Happy Domestication Day!

I don't what has come over me in my motherhood moments.  I feel the need to do things I haven't before and feel brave enough to do them.  Okay this one is pretty lame on the scale of lame to completely totally amazing...but hey, I tried something!


So since CC was born I started sewing.  Mind you I don't really know what I'm doing.  I followed a pattern (for the first time) to make CC a cute corderoy jumper.  I made CC's Christmas blanket with my amazing VT Kathleen Crawford who so diligently helped me with the construction of the blanket and the gathering of the ruffle.  I have been making hair stuff- bows, clips, etc.  and dabbling with some of my "small electrics" in the kitchen.

Today I decided to bust out the bread maker (see I told you it was on the lame side, I didn't really do much but dump the ingredients!)  I must preface this by saying that I was gifted the bread maker when I was in college by my mom and dad.  I tried it like 2 or 3 times (no success with the yeast actually making the dough rise) and then haven't touched it since.   When I was putting the griddle away in the entry way closet (don't get me started about the confined space we live in and our creative storage ways) I saw it sitting there, tucked underneath my spare new pair of nike flip flops and my retro Jordan 3 harbor blue basketball shoes.  I saw it and thought, I can't go wrong.

I have to also tell you that both my mother in law and sister in law are wonderous bakers.  They are always crafting and making things.  It hasn't always been a joy of mine, mainly because I didn't like to take the time, but now that I have my hubby and it is not just me that will enjoy it, I've been trying my hand at new things.

So back to the bread maker.  I pulled it down from the spot that it has been for more than 7 years-wiped it down inside and out and then decided to thumb through it for some recipe ideas.  I wanted to make plain white or potato bread but the recipe needed dry milk and I didn't want to go to the store.  I came across this Oatmeal Date bread.  I decided to make Oatmeal Craisin bread instead because a) I don't like dates, and b) I didn't have any on hand anyhow.  It seemed easy enough.  Brown sugar, flour, yeast (eek! will it work, my mom had a fear of yeast that was passed down to me I guess...), oil, water and salt.  I figured can't go wrong if it has brown sugar in it!

Here is the finished product.  Not the BEST bread I've tasted, but not the worst either.