No Knead Bread
Homemade bread is easy with this no-knead recipe!
I am not a bread baker. I'm assuming that you aren't either. In the spirit of National Homemade Bread Day, I've made a bread recipe that ANYONE can make. I promise! As long as you can read a recipe, measure ingredients, and mix it together, you will make bread!
My family has a long history in bread-making. Growing up, my family made their own bread in our bread machine. I love the smell of baking bread! When it was done, we would cut the top of the bread off, slather it in butter, and eat it in pure happiness!!!
No-Knead Bread
Makes 1 medium loaf
3 cups bread flour (can substitute up to 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour)
1 5/8 cups warm water
1 envelope of active dry yeast
- Place yeast in warm (NOT hot!) water; this is called blooming the yeast. Since the yeast is in a dry form, it works best to rehydrate it before using it. Just let it sit for 3-5 minutes or until the yeast looks like super soggy cereal.
- Add yeast and water to flour.
- Mix to create a sticky dough.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap (or lid) and let sit for at least 12 hours, preferably 18 hours, at a warm room temperature. Dough is ready when the surface is dotted with bubbles.
- Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
- Heavily flour the work surface with flour; form dough into a ball shape.
- Heavily flour the top of the dough and cover with a cotton towel. Let it rise for two hours or until double in size.
- About 30 minutes before the dough is done doubling, preheat an oven to 450. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven as it heats.
- When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under the dough, and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but don't worry.
- Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.
- Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned.
- Cool on a rack.
How easy is that? Mix it up; leave it. Play with it a bit; leave it. Bake it; DONE! Fresh, homemade bread with no stress or worries!
For more easy recipes, head to a girl eats world!
The HerLouisville Guide to Fast and Fun Holiday Shopping
I have decided that this is the year that my holidays will be stress-free. This morning, I awoke to over two inches of snow on my deck and decided that, if it's going to look like this, I'm going to decorate for Christmas a little at a time. On my schedule and at my leisure. Yes, it's the first time I've ever broken the "Wait Until After Thanksgiving" Christmas decor, rule, but I want to enjoy the season.
I also want to enjoy the season by making my holiday shopping a fun event rather than a stressful chore. Over on HerLouisville today, I'm sharing my plan for fast and fun shopping.
What is your plan for tackling the holiday season this year?
The HerKentucky Guide to the Best New Kentucky Wildcats Swag
Get. Excited. Y'all.
Tonight is the first game of the Kentucky Wildcats' Basketball Season, and there's literally nothing I'd rather do than watch my 'Cats take on the Grand Canyon Antelopes tonight. It looks like it's going to be a seriously amazing season for basketball fans, and game time can't get here soon enough for me!
I'm sure y'all are like me -- you have plenty of team gear at home, but you're always on the lookout for something cute and new. I mean, you aren't really a Wildcats fan unless your weekly laundry includes one load of nothing but Kentucky blue, right?
Right. And, everybody knows there are three ways to watch the game: At home, at Rupp, or with friends. Here are some of my favorite items for repping the 'Cats in any setting.
At the Game
Of course, the best way to watch is at Rupp Arena. There are so many fun ways to wear team colors to the game -- from traditional sweatshirts to office attire for your beau. I'm just in love with those blue Hunter wellies; what a fun way to brave the elements!
At home
If you can't watch the game in person, it's always fun to watch from the couch. There's plenty of bourbon or hot chocolate, and you can wear your pajamas. And scream as loudly as you like. I NEED those fuzzy socks ASAP.
Out with friends
Stay warm and look pulled-together with on-trend boyfriend jeans and booties topped off with a signature blue coat. A fun UK logo accessory ties it all together.
Where do y'all watch the games?
Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in celebration of National Peanut Butter month!
Since November is National Peanut Butter month, I thought I would debut this recipe that I have been working on for months. Why so long? I cannot get the chocolate to stick on the outside without wax (I'm not eating wax--sorry!). I gave up, and put the chocolate on the inside. I have no idea how they got it to stick, but I got impatient because this recipe is so DELICIOUS.
The peanut butter filling: I saw how much sugar they asked for in the recipe, and I decided to half it and go from there. The golden rule of cooking-you can ALWAYS add more, not take away. I am so glad that I did because it was delicious and spectacular the FIRST time!
Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
from Six Sister's Stuff
Makes 3-4 dozen (depending on the size you make)
10 graham cracker sheets, crushed into crumbs
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
8 oz powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
Milk chocolate chips
- Put graham crackers in a food processor or plastic Ziploc bag and beat until they are finely crushed.
- Mix butter, powdered sugar, peanut butter, and graham crackers together in large bowl.
- Grab some of the peanut butter mixture and a few chocolate chips and roll into 1″ balls.
- Place rolled balls on large cookie sheet (I lined my cookie sheet with parchment paper) and stick in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
- Try not to eat them all!
This recipe is dead on for a Reese's cup. The Hubby says he prefers these to the store brand.
Do you like peanut butter? The Hubby and I go through about a jar every two weeks. What can I say, if I was allergic to peanut butter, I would be the saddest woman in the world! If you are looking for a savory peanut butter recipe, check out my favorite Asian dish: Rice Noodles with Peanut-Lime Sauce.
21 Days to a Peaceful Holiday
Three years ago, my husband lost his job two weeks before Thanksgiving. The parting was unexpected and traumatic and it forced me to re-examine many things about our lives. Most importantly, it forced me to re-examine my favorite time of the year, the holiday season.
That year I celebrated Christmas without consuming and I learned that fancy Christmas cards, a giant Christmas tree, or big holiday parties are not essential to a happy holiday.
The next year we were in a better financial position and consuming again entered into the equation. However, the consciousness I experienced that special year led me to celebrate with a newfound intention. Last year, I took all the lessons I learned about what does and does not make a special holiday season and joined forces with my dear friend Nurtured Mama to offer a very special e-course on achieving peace during a chaotic time of year.
21 Days to a Peaceful Holiday consists of 21 days of emails beginning December 1st and running through Winter Solstice on December 21, as well as membership in our 21 Days to a Peaceful Holiday Facebook group.
This course is basically like an online holiday season life coach and support group.
Imagine starting your day with a dear friend who just wants the happiest holiday season for you. Or how would you like to share your morning coffee with a friend who gently asks "Are you taking good care of yourself?" or has conveniently scoured the Internet for quick and easy Advent ideas to make you feel like a Christmas queen with minimal effort?
That's us!
Nurtured Mama and I have written gentle reminders and inspirational ideas on how to decide what holiday memories are important to YOU, how to capture those Christmas moments that come and go so quickly, how to keep the consumption and indulging to a healthy minimal, how to simplify gift giving, and much, much more!
We tackle everything from the emotional, like how to deal with difficult people during an already stressful time and how to embrace the romance of the season, to the practical, like simple gift DIYs and easy traditions to start tomorrow.
Nothing is required. You can give as little or as much energy to our suggestions as you want. What WE want is to make this holiday season brighter, easier, and yes more peaceful!
The HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville: St. Charles Exchange
Welcome to the final installment of the HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville! On Thursdays throughout the fall, we've traveled back to the Jazz Age in the Derby City, when the nation's Prohibition laws didn't quench the collective thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. We've channeled our inner Daisy Buchanans and dance the Charleston at Louisville's finest establishments. And, of course, we've taken a sip or two of the native drink that kept the city's spirits high. Since we began our tour with a Speakeasy, it only seems logical to end at one as well!
St. Charles Exchange is located in one of Downtown Louisville's oldest buildings, on the site of a former bourbon distillery. Named in homage to the historical St. Charles Hotel, the focal point of this posh restaurant is an elaborate bar built to resemble an early 20th century hotel lobby bar. The results are pretty spectacular.
And, oh my goodness, the hand-crafted cocktails. The old-fashioned, made with Old Forester and lemon and orange oils, is so delicate and balanced. It would be worth breaking Prohibition laws to order one, that's for sure!
I hope you've enjoyed our journey through 1920s Louisville! Coming soon -- a trip to the Guilded Age!
Why I'm Voting: Glenda
Glenda votes based on candidates' support of rare disease research that could potentially save her daughter's life.
The Huffington Post recently ran a piece entitled Why 27 Influential Women Are Voting This November (And Why You Should Too). The post, and its accompanying hashtag campaign, come in reaction to a Fox News host's suggestion that young women stay away from the polls and "stick to Tinder and Match.com." Earlier today, I shared my own reason for voting in today's election. HerKentucky writer and photographer Glenda McCoy kindly shared her own #WhyImVoting sign, and it really is the best reason I can imagine. -- HCW
Longtime HerKentucky readers know that Glenda and her husband David have spent the last 13 months in search of a diagnosis for their young daughter Katherine Belle, who suffers from an as-yet undiagnosed rare disease. Glenda works tirelessly to raise awareness for rare diseases, and hopes that candidates will support rare disease research funding. For Glenda's family, it literally is a matter of life or death. You can read about KB's journey at HopeforKatherineBelle.com.
We love this shirt that KB wore to the precinct today!!
