Finnish Cardamom Bread

Finnish Cardamom Bread

7 whole cardamom pods
2 cups milk
1 package active dry yeast
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tsp. salt
6 1/2 to 7 cups all purpose flour, divided

For glaze:
1 egg, beaten
sliced almonds

Final second  glaze when loaves are cooled:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1/2 to 1 T. coffee to make a sugar drizzle



Crack open cadamom pods and heat in a small pan for several minutes. Grind or pound seeds and set aside. Heat milk to lukewarm. Add yeast and stir until dissolved. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add a small amount of flour about 1/2 cup, stir into yeast water  and let that sit in a warm spot for 30 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until foamy. Add milk, cardamom and 11/2 c. flour. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth and elastic. Stir in softened butter, salt, and enough flour to make dough stiff enough to knead. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, about 5 to 10 minute. Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover, let rise in a warm place until light and doubled in size. . On a floured surface divide dough into three parts. Divide each third into three parts. Form each part into a strip 16 inches long. Braid three together, sealing ends. Repeat for remaining 2 loaves. Place on greased cookie sheets. Cover loosely and let rise about 30 minutes until less than doubled in size. Brush loaves with beaten egg;sprinkle with almons and sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Makes 3 loaves.

Here is one loave, but I already divided it into 3 sections, some to freeze and some to give away. I do not recommend using store bought canister cardamom. Most of the flavor has faded.

Candy Girl Hot Pattern

This project is a solution to purse organization. The pattern is a free download with registration at a pattern site called www.hotpatterns.com . The pattern is available as a free download, print it out on your printer and assemble the pieces. It is a simple box shape construction with multiple pockets to hold all your gear. I made my first one from some purple iridescent poly in my stash pile, and some recycled white webbing.

 It measures about 11.5/29 cm long, 7"/17cm high and 3.5"/9cm deep. Then when you want to change purses, take it out of  one purse, and place it in the next. I'm wondering how I managed without one!..And Hot patterns has other fabulous purse patterns to check out!

Poetry Books

Poetry Books are faboulous bedside table  jems. Each poem is a short version of some thought, memory, or feeling. Pick up on any page and start reading... In this case, Migrations Poetry and prose for Life's Transitions are reflections from lifes movement from one chapter to another. There are poems of weather, birds, weather, air, and also dark passages such as bewilderment, violence, aging, loss, death, and trama. All the poems reflect Duluth or the northland in some way.... www.wildwoodriver.com..$15.00

London 2012 Olympics - Finland

London 2012 Olympics - Finland by onemonday featuring sports shoes

American Vintage long sleeve top
$72 - the-dressingroom.com

Shop True Religion Women's Lizzy Capri in White
sidestreetboutique.com

Keds sports shoes
dsw.com

The Fair Isle Sock

Fair Isle Sock...
Knitting....Its such a zen thing...It grounds me in times of stress and family instability. Often times when I can't fix things or after I've given a fair amount of maternal advice, there is nothing to do but wait. Wait or pace. Or why not wait and develop my knitting skills?

Knitting is a acquired skill, and it takes practice. I often can't knit in the summer, but love it in the winter with a cup of calamine tea and a cookie...One project leads to the next advance level and then before you know it, your at a intermediate level making some cool wool socks...The book I used is Patons Next Sept Four Socks and Slippers

Honey Wheat Pizza...

California Kitchen Personal Pan Pizza...
As a single person,and refined culinary taste, I love pizza.  I don't want to go through the hassle or expense of ordering ordinary pizza made out of white flour and sugar, or buying frozen pizza ...
This recipe gets credit to California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook ..

Honey Wheat Pizza Dough

1 tsp. yeast
1/2 cup plus 1 tsp. warm water {105 to 110 degrees}
1 cup bread white flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
5 tsp. of clover honey
1 tsp. salt
1 T. extra virgin olive oil plus 1 tsp. for coating

Let your yeast and water sit for 5 minutes, add some flour, and let sit for half an hour. Then add rest of ingredients. and hand knead for 5 minutes.  Let rise to double. 
Then refrigerate overnight to develop the yeast flavor.  Use a small amount of cornmeal to roll out.  Divide into 4 individual pans or 1 large pizza or 2 medium.  It is necessary to prebake the crust for 5 minutes.....then add sauce and toppings...or package up and freeze. 
It is most important to use heavy duty bake ware.Lightly greased.  I bought mine from William Sonoma , and they are 4 deep dish pizza pans...

My Pizza sauce is bottled. But I always add extra basil on top of the sauce.  The best pizza sauce is Trader Joes... But find the best taste for you..

There is nothing better than piping hot pizza, Loaded to the max with your favorite toppings, overdosed with cheese...

South Hampton Up cycled

South Hampton Necklace...
This piece is up cycled. The center medallion is an old earring from the 1980's....The inspiration was a picture from a magazine, that was similar. I used glass pink beads in various sizes and shapes, and mixed in gold beads.