Donuts!

Homemade Donuts!

I think I'm in love with these, send help!

Oh my goodness! You simply have not lived until you eat one of these babies. Okay, I know I sound a little cocky here but seriously, I made these donuts on Sunday. One of my kids compared them to Krispy Kremes (this offspring is now my favorite). I usually shy away from anything that calls for a pot of boiling oil and hours upon hours of time. However, for these little guys I'd do it all over again. They were worth it. I made the dough in the morning, covered it and put it in the fridge all day. In the evening, when I was ready I rolled it out, cut the cute little guys and let them raise for an hour, then sent them swimming in the boiling canola oil. That's healthy right? I think I heard canola oil is healthy, please someone tell me it is!

Hello? Anyone?

The temperature of the oil was a little lower than it should have been at this point,

it should have been 375. They still cooked just fine though.

Here they are, these aren't the pretty ones. Those disappeared before I could snap a photo of them. I dunked them in pink frosting. Wait....... did you hear that? I think I heard them calling my name. I am strong, I am strong! Oh help me please!

I wish I could remember where I found this recipe, I roll out the red carpet for them, honestly!

1-1/8 Cup Milk

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Package Yeast

2 Large Eggs

1-1/4 Stick Butter melted

4 Cups Flour

1/4 teaspoon Salt

Canola Oil

Warm the milk for about a minute in the microwave, add the sugar and stir to dissolve. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk/sugar mixture and stir gently. Let this sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. Melt butter, let cool and mix with beaten eggs. Mix well. Add the egg/butter mixture to large mixing bowl, on medium speed mix in yeast mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add the flour 1/4 Cup at a time until the flour is all gone. Let the mixer run with a dough hook on medium speed for 10 minutes. Put the dough in a greased bowl, turning the dough to coat all sides, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at least 8 hours.

Remove dough from the fridge. Lightly dust surface with flour. Roll dough out until 1/4 thickness. Cut donuts using 3 inch and 1 inch biscuit cutters, (I didn't have any of these so I used a 3 inch cup and a baby bottle to cut the center out, creative?). Let the donuts raise for 1 1/2 hours.

Heat oil to 375 degrees, not more than 380 degrees. Gently put 2 donuts in the hot oil, cook for about 1 minute on each side. Drain on paper towels and dunk into your favorite glaze.

Enjoy!

Okay, I'm admitting it, I make my own hamburger buns. Does that mean I'm weird?

......I JUST LOVE TO BAKE!

I didn't know this about myself until recently. I guess you could say, it's like a hobby. I've discovered a reason to get out of bed on a rainy Saturday morning. I was actually excited to realize it was only 7:30 A.M. as I rolled over in bed to look at the clock this morning. I laid awake for a while, staring at the ceiling, imagining what I could mix together and pop in the oven. Cookies are always a good idea, especially if chocolate is involved. I've always wanted to add recipes to my blog. So today's baked piece of heaven will be the first recipe posted here.

As soon as I had made that most important decision, my hubby invited me to go get a "Coke" with him. At our house going to go get a "Coke" means lets go to the local convenience store and buy a drink, any kind of drink will do. "Coke" doesn't mean "Coke", it means anything from water to a soda or a Slurpee. I got ready for the day and out the door we went to get our "Cokes". I always enjoy these little mini dates with my hubby. He drives us in his truck while I relax and look out the window. We have alone time to talk and catch up. We had a couple of stops to make, one was a drugstore, Wal-Greens. As I walked through the door, that is when I first saw them. There they were sitting so peacefully, looking so beautiful in their silver and blue packaging. They were made to become the main attraction, that special ingredient in my cookies. It was destiny. I picked up a bag and purchased them, it was like an out of body experience. Oh, the goodness! Who thinks of this stuff? Please, let me know, I'd like to kiss their feet and clean their toilets for a week (well, maybe that's a stretch).

I decided to use these instead of chocolate chips. They are the same size and texture of M&M's. I used the recipe below, they turned out yummy, give them a try, you won't be sorry.

1Cup Butter

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup White Sugar

2 Eggs

1 teaspoon Vanilla

2 1/2 Cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

One bag of York Pieces

Preheat the oven to 350. Cream the butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients and slowly pour into butter mixture. Add about 3/4 of the bag of York pieces. Mix well. Use a cookie scoop if you have one, or just use a teaspoon to drop them onto a cookie sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes. These are so delicious.....trust me!

You must give them a try!

It's always nice to have some helpers to clean up!

A lesson learned!

Last Thursday as I was leaving for work. The 10 foot walk to my car from my front door seemed so far. It was gray and cold, did I mention cold? I was so disappointed as I layed eyes on my windshield and noted the glistening frost that would need scraping. I didn't notice until I was digging through my purse for my trusty scrape credit card, that the culdesac we live in seemed unusually quiet. Not a sound, it was somewhat eery. Then it caught the corner of my eye, as I looked up a huge bird was soaring across the sky. It was so close it almost brushed against the roof of my house. It was silent, so silent. Then without a warning it stretched its wings and took a couple of strong flaps. I could not move, I was breathless. It was beautiful. I stood still and watched as it circled my view as if to say hello and slowly flew out of sight. I studied it's body, wings, face, trying to take a mental picture. This guy was so big and graceful. In searching the internet I have discovered that my friend was a Brown Pelican. I know what you're saying, "There aren't any pelicans in Southern Utah". Trust me, there is, at least one......

I have always had a facination with birds, especially big ones. There is something so powerful and majestic about them.

One day years ago while driving down a highway in the early morning hours I spotted a Bald Eagle perched on an old dead tree next to the road. I was blown away at the size and beauty of this bird. Luckily I am always prepared and had a camera in the car. I quickly pulled to the side of the road, stopped the car and flew out with my camera in hand. I was shaking with excitement to be so close to this creature. He had his back to me and just at the right time would turn his head and glare at me, I smiled and thought, he must like me, he's posing. Click, click, I couldn't believe I was getting these wonderful shots. All at once he had enough of me and spread his wings out and with a swoop he was flying away. I kept my eye on him, I wasn't done with my photo opportunity yet. I could see a tiny white speck against the mountain a few miles away. It couldn't be that far, so I started my walk. Hiking over rocks and through trees keeping my eyes on that white speck. After hiking for over an hour I could see my friend. Quietly I snuck up on him. He seemed to be sleeping, all at once he turned and looked right at me, Click, click again I was getting the most awesome shots with my camera. Then as quickly as the first time, he spread his wings and swoop he was gone. What an experience. I was so excited to get these pictures developed and do some serious bragging. (this was before digital camera's) I rushed home, I couldn't wait to share my experience. I expected that there would be some that wouldn't believe my story, but I had proof, the pictures I'd taken. I set the camera on the table, watching it closely, I didn't want anything to happen to my prized photos. Now is where one of my greatest lessons was learned. As I opened the camera to retrieve the film....NO FILM! Oh it was tragic. I will never forget the thrill I had one cold morning years ago, as I stalked that Bald Eagle. The pictures are still and will always be in my mind.

...and I am thankful for digital!