forever so I got crafty and used a fat Christmas tree cookie cutter then just did a little trim and pinch to make it into a cookie. (I am a genius for that). Any way works, and you can also do other shapes too, the cookies don’t change taste in different shapes. (but that would be so cool if they did)

Carefully place cut out cookies onto a baking sheet, giving them a little space because they do spread a tiny bit.

And into the oven to bake they go.

Out in 10 minutes looking all carrot like.

Carrots waiting to cool so they can be glazed.

The glaze. Pretty straight forward. Just zest orange into powdered sugar and juice the orange into the sugar and mix.

Divide glaze and dye one orange and one green

And glaze away. I recommend doing it over a rack and baking sheet to minimize mess because they do drip a bit.

Now just you look at that, carrot shaped carrot sugar cookies .What a sight!

And of course, carrots come in bunches. HA

Enjoy some carrots!

-C

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Carrot Sugar Cookies with Orange glaze

makes about 2 and a half dozen (depending on size)

• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour plus more for dusting

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 cup vegan butter

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup carrot puree ( see note about how to make puree)

  For the glaze

• 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar

• on orange

• orange and green food coloring

Note. To make carrot puree, steam a couple carrots until completely soft them blend until smooth.

Place sugar, vegan butter, and carrot puree into a big bowl. Beat with a beater until light and fluffy. Add in the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix by hand until completely incorporated and mixture tunes into dough. Gather dough into a disk and wrap in plastic or place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

Once dough has chilled enough and you are ready to go, preheat the oven to 350.

Place dough on a flour dusted counter and roll out about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out the cookies with a cutter or by hand and place on a baking sheet. Bake cookies for 10-11 minutes or until just starting to turn slightly brown around the edges. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Once cookies are all baked and cooling, make the glaze. Place powered sugar into a big bowl, zest in the orange then add in the juice od half the orange. Mix completely and check consistency. You want it to be slightly running but not liquid, but also not to stiff. Add more juice or more sugar to get it right. Once it is the right consistency, separate into 2 bowls. Dye one green and one orange. Now glaze you cookies. A knife or small spatula works best and yes, the glaze drips a little so do it over a baking sheet, but after about 10 minutes the glaze hardens.

And then you have carrot cookies and all is good. Now go eat a carrot cookie!

Store uneaten cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They can be frozen too.

Sunday Happy

Hey hey hey! Happy Valentines Day! Hope you have a loved one to share the day with (romantically or not)

How has your week been? We are getting right back into the swing of thingsand it has been a little too easy. It's almost (almost) like we didn't leave. The best thing I can think to do now is to start planning our next big adventure (pretty sure we are going cross county at then end of this summer) But before that we have the house to do. This week we have spent a good amount of time with drawings, measurements, looking at materials, and just trying to figure out what we want and or can do. (we can't afford solid gold bath fixtures.. wonk wonk...) And the apartments. I think everyone and their mom wants to rent one of our apartments. So many showings.  The mr has been so good and running around showing places like 5 times a day, in the cold no less, but so far so good. We have a few new tenantslined up and ready to go.  Things are getting done around here!

But other then that. just thinking a bit much about spring. I am getting the feels for all sorts of dirty activities (planting things you dirty birds) and am thinking we should probably get seeds and get some plants going soon here. This lady is needing some kale!

Anyway. V day. Off to a great start. I am awake and inside and not outside so that's awesome. I realized how cold it is out when last night after the pup came inside from his5 minute walk, I tried to take his leash off and my fingers froze to the metal clip. Yeah, its that f*cking cold. So no outside today(it's suppose to be worse then yesterday)  Nope, just going to make a gallon of coffee, open the door and let the puppy go pee. Then I will close said door, sit on the couch, and continue my morning reading. This will be the way of the day. Coffee, reading, letting the pup go pee. Simple and satisfying. Oh and the mr and I are going to watch a movie later and eat lots of food.. The excitement is overflowing here!

How about you? Got any big plans? Don't worry if you don't, your big plans today should involve being happy and staying warm, but if you do. Go you! Have fun, and remember to keep your clothes on until you get inside!

Here is some internet I weeded through for you to look at.

-The Dark Origins Of Valentine's Day. Not all pink and fluffy teddy bears.

-Is there a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate... yes, and its kind of obvious.

-Having a major crush on these tiles for the new bathroom. what do you think?

-Color is more then just color.The Psychology of Color

-This reminds me of Iceland.. the whole country is geothermal. Citrus In The Snow: Geothermal Greenhouses Grow Local Produce In Winter

-Because you should know. How to make strawberry mice. (really cute!)

-I have forever slept with my feet stinking out. Sleep Hack: Keep Your Feet Outside Your Covers

-On food. Fat Isn't Bad, Stupid is Bad

-I love this house and all the decor.

-And because whenyour young and you think it would be fun, You Can Now Study Tacos at the University of Kentucky. I know I would have.

And a few pics from the past week

Happy Sunday and keep it real!

-C