A new home

Hi All,

I am over here now at my new blog (http://lievebee.blogspot.com/).  Bear with me while I work through all the kinks and formatting.

xo

Anna

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Weekday trip to Seattle

We snuck in a little mid-week trip to Seattle, the weather was gorgeous and I got to see this little guy again.  Bigger post to follow.

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Cute thing….

Enjoying a sweet rainy day in Portland.  The perfect addition would be this sweet goggle umbrella

{…via…}

 

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Ugh feelings + Flexitarian

What I should be doing is working my way through the above reading list…what I am doing instead is having that “ugh” feeling.   The feeling that comes with fear, excitement, indecision or a new beginning. (I am also catching up on all my favorite blogs, making an elaborate breakfast, calling everyone I know, cleaning, looking through old paperwork and anything else to keep me away from that stack!)

Also finally figured out what I am….a flexitarian. (E is also a flexitarian-by-association and he is none too pleased)

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Stamps of Disapproval

{via}

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The no-good-very-bad-day

Today was just not my day.  Not-my-day in a on hold with the bank for half an hour, busses driving by and tripping in front of an audiences kind of not-my-day.  I managed to get home in one piece and (after deciding to drink on East Coast time *thank you sis) resolved to turn the day around and make a date night out of it.  Enter my trusted Kitchen Aid, which honestly makes me feel like a bit of a cheater, but is fabulous none the less.

On the menu was pizza with homemade dough and fallen lava cakes.  I have made pizza dough before but have never been really impressed.  The below recipe is definitely a keeper!

Pizza Dough

3 1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 pkg (2 1/2 tsp) quick rise yeast

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. salt

1 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees)

2 tbsp. olive oil

With a dough hook, mix all dry ingredients until combined.  Add the water and olive oil in a steady stream until combined.  Add more water as needed until the dough is tacky and mix about 10 minutes.  Transfer to a floured surface and make a ball.  Transfer ball to a oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap.  Let rise 2 hours.  Shape into two balls and transfer one to an airtight container in the freezer. (dough will last for 2 months; when ready to use-thaw for 3 hrs on the counter)  Let dough rest on counter for 15 minutes before rolling out into crust.  Transfer to a oiled pan, add toppings and bake at 450 degrees for 9-12 minutes.

*I took the advice of a baker and just added the dry yeast to my other dry ingredients, if you are worried about the yeast not rising, you can add it to the warm water with a pinch of sugar and let stand on the counter for five minutes prior to adding to the recipe

I used the Fallen Lava Cake recipe from The Best Recipes Cookbook by Cooks Illustrated.

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Eukanuba dog show

Last weekend we packed up and headed out to the Eukanuba Dog Show. Neither of us had ever been and we were both sort of expecting something similar to the movie “Best in Show”. It did not disappoint. There was more primping, hairspray, and teasing than I really thought possible. All of the owners were absolutely fabulous and completely in character. Some of the more bizarre “rituals” I didn’t want to snap photos of as I didn’t want to offend the serious competitors but I did manage to catch a few.

p.s. top prize for the weekend was $250,000!!!

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  It is about 5am on Christmas morning and following tradition, I am awake, by myself and waiting.

(photo credit: Apartment Therapy The Kitchn)

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Write-a-bike

Can you picture E and I cruising around on the weekends on our own custom write-a-bike?

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Road trip food

Eating “on the fly” for E and I is just not something that has ever come easy of us, and by ‘us’ I mean me.  Growing up, black bean stir fry, leeks and arugula were the norm (I was school age before I figured out what a corn dog was) so the thought of eating somewhere “unknown” sends me into total brat mode.

Last weekend, cruising down the country roads E spotted a roadside stop called “JUNKYARD DOG”.  When he suggested we stop and I agreed, he made a b-line for the parking lot.

the decor was quite cute:

they even labeled their wind chime in case you missed what it was supposed to be!

Evidently, Coors light is the drink of choice for the hot dog.  Since I was already going there, I figured I may as well jump in! I still cannot get over how absolutely thrilled E was with my choice of lunch-he literally could not wipe the grin off his face, making it well worth the stop.

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