yep ~

Not much going on around here.  It's warming up ~ yesterday was our first day in 56 days that the temperature stayed above zero overnight.  That's promising :)

I received a few seed catalogs in the mail ...

Apparently the seed companies haven't gotten my memo - we still have 4,000 feet of snow on the ground that needs to melt away before we can get into the garden! Okay, maybe 4,000 feet is stretching it a bit; but there's a lot of snow out there that needs to go.

I do love the winter months but even I am getting a wee bit stir crazy and feeling the effects of this long winter.  I think it's because we didn't make a Texas run this winter to break up the monotony of cabin fever.  Calgon ~ take me away!

We will be busy this weekend though.... sausage making time again.  Dear Hubby and I will be firing up the smokehouse to make some summer sausage, snacking sticks and 3 different kinds of bratwurst ... original recipe, swiss style and pizza brats.  We never made the swiss or pizza ones before ~ can't wait to try those.

Other than that ... we are also getting anxious as the clock is ticking down.

Our daughter can't even zip her jacket anymore ... she sat down and the zipper went up :)

Grandlove number four is due to make her debut soon.  She's due the 20th.
Yep ~ it's another girl :)

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

skating ~

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at an ice skating show :)

 Our Grandlove, Bailey, has joined the Price Ice Figure Skating program and it was her first show.  It was the 21st Annual Figure Skating show though for the Price Ice Skaters. (we live in Price county, WI ... thus the name)

This is the first year skating group.  They're so cute!

What a great show that was put on.  The theme of the show was Under the Sea. The skaters are grade school through high school in age, K-12.  It was a bittersweet moment for a few of the skaters as it was their senior year and last show skating with the Price Ice Skaters.

 These gals are the Price Icicles.  Price Ice's first Synchronized team.  They competed in the Badger State Games and brought home a silver medal!

All of the skaters were such a joy to watch.  The only negative thing about the whole afternoon was that it was sooooooooooo cold outside, -14 degrees and inside the ice rink didn't feel much warmer.

I felt sorry for the skaters warming up under blankets between the program schedules.  

This was a really cute act, although it really didn't pertain to the theme Under the Sea:  It was a trio of 2 police officers and 1 bank robber ... I didn't get a pic of the bank robber ... They danced to the the music, "I Can't Fight This Feeling "   

They did catch the bank robber in the end:)

~*~

Here comes our Bailey and her group out to perform:

 ~ half the group is going one way ... the other half of the line the other ~
I remember as a kid doing this and we would call it "crack the whip".  I don't know what they call it in skating class??

I do know that having just started skating in November ... these kids did an excellent job :)

I think Bailey and her friends were getting cold.  She did cheer up though at the end when they were skating around the rink and she noticed her Dad and sister during the flower toss. 

 I had Brooke toss my a purple rose over the plexi - glass for me to our little future Olympian Figure Skater.

Aww... Bailey ... you did us proud!

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel

ciabatta rolls ~

It's been awhile since I made Ciabatta Rolls ~ what was I thinking!  They're soooooo good :)

I believe the trick to good Ciabatta Rolls is the two day process.  Day One is making a starter ~ then Day Two is finishing up the process of making the rolls.

Here's my recipe:

Day 1

In a small bowl combine the following to make your Starter:

1 1/2 Cups of All-purpose Flour
1 Cup of Cool Water
1/16th of a teaspoon of Dry Yeast

Yes, you read that right ... 1/16th of a teaspoon ... just a little bitty pinch will do.

Cover with a cloth and let it rest for 24 hours to begin it's fermentation.  Day Two it will be all bubbly and yeasty smelling.

Day 2

Transfer your Starter into a larger bowl, preferably a mixing bowl with an electric mixer where you have a dough hook.  This isn't necessary; but it does make the kneading process a lot easier.

ADD:

2 teaspoons of Dry Yeast
3 Cups of Flour
2 1/4 teaspoon of Salt
2 Tablespoons of Dry Powdered Milk
2/3 Cup of Warm Water
3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil ~ or substitute with Melted Shortening

Beat at a medium speed with the dough hook for 7 minutes.  Or put onto a floured board and hand knead for 10 minutes.  The dough will be very soft and will become shiny looking as you knead it.

Grease a bowl large enough to hold the dough doubled in size.  Let it rise for 2 hours, deflating it gently by lightly shaking the bowl after about 1 hour of rising time.

This rising time is what makes the airy centers to the rolls that are characteristics of the Ciabatta Roll.  It's also what makes them so good for making sandwiches because it can absorb and hold fillings so nice :)

After the 2 hour rise period ...

On a floured board gently press the dough into a square.  Take a sharp knife and divide into 12 pieces.

Place the rolls onto a greased baking sheet.

With your finger tips ~ dimple the dough.

Let rise another 2 - 3 hours until doubled in size again.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Right before placing the rolls in the oven ... gently dimple them again AND lightly spritz with water.

BAKE for 18 - 20 minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy!

And you thought all I did all day was watch the critters out my window.

Well... today the pine squirrel came to peak in my window to see what I was up to.

Let's open the door and get a better shot:

Oh...

I'll never tire of baking up goodies or

 watching the wild life around here.

I must confess though ... I am getting tired of shoveling snow!

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel