Slacking

I have totally been slacking on blogging.  My goal is to try and keep it more up to date, at least weekly.  We'll see how this goes, I have a ton of posts I want to catch up on.  A couple today should be a good start and hopefully more later this week.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Today is St. Patrick's Day!  It is one of my favorite days of the year!  I haven't actually figured out why I like it sooo much, but it's great.  Maybe it's all the green or that more often than not it feels like Spring come St. Patty's day.  Whatever the case I am pretty excited.  Plus, I have some of the most amazing St. Patty's day socks, they are argyle (of course) with green , white and orange.  I would like to expand my collection of St. Patty's day socks and found the perfect pair this year.  Sadly, when I went to buy them, they were no longer on the shelves.  Hopefully, I can find them on clearance after today.  Anyway, I think that's enough about socks and hope everyone has a fantastic day and doesn't get pinched!

P.S. pictures to come of my fabulous socks!  :D

Spring is Right Around the Corner!

The last few days have been absolutely gorgeous!  I've been able to go outside without a heavy coat and am loving it.  It's currently 55 degrees and this week looks to be nice all week.  We're talking upper 60's and maybe above 70 degrees.  I am pretty excited and am looking forward to it.  I also am excited that Spring Break is this week and St. Patrick's Day!!!  I love St. Patty's Day, it's one of my favorite holidays and a good reason to wear my favorite color, green.  I like most greens, but really like a nice, bright Kelly green.  Oh yeah and my amazing argyle St. Patty socks!  So, as you can tell I am a little excited about Spring's beautiful weather and St. Patrick's day.  :D

P.S. it was so nice today RyGuy and I went for a run outside, it was great to run outside instead in the garage on my treadmill.

Homework

So, I should be doing homework right now.  It's amazing how you can find all sorts of stuff to do when there's homework to be done.  My husband made a good point about homework as he left for class this evening.  I asked him he is able to come home early if he wanted to from class because he gets done with his work long before his class is over.  He said, "Yeah, I could, but there are distractions at home and I am less likely to get my homework done".  Case and point, me.  I am finding all sorts of distractions and have finished maybe an eighth of my homework.  Oh well, I can't really complain, my teachers are great and give us time in class to do our work book activities.  This is the first night I've had to do the work at home.  So, I should be off to finish.  Glad there isn't a big test tomorrow, there is a quiz however. . .

Kuchen

Growing up my mom and aunts would make a wonderful German dish called Kuchen.  It's amazingly delicious!  It's a sweet dough, with fruit on the bottom and then topped with custard.  It's not overwhelmingly sweet though, it's the perfect balance of sweet bread and creamy custard goodness.  Thanks to my Mom who taught me how to cook/bake and my Great Aunt's recipe now I can make it.  The last two time I have made it, I have been asked what it is.  So, I thought I would share the process of making it and the recipe. 

Fresh fruit for part of the filling, apples and peaches.

Fresh blueberries being made into pie filling

Sliced apples waiting to be mixed with in with the ones that already have cinnamon and sugar

Sliced peaches, lightly sprinkled with sugar

Blueberry pie filling

10 cups of flour, 2 cups boiled water, 2 cups scalded milk, 3 eggs and oil mixed with sugar

3 pkgs. rapid rise yeast

3 pkgs. of yeast and 3/4 cup of the boiled water, that is now luke warm

Sweet dough before the flour is added

Dough with the flour added, before raised to double in size

The dough has doubled!

For the custard, 8 eggs and 1 quart of heavy whipping cream

The custard starting to cook

Finished custard

Dough all pressed into pie pans

Fruit on the bottom

Topped with custard

Sprinkled with cinnamon.  (This is a must!)

Had some left over dough and made some buns

They're really yummy too.  Especially, when still warm and you put some butter on them

4 finished kuchen

One dozen finished kuchen

See all the nice layers?!  Yum!!!

Kuchen, it's delicious and worth the time it takes to make it

Kuchen takes a long time to make, but the end result is totally worth it.  The first time I made them by myself it took somewhere between 6 and 7 hours.  This last time was much better, it only took 3 hours and 45 mins.  Pretty much cutting my time in half was great.  So, on to the recipe. . .


Sweet Buns
2 cups milk (scalded and cooled to luke warm)
2 cups boiled water (cooled to luke warm)
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
2/3 cup oil
3 eggs
3 pkgs. yeast (dissolved in 3/4 cup of the boiled water that is now luke warm)
10-12 cups flour

Mix all the ingredients except the flour.  Then once everything is well mixed add the flour one cup at a time.  Knead until smooth, dough will be soft and sticky.  Grease the bowl and cover with a dish towel, then let dough raise until doubled.  Once doubled knead twice before shaping into bottom of pie pans.  Don't let raise while in the pie pan. Top with fruit of choice and then fill with custard (see custard recipe below). 

**Note: if you are using this recipe for buns, knead twice before shaping into buns and then let rise until double in size before baking.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 mins. or until golden brown and brush with butter.

Custard Filling for Kuchen
1 qt. heavy cream
8 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup flour
Pinch of salt
3 tsp. vanilla

While the dough is doubling mix all the above ingredients in a pan and simmer on low-medium heat until thick (pudding like consistency).  Stirring constantly as it can scorch easily.  Stop cooking before it sets.  Once finished pour over fruit and sweet dough in prepared pie pans, then spinkle with cinnamon.  Bake kuchens at 350 degrees for 20-25 mins. or until set and edges of dough are golden brown.  Cool and enjoy!

Yields: 12 Kuchen

**They freeze well and make a great breakfast, just take out of the freezer the night before to thaw.

Birthdays

Rylan and I share January as our birthday month.  His is January 15th and mine the 21st.  Two years ago he was my early birthday gift!  I couldn't have been happier, he is sooo much fun and makes me smile, laugh and brings joy everyday.  Here are some pictures from his birthday party and then some from when my hubby took me out on a date for my birthday.  I can honestly say that this year was one of the best birthdays I have had in a few years. Thank you Greyson for a nice relaxing day and a wonderful date and Happy Birthday to our wonderful son Rylan!  :)

Veggie Tales aka Bob and Larry cake

I love this picture, his face is priceless!

Helping mommy blow out the candles

Ooo, let's see how the frosting tastes!

Mmmm, that's good frosting!

Opening a box of his favorite Lemon cookies

A book!

Grandma and Grandpa got me a sit and spin!  I think mom and dad are more excited than me though.

Trying to take a family picture, Rylan's more interested in the movie that's on.

My hubby Greyson and me.

Love you hubby!!!

It Almost Feels Like Spring!

In case you haven't notice I am a bit anxious for Spring to arrive.  The last couple of days have been glorious!  Between 50 and 60 degrees, which at the end of January is not exactly normal.  It's supposed to snow on Mon. and Tues., but I figure why not enjoy this beautiful day while I can.  I walked to the mailbox in a long sleeve t-shirt and pants, it's so nice not to have to be bundled up.  There maybe a walk in store for later, maybe even a run.  Well, I should be off. . .hope everyone enjoys their weekend!