Pictures!

I promise I won't always post a lot in one day, but otherwise there wouldn't be anything for people to read on a brand new blog. With money from graduation gifts I decided to buy a new camera. Taking pictures is one of my favorite hobbies and I have always dreamed of having a good camera. I absolutely love my new camera and am excited to learn how to use it better. Here are some pictures of my first attempt to use the camera around the yard (without knowing how to use any of the fancy features...that will come in time). You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Macaroni Grill Bread

Okay, so we all know how much I love to COOK....I love it almost as much as I love to EAT! I enjoy finding random recipes online and trying them out. Our most recent adventure was making chicken alfredo pizza (very yummy) with rosemary bread like the bread they make at Macaroni Grill. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought I'd share the recipe because it was delicious!

Macaroni Grill Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

1 T. Dry Yeast
1 T. Sugar
1 Cup warm water (105 - 115 degrees)
2 1/2 Cup white flour
1 t. salt
2 T fresh rosemary, chopped
1 T. canola oil, peanut oil or olive oil
nonstick cooking spray
2 T. butter

Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly. Mix in 2 cups of flour and the salt. Add one tablespoon of the fresh chopped rosemary. Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about 30 seconds until smooth and elastic. Add flour if necessary. Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel. Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled. Punch down dough and divide in half. Let dough rest about 5 – 10 minutes. Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray. Shape the dough into 2 small rounded oval loaves. Melt margarine or butter. Brush over the top of the loaves. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly into the surface. Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly sprinkle coarse salt over the loaves. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until lightly browned. This makes 2 loaves. YOU MUST USE FRESH ROSEMARY! You can dip it in olive oil and balsamic vinegar like they do at the restaurant.

Giving it a Shot!

So this whole setting up a blog thing is completely new for me, but I enjoy reading other people's blogs so I thought perhaps someone out there might enjoy reading mine. This is all an experiment and if it works, then I'll set up a Hancock Family blog for Dustin and I one of these days. For now, this is my blog to share the things that make me happy!