Remember that post I wrote about making No-Knead Artisan bread? Well, I think I may have made it even better! Follow the recipe on that post, but include these steps as well:
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Special Weekend Post Part II: Spinach Feta Artisan Bread (from Neatloaf)
And now, for part two: adding spinach and feta!
Remember that post I wrote about making No-Knead Artisan bread? Well, I think I may have made it even better! Follow the recipe on that post, but include these steps as well:
Once your dough has risen for 12-18 hours (this is the wheat-style dough), add 1/2 to 1 cup of thawed, frozen spinach (make sure to drain all of the water out) and 1/3 to 1/2 cup fat-free feta cheese. 
Fold the spinach and feta into the dough lightly and leave on the parchment paper to rise for a few more hours. After plopping the dough into the hot dutch oven, sprinkle a tad of garlic salt over the top. 
Voila! Serve with butter. Mmmm!
Remember that post I wrote about making No-Knead Artisan bread? Well, I think I may have made it even better! Follow the recipe on that post, but include these steps as well:
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Special Weekend Repost: From Neatloaf (our old blog)
We love this post so much that we didn't want it to get pushed aside into the Neatloaf archives, never to be seen again. I hope you enjoy it (again!), if you've read it before.
Bread-making! Yay! I received this book as a gift a while back because of it's easy, no-knead recipe for artisan bread. There ARE other recipes in the book, but this is by far the easiest and most versatile. I deviate a bit from Jim Lahey's instructions, as I believe that the environments in Seattle change the way that the dough reacts (plus a few practiced secrets from me Mum). A few friends have expressed interest in the method, so here you go, complete with pictures:
Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
1/4 teaspoon instant or active yeast
1 1/3 cups cool (55 to 65 degrees F) water
and my recommendation: trade bran for sea salt for dusting
In a medium bowl, stir together all dry ingredients, and then slowly add water until you have a wet, sticky dough. I found that I had to use as much as an entire half-cup more of water in order to get the correct consistency.
Add water until it is really sticky to the touch. Then cover the bowl with a plate, tea towel or plastic wrap and put in a warm, dry place to rise for 12-18 hours.
See the rest of the steps after the jump.
Bread-making! Yay! I received this book as a gift a while back because of it's easy, no-knead recipe for artisan bread. There ARE other recipes in the book, but this is by far the easiest and most versatile. I deviate a bit from Jim Lahey's instructions, as I believe that the environments in Seattle change the way that the dough reacts (plus a few practiced secrets from me Mum). A few friends have expressed interest in the method, so here you go, complete with pictures:
Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
1/4 teaspoon instant or active yeast
1 1/3 cups cool (55 to 65 degrees F) water
and my recommendation: trade bran for sea salt for dusting
In a medium bowl, stir together all dry ingredients, and then slowly add water until you have a wet, sticky dough. I found that I had to use as much as an entire half-cup more of water in order to get the correct consistency.
Add water until it is really sticky to the touch. Then cover the bowl with a plate, tea towel or plastic wrap and put in a warm, dry place to rise for 12-18 hours.
See the rest of the steps after the jump.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Favorite Friend Friday: Kathryn Murray Calligraphy
We've known Kathryn Murray for a long time (way back to our Paper Source days!) and she has always stood out as one of the most creative and talented artists in the craft world today. We carry a few of her cards, but the true magic happens when she creates custom colors and calligraphy. I may be slightly biased, as she provided work for our wedding, but there's no mistaking her artful skills.
Images via Kathryn Murray Calligraphy
Her work is definitely special and different from any type of calligraphy you can find on the market. "All of my calligraphy is done with an 'oblique nib' which gives it its own flair, but I like to think my style has more to do with the natural heavy handed way I draw. There are heavy down-strokes, playful strokes, and varying scale to the letters that give it the unique feel." -Kathryn
Plus, she will customize pretty much anything: rubber or acrylic stamps, buttons, even cookies! (see above) Plus, I hear she's cooking up a special line of wedding invitations. Watch the mesmerizing video below to see how she mixes and matches a special, custom calligraphy ink.
Images via Kathryn Murray Calligraphy
Her work is definitely special and different from any type of calligraphy you can find on the market. "All of my calligraphy is done with an 'oblique nib' which gives it its own flair, but I like to think my style has more to do with the natural heavy handed way I draw. There are heavy down-strokes, playful strokes, and varying scale to the letters that give it the unique feel." -Kathryn
Plus, she will customize pretty much anything: rubber or acrylic stamps, buttons, even cookies! (see above) Plus, I hear she's cooking up a special line of wedding invitations. Watch the mesmerizing video below to see how she mixes and matches a special, custom calligraphy ink.
Not Enough Hours in the Day...or Are There?
A friend of mine recently made the most poignant remark to me. She said "people who consistently talk about being busy are really just making themselves feel important. We all have the same amount of hours in the day." What a point! I always feel like there isn't enough time in the day and that all I do is work, so I decided to test myself.
Saying you "don't have time for that" doesn't mean that you actually don't have time for it: it means you are choosing to do something else that is more valuable to you with your time. I also think that is a completely valid excuse. BUT when your Grandma asks you to come over for dinner, maybe don't tell her that you are "choosing to do something else more valuable to you." Might not go over well...
So, I took a few notes. If there are 24 hours a day, what am I doing during mine? I created an estimate on most of what my day consists of. There are some days where all I do is sit around eating pizza and watching Bravo. There are others where I'm working literally from dawn til dusk, with snack breaks. The average day, however, is somewhere around here:
A pie chart! mmmm pie. Click to enlarge.
Now...I have to wonder how many of these things I am doing while working. Watching tv/working. Eating/working. Hey, my brain is even going while I'm exercising, but I'm not sure that's the point. I actively force myself to at least try to do other things, to broaden my horizons, or I think I might go insane. Most of you have probably heard me blabbing about my newfound favorite thing: French classes at the Alliance Française. I'm in love with it. I've wanted to learn French since I was a little kid, and I'm so excited that I bought these on Etsy yesterday. eek!
What are you doing during your day? What do you wish you were doing? I kinda wish I was being really rich in Paris, but to each his own.
Saying you "don't have time for that" doesn't mean that you actually don't have time for it: it means you are choosing to do something else that is more valuable to you with your time. I also think that is a completely valid excuse. BUT when your Grandma asks you to come over for dinner, maybe don't tell her that you are "choosing to do something else more valuable to you." Might not go over well...
So, I took a few notes. If there are 24 hours a day, what am I doing during mine? I created an estimate on most of what my day consists of. There are some days where all I do is sit around eating pizza and watching Bravo. There are others where I'm working literally from dawn til dusk, with snack breaks. The average day, however, is somewhere around here:
Now...I have to wonder how many of these things I am doing while working. Watching tv/working. Eating/working. Hey, my brain is even going while I'm exercising, but I'm not sure that's the point. I actively force myself to at least try to do other things, to broaden my horizons, or I think I might go insane. Most of you have probably heard me blabbing about my newfound favorite thing: French classes at the Alliance Française. I'm in love with it. I've wanted to learn French since I was a little kid, and I'm so excited that I bought these on Etsy yesterday. eek!
What are you doing during your day? What do you wish you were doing? I kinda wish I was being really rich in Paris, but to each his own.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Needle-Felting It UP
Aren't these girls stylish??
Do you ever, I don't know...feel the need to make a piece of sushi out of wool roving? These ladies did! Check out Sarah & Carrie in our needle-felting sushi class. This is a sneak-peek at our brand new needle-felting kits coming this November, and there will be only TWO more of the sushi workshops before we close up shop and go to video tutorials. Interested? Sign up here for the October 28th workshop, or here for the November 4th workshop.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Great idea: Little Free Library
Have you heard about this amazing new movement: Little Free Library? It is a take-a-book, leave-a-book concept where individuals or groups can host a book nook for their neighbors. Beginning in Wisconsin and Minnesota, there are now about 3000 of them across America. With goals of spreading good cheer, literacy and library awareness, LFL provides a handful of bird-house like starter nooks (about $250 and up) or you can build your own.
I would LOVE to jump on this bandwagon, especially since I live on a block full of kids. I bet if a few of us parents got together, we could split the cost and create something super special! Who's with me?!
Photo source: DesignMom
Photo source: Apartment Therapy
I would LOVE to jump on this bandwagon, especially since I live on a block full of kids. I bet if a few of us parents got together, we could split the cost and create something super special! Who's with me?!
Photo source: DesignMom
Photo source: Apartment Therapy
Monday, October 1, 2012
Sweet Teef
Are any of you fans of the fantastic blog, My Milk Toof? It's pretty much the greatest thing ever: the adventures of two little teeth, ickle and Lardee, and their goldfish, Carrot. So sweet, charming and authentically unique. Plus, I'm so glad to hear that the creator has made a book. What a great gift idea!
Photo via My Milk Toof
This picture is my favorite (I love raccoon-skin caps!):
Now of course I need the book, dang! These got me thinking of little ickle and Lardee. Brand new rubber stamps with new, awesome egg carton packaging from The Small Object. Look at that little toof! We have a bunch in stock right now at our online shop.
And for your sweet toof, check out this recipe from Smitten Kitchen for Pink Lemonade bars. I know what I'm making this week!!
Photo via My Milk Toof
This picture is my favorite (I love raccoon-skin caps!):
Now of course I need the book, dang! These got me thinking of little ickle and Lardee. Brand new rubber stamps with new, awesome egg carton packaging from The Small Object. Look at that little toof! We have a bunch in stock right now at our online shop.
And for your sweet toof, check out this recipe from Smitten Kitchen for Pink Lemonade bars. I know what I'm making this week!!
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