How we spent our Holiday Weekend...

Over the weekend, we made a HUGE dent on the house. We took down the wall and door that was seperating the front entry with the upstairs. The wall was there because the house was once used as duplex. Now it is opened up and feels like a whole new house. I am so thankful and extremly lucky that Brian has the knowledge to do this type of work!

Hmm... How'd this happen?

I was making dinner and the Stupid Cat wouldn't get down and he was pissing me off. So I locked him in the window.... He liked it.

It's Bread Day!!!

I love making home-made bread (I know, I am such a dork), so today is Bread Day! Today's Bread:

The Baguette

One key for success of not destroying this bread, is not adding too much flour to the Dough. Also, right before you put it in the oven, throw 1/4 cup water onto the oven floor (make sure you avoid the heating element!). This creates steam and gives the bread a crispy crust! With this recipe, you really need to follow all of the directions and ingredients.

• 1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 1 cup warm water (100* to 110*)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 Tbsp kosher or sea salt
• 2 tsp yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 cup water

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cup; level. Stir 2 1/2 cups flour and salt into mixture. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 Tbsp at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel sticky).
2. Place dough in a large bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85*), free from drafts, 45 minutes of until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Roll dough into a 16in long rope on a floured surface. Place rope on a large baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Uncover dough. Cut 3 slits on top of loaf to allow steam.
3. Preheat oven to 450*
4. Throw 1/4 cup water on over floor, (not on heating element) Place in oven and quickly close oven door. Bake at 450* for 20 minutes or until loaf is a golden brown. Remove and cool on rack.
5. Eat and enjoy!

Mango Chicken Curry

I love curry dishes! I made this last night, it was wonderful! It reminded me of my mom, she always cooked like this... Now this recipe is a little spicy and if you don't like curry, it's not for you! Brian hates it.

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp (or more) of vegetable oil
• 1 large onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper (I used a whole one)
• 2 garlic cloves (I used 4)
• 2 Tbsp FRESH minced ginger
• 2 Tbsp of yellow curry powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 mango's, peeled and diced
• 2 Tbsp cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/4 lbs skinless boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• salt and pepper
• sugar
• Cilantro for garnish

Directions

1. Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a large saute' pan over med-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 min. Add the red bell pepper and another Tbsp of oil, cook a couple of minutes more. Add the curry powder and cumin, cook for a few more minutes. The spices will absorb some of the oil, so if anything begins to stick too much to the bottom of the pan, add a little more oil to the pan. Add the ginger and garlic, cook for one more minute more.
2. Add the vinegar, water, and 1/2 of the chopped mango to the pan. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer for about 15 , minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat. Scoop the sauce into a blender. Puree the sauce, pulsing until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan
3. Add chicken pieces and raisins to the pan. Return to a low simmer. Cover the pan and let cook for 8-10 minutes. Chicken should be just cooked through. (Use a knife to cut open the largest piece to check)
4. Add remaining mango pieces to the pan. Stir in the cream. Let it cook at a very low temperature for another minute or two, uncovered. Do not let boil! The cream will curdle and you don't want that! Add salt and pepper. Taste, if too bitter add sugar, if too sweet add vinegar. I had to at least add 2-3 Tbsp of sugar when I made it.

Serve over rice or couscous.

I didn't cook the chicken in the sauce. I actually made a tempura style batter and cooked the chicken separately chopped it in to 1-inch pieces, dipped the chicken and fried it in oil. Still good.

Kinda freaky...

Over the past couple of weeks there has been an increasing amount of break-in's that are happening during the day. The people have been targeting the houses in the historical district, thats us. They come in through the back alley's, walk around and check all of the doors, find one that is unlocked and just walk in. And the really creepy thing is that they don't care if your home. A couple of people have been home when the people walked in. Now, the neighborhood that I live in is a really good safe place. The homes are gorgous and I love living downtown. But because of that it brings in some really special people.

Yesterday, as I was picking Reese and Ash up from the neighbors house across the street, I noticed a red Dodge Shadow parking a couple of houses down, didn't really think much of it and went home. A little while later while I was in the kitchen, Ted started going nuts, and not his usual nuts either. He was out to kill!! Then I hear someone scream something and these guys start booking it down our driveway and the Red Dodge Shadow pulls up and they jump in. Isn't that weird? And I also heard that early Saturday morning some one was walking up and down the streets with a camera, taking pictures of the houses. It wasn't someone from the Historical Society either because the send letters around when they are doing it.

I just hope that we don't have to go through what some of my neighbors have. What really scares me is that I'm home all day by myself with my kids. What am I going to do if they break in? With my luck they'll break in while I'm having a bad day and I'll end up beating them with a rolling pin...

One thing that is one myside, is that my house looks like crap on the outside. And if someone does break in what are they going to take? We don't have nice thing! If they want to take the TV, go right ahead...that thing weighs at least 350 lbs.

Meet Ted..

This is Ted. He lives two houses down from us. See the brick wall that he jumps over? Ted barks all day long. I HATE Ted.

The dog really drives me nuts, it does not stop barking! I'll be in my kitchen, it sees me and barks. I take the trash out, he's barking. He sees my stupid cat in a window, barking!! Stupid freaking dog!

Ted is also not a dog that you can go up to and pet. He'd rather rip your face off if you get within 5 feet of him.

I think that I am going to get a great big dog to eat Ted.

Our Stairs...

Brian ripped out all of the treds and risers off of our front stairs (no worry we have another). We really would like to keep most of the house as orginal as possible so instead of buying new treds, we are going to send these in to Brian's mill down in Louisville to get sanded and fixed. I really cannot wait to get the front entry done, I am so excited!

A view from up above...

These are the treds and the risers that were removed.

Looks like fun doesn't it.....

It's my party, I'll cry if I want too!

Today was Ashlee's 3rd Birthday! I can't believe that she is actually 3 years old! We just had a family party, we have to much demo right now for a "real party". I was kind of bummed, because I wanted to throw her a big princess party!

She was actually in a HORRIBLE mood for her party. She had a melt down over the simplest things, if you looked or said anything to her it was the end of the freaking world. She cried and screamed for the majority of it. It's Brian's fault, he had her lay down for a nap (with him) and let her sleep for about 3 hours! I was gone.

She got a swim suit as one of her presents and she just had to put it on!

Happy Birthday Leelee!!!

New Haircut

Ashlee's new haircut!

I wanted the length to be at her chin, but I guess chin and ear must sound alike or something.

Get down with the sickness!

We are getting sick again! Can you guess what it is?! Not a cold, not allergies.... It's the FLU! It started last night, Ash wasn't feeling to good and ends up doing the barfing dash to the bathroom, doesn't make it. It's amazing how little kids can run and throw up at the same time. I can't wait for the rest of us to get sick! 2 down (me and Ash) 3 to go!