basic pizza dough recipe at epicurious

Ingredients
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm water (105° to 115° F)
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
olive oil for the bowl

Preparation
Sprinkle the yeast over the water. Let stand 1 minute, or until the yeast is creamy. Stir until the yeast dissolves.

In a large bowl, combine the 2 cups flour and the salt. Add the yeast mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.

Lightly coat a large bowl with oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to oil the top. Cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm, draft-free place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

Flatten the dough with your fist. Cut the dough into 2 pieces and shape the pieces into balls. Flatten the dough slightly. Dust the tops with flour. Place the balls of dough on a floured surface and cover each with plastic wrap, allowing room for the dough to expand. Let rise 60 minutes, or until doubled.

***
Basic Savory Pie Dough:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 sticks butter, cut into small cubes

1 pinch baking powder

6 to 10 tablespoons ice water

Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the lard and work it in with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, working it in with your hands. Add only as much as you need to make a smooth ball of dough.

Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. For 2 crusts, cut the dough in 2 and put the second half back in the refrigerator.

For each crust, roll the dough out on the floured surface into a circle about 12 inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick. Gently fold the circle of dough in half and then in half again so that you can lift it without tearing it, and unfold into a 9-inch pie pan. Fill and proceed as directed in the recipe.

amy winehouse - rehab
ting tings
black kids - teach your boyfriend how to dance
ra ra riot
okkerville river
decemberists - wonder
decemberists - barbary allen
decemberists - valerie plame
decemberists - sons & daughters
decemberists - we both go down together
justin roberts - meltdown
ralph's world - coffee
mates of state - only offer
the editors
* that song that was on PASTE about old houses*
secret agent 23 skidoo - blue grasshopper
spearhead - hole in the bucket
* that hop-hop-hippity song
* the day after halloween
gustafer yellowgold - pine cone lovely
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Santagold - Lights Out
smiths - ask
smiths - panic
siouxie - the passenger
The Clash - London Calling
dan bern - marilyn?

* * * * *
Dude. Gotta find: Son Lux - At Home With Walls and Mazes (robin's fave from best of 2008)

also: search LJ for this year

Plus-size clothes at overstock.com

v-neck shirt
ruched front shirt
short sleeved print top
"cowl"neck sweater - in the style of that teal shirt I got at target
boot cut jeans
awesome printed wrap dress
another short-sleeved wrap dress
If i could get one tunic, it would be this one
kimono style tie shirt

pink argyle van look-alike sneakers
pink skull slip-on sneaker
pink Pony high tops

100% wool "pashmina" - under $20
cashmere lightweight scarf - $20

retro, mostly green scrapbook paper
"zen garden" paper set
Basic Grey Scrapbook stuff
scrapbook paper - black and white w/ color accent pack
scrapbook kit - purple & green
clock kit
scrapbook planner/journal

Christmas shopping/ideas

BPAL imps:
for megan -
mad hatter
alice
cheshire cat
shub-niggurath
jack
for me -
mouse's long and sad tale

5 X 7 photobooks
@ Shutterfly
@ Snapfish

**
blog idea for baby blog:

mom & charlotte's playlist:
my only offer
meltdown
c-o-f-f-e-e
decemberists
gustafer yellowgold

next week - dad & charlotte's playlist

**
on music:

"How can you take advice from a nihilist? You know? They don't even care if they are going to live the next day."

- the guy from Of Montreal on why punk rockers have an unsustainable point of view on selling out/making money from music

on criticism:

"I'm a sensitive guy...I can't even self-Google."

**

look up Of Montreal packaging

**
Mates of State - My Only Offer Lyrics

Bought a home we bartered right.
Two kids, Two car delight.
Posed pictures on the walls.
Small talk in the bedroom halls.

Can't make it home tonight.
Go to sleep but leave the light.
I pretend to make a call.
Loose talk into bedroom stalls.

Oh, oh, oh is my only offer.
Stifle copies of myself.
Oh, oh, oh, or someone else.

My friends they all agree.
Give in to our defeat.
In secret we believe,
We're nothing, nothing, nothing that we need.

Oh, oh, oh, is my only offer.
Stifle copies of myself.
Oh, oh, oh, or someone else.

I always wanted to be the face in front of me.
Debating a life sucked out the energy.
Build up a wall made ut of finer things.
Piled in high so we could barely see it.

Oh oh oh is my only offer.
Oh, oh, oh, my only offer.

Oh, oh, oh, my only offer.
Stifle copies of myself.
Oh, oh, oh, it's all I have to offer.

the Lauren ring on etsy.com

this little piggy etsy shop - cute sundresses

Hang Loose Baby etsy shop

cute baby smock by liziedoos on etsy

smock like the one Charlotte got - edee's shop on etsy

criss-cross top w/o buttons by BirdandBean

cherry reversible pinafore dress on etsy (StarDustPixies)

cute pinafore dress / blue gingham reversing to bluegreen flowers

I heard about a restaurant in LA on one of my podcasts - Animal. Do you remember that show that was on FoodTv briefly, something about Two Dudes Catering? It was about these two dudes who kinda flirt with comfort food and molecular gastronomy, and they were on Iron Chef America and also, like I said, had their own show. Apparently they have a restaurant as well as their catering business, and it specializes in "dude food." A vegan couldn't eat there, a vegetarian or a Muslim would also have a hard time.

Needless to say, as soon as I heard this I tried to find a menu online, but it looks like their website is still "coming soon." I did find a few reviews, though.

LA Times review
blogger review

Also on this podcast? Kombucha. Dude, I am so over kombucha. That's so...late 2007. See, and this guy they are interviewing makes it sound so appealing. And yet...and yet...no, the fermented smell is just too much for me. I've tried a couple different flavors of a couple different brands, and it still didn't work. Maybe I'll try it again.

***
Valley Advocate article on The Free Harvest Supper

***
Thanks, Gabe. That's a lot of good info to think about. I love buying books for people, and I especially like getting GOOD books. We live in Sunderland now, which has a small library with sparse hours - I haven't even been there, yet, but I'd like to go and get some books out.

more shopping for wedding

shoes from torrid
peep-toe, kitten heel
pointy toe

random torrid stuff
wing ring
coil ring
spanx cami
plum leggings (like those turquoise ones i had in middle school!)

shoe shopping

http://zapp.me/z7449658
http://zapp.me/z7449663
http://zapp.me/z7424177
http://zapp.me/z7492243
http://zapp.me/z7348098

trying to find shoes for my brother's wedding. would love lime green pointy toed heels in a wide width. not finding them. :( pointy toed black heels in a wide width are a good second choice.

***
new foods:

kiwi (huge hit)
cheese tortellini (suck out the cheese, play with the noodles)
hickory potatoes from Bub's BBQ
peas, whole


**
http://www.emilydickinson.org/titanic/brooks3.html

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15829

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gwendolyn_Brooks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwendolyn_Brooks

flash beat drum

chicco play table

curiousity cube

counting and sorting farm

various salad dressing recipes

Ingredients:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon minced dried onion
1 clove garlic -- minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except buttermilk in a small bowl. While stirring, slowly blend in buttermilk. Chill at least 2 hours before using.

* * * * *

Ingredients:
2 cups Fresh Basil -- packed
3/4 cup Buttermilk
2 Green Onions
3/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon Pepper

Directions:

In a blender combine fresh basil, green onions and buttermilk. Blend until smooth. Add mayonnaise and pepper and whisk together. Store in refrigerator.

* * * * *

Recipe:
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Makes about 1 1/2 cups, serves 12

Ingredients
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon celery seeds
Sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Method
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Refrigerate for several hours before using so flavors blend and dressing thickens.

Nutrition
Per serving (2 Tbsp/23g-wt.): 10 calories (5 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 1g protein, 1g total carbohydrate (0g dietary fiber, 1g sugar), 0mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium

* * * * *

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
3/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 1/4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
1 1/2 teaspoons minced shallot
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoon celery seed

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, chives, shallot, mustard and celery seed. Refrigerate for one hour to allow the flavors to blend.

* * * * *

Here’s MollyGee’s recipe:

1 cup mayonnaise
1/3-1/2 cup buttermilk (depending on how thick you like it)
1 tsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1 or 2 cloves minced garlic
2 T chopped parsley or dill
2 T snipped chives
2 green onions, thinly sliced
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Whisk together mayonnaise, buttermilk, and vinegar, then add and mix in remaining ingredients. Will keep 3 or 4 days in refrigerator.

* * * * *

Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried mustard
4 tbsp dried onion flakes
2 tbsp dried parsley flakes
2 tbsp dried green onion flakes or freeze-dried chives
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 large tbsp cottage cheese

Place the buttermilk, cottage cheese, and seasoning in a blender and blend until creamy. Refrigerate.

* * * * *

Garden Herb Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp dried green onion flakes
1 tsp parsley flakes
2 tsp dried celery flakes
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp dried crushed oregano
2 tsp dried dill

1/4 cup vinegar
2 tbsp water
3//4 cup vegetable oil

Mix dry and wet ingredients. Shake well. Serve.

TAL episodes to listen to:

244: MacGyver
226: Reruns
125: Apocalypse
118: What You Lookin' At?
107: Trail of Tears
1: New Beginnings
3: Poultry Slam
87: A Very Special Sedaris Christmas
83: One of Us
46: Sissies
150: Kids as Adults
153: Dolls
157: The Secret Life of Daytime
234: Say Anything
245: Allure of the Mean Friend
188: Kid Logic
194: Before and After
197: Before it had a Name

Dress patterns found on Etsy.com

baby pinafore self-pub pattern
baby - complete Pixie Pattern Set (over 20) $15
double layer cute kid's pattern, looks self-pub
knitting pattern for a bunny in a dress, PDF. cute.
LOTR plus size Eowyn patterns, $8
easy McCall's patterns, 18,20,22
Butterick, 28-32
McCall's Bridesmaid/Victorian style - 16, 18, 20, 22
McCall's Petite size 12,14, 16, 18 - nice dresses, maybe too small
Butterick Medeival/Ren size 10, 20, 22 - love!
maternity patterns, simplicity, 16, 18, 20, 22
McCalls work clothes 18-20-22-24

other ideas

dad binary tee - etsy
my dad's a geek baby onesie
card inspiration
matching baby and dad duck shirt
baby and dad Hammer shirt
daddy's diaper tool belt
BEST - baby changing station tee

topics for baby blog:

moving/apartment/house

pets

food - organic vs. non organic?

breastfeeding

birth story

family & friends - nicole, jen s, chris & kelly

adorable clothes on sale from gymboree

indie hoodie
navy/white striped dress
80s rainbow hoodie
rainbow short-sleeved tee
rainbow long-sleeved tee
blue bias-striped dress
white patent leather shoes
two-piece long-sleeved outfit
black hoodie

CSA?

Western MA
this looks good - Pioneer Valley Community Supported Agriculture
Food Bank Farm
Hampshire College CSA
Mountain View Farm CSA

cajun mardi gras info

info, including song
Cajun women and the country mardi gras tradition
cajun and creole mardi gras @ folkstreams.com
wikipedia mardi gras entry
vocab word: courir de Mardi Gras (Mardi Gras Run)

Summer activities, 2008:

Western Mass Highland Games - Saturday, June 28 in Greenfield
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival - Saturday, July 19 at Look Park
Pipes in the Valley
North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival - Sat & Sun September 20 & 21st, in Orange

recipes

cooking light
cooking light/my recipes - entertaining
everyday food
vegetarian times

desserts (all light):
vanilla pound cake w/ lime glaze
mini cheesecakes with mango-raspberry sauce
lower fat fudge brownies* (calls for vegan margarine)
double chocolate cookies
orange-glazed almond cake
pear-walnut muffins

side dishes/random:
coconut ginger rice
traditional king cake - (i made this one year, i remember photocopying the recipe out of a cookbook at the library. came out pretty good, too.)
morning glory muffins

drinks?
frozen gin lemonade

Stuff from SkyBluePink:
chinese charms
watch parts
pirate cards
beeswax and puzzle bits

Etsy inspirations:
rosaries
stuff for collages/books
jewelry
alice in wonderland

rosary stamp, skull stamp, skull digital ephemera

writing exersizes

http://www.6ftferrets.com/exercise-content.html
Lisa Lippert's page on creative writing exersizes
Writing the journey
Creative writing exersize to cure writer's block
Yahoo ask - Where can I find poem writing exercizes?
book review on Amazon of "will Write for Food"

oh. marc.

http://seraphemera.livejournal.com/2005/05/08/

DCWV - Rock Star
Oriental Trading Scrapbooking Christmas stuff


http://withmalicetowardnone.blogspot.com/

http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/2005/09/price_gouging.html

http://musik-dresden.de/bands/empty-guns-bands-1426.html

http://www.thebeckoning.com/poetry/other-poets/other-poets.html

http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher_Michael_Collins/574248114

letter to Wondertime Magazine:


I'm reading your article based on pre-school philosophies, and I'd like to point out a couple things - #1, the red shame panties? not a montessori tenet -that's your child's particular school. the reggio emilio peace place? that's actually a montessori thing. Just saying.

veg and vegan sites to check out
SuperVegan
VegNews Webbies