My husband thinks New Years Resolutions are silly. He think if one wants to change something, they should just do it, instead of waiting for the new year to make a commitment. There’s probably some validity to that, but I like making resolutions.
There are about a million things I’d like to change in the coming year, but I tried to keep it to a reasonable few. Hopefully by posting them, I’ll be more motivated to actually keep them!
Specific Goals for 2010:
- Go to the gym at least twice a week
Brian and I are members at our local gym, but as winter has progressed and I’ve begun teaching full time (yay!) it’s been harder to get ourselves there. Ideally, I’d like to get to the gym every other day, but I’m hoping that by setting a goal of two days a week, I can be successful.
- Drink more water
This probably could’ve been my New Years Resolution for the past 15 years. I have never consumed as much water as one is supposed to. I could probably go through an entire day without drinking much more than my morning cup of tea (actually, I’m sure I have). In terms of specificity for this goal, I’d like to make sure I empty my water bottle at least once during work and consume a big glass of water in the afternoon. Again, the ideal would be even more liquid than this, but I like to start small.
- Add new posts to Relishments at least twice a week.
My recipe pile keeps growing, and my cooking’s getting better, but sometimes it just doesn’t translate to the site. Again, I’ll blame working for the drop in posts. Hopefully I can make this site more of a priority and keep you “posted” on what’s happening in my kitchen. Maybe I can even bring back Links of the Week (which would also help me stay on top of my reader!)
Not so specific goals:
- Learn to bake really good bread (recipe suggestions welcome!)
- Learn to cook with tofu (recipe suggestions welcome!)
- Learn to make more things that I usually buy (bread, crackers, yogurt, etc)
- Maximize my freezer space
- Create original recipes
Here are a couple of my favorite bread recipes:
MAPLE OATMEAL BREAD
Ingredients:
1 C. hot brewed coffee
3/4 C. boiling water
1/2 C. maple syrup
1/3 C. vegetable oil
1 C. uncooked oats
1/2 C. sugar
2 tsp. salt
2 pkgs yeast
1/4 C. warm water
2 eggs, lightly beaten
5 1/2 – 6 C. flour (white or wheat)
Combine the first 7 ingredients. Cool to 110-115 degrees. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oat mixture, eggs, and 2 C. flour; mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn out onto floured surface and knead in remaining flour. Knead until smooth and elastic (6-8 minutes). Place in a greased bowl; cover and let rise until doubled(about an hour). Punch down and turn onto lightly floured surface. Shape into 2 loaves; place into 2 greased 9×5 loaf pans. Cover and let rise about 30 minutes or until doubled.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, until browned.
Or, if you want something less thick and sweet, there’s always CHALLAH
Ingredients:
4 3/4 -5 1/4 C. flour
1 pkg yeast
1 1/4 C. water
3 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp margarine
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 egg yolk, beaten
2 tsp water
In a large mixing bowl stir together 2 C. flour and the yeast, set aside. In a medium saucepan heat and stir the 1 1/4 C. water, the sugar, margarine, and salt just until warm and margarine almost melts. Add margarine misture to flour mixture along with the two eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes). Shape dough into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface of dough. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hour).
Punch dough down. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface; divide into thirds. Cover; let rise 10 minutes.
Roll each third into an 18-inch rope. Place on a large baking sheet and braid. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double in size (30 minutes). Combine the egg yolk with the 2 tsp water, brush over braid.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped.
A challah recipe! You just made my day! Thank you, thank you, thank you Sasha!