Wednesday, February 16, 2011

No Knead Dutch Oven Bread

What is the problem with carbs? Don't they know how delicious they are? Don't they know how they don't love me like I love them? I am SO mad at my neighbor Kristi (not really I love her to pieces) but she was babysitting my boy and she had a friend over who was showing her how to make this bread. Well, I should have never tried it but I did! So I RAN OUT to Wal-Mart and bought me a dutch oven (dang those things are so expensive, I got mine on clearance for $50) and whipped up- ok not whipped up it does take two days to make, but it is very simple. Here is the recipe if you are interested.

No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread

1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting. You may use white, whole wheat or a combination of the two.

1 1/2 tsp salt

Cornmeal or wheat bran for dusting



1.In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the flour and salt, stirring until blended. The dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2.The dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it. Sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 15 minutes.

3.Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface or to your fingers, gently shape it into a ball. Generously coat a clean dish towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal. Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another towel and let rise for about 1 to 2 hours. When it’s ready, the dough will have doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4.At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 475 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid. Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up. The dough will lose its shape a bit in the process, but that’s OK. Give the pan a firm shake or two to help distribute the dough evenly, but don’t worry if it’s not perfect; it will straighten out as it bakes.

5.Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake another 15 to 20 minutes, until the loaf is beautifully browned. Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.

A rainy day in Southern Cali...means lots of fun, wet clothes, and mud. We do love when we get to have fun in some weather.
Thanks for stamping by!
Samantha

Friday, February 4, 2011

Disneyland DONE!









This was the album I bought especially for all of our Disneyland trips. We had passes from 2005-2006 and 2009-2010- so we had A LOT of pictures. I worked on it for 10 hours straight a few Saturdays ago and then finished up last Monday! Whew... never thought you could have too much Disney... but I am glad it is all done!












Saturday, January 29, 2011

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

SALE-A-BRATE COME ON!!!!!

You know the song... cel- e-bration come on! Noisemaker 1  by Kool and the Gang- Well, that's what is in my head today! I am dancing  Disco Boogie around singing that song...cuz' my favorite time of the year is here! Sale-A-Bration and it's almost Spring! So click on the SAB catalog on the side bar to be taken to the catalog filled with FREE STUFF! Smile 

Here's the deal: Spend $50 on any product before shipping and tax- get a free stamp set, DSP,decor elements, digital content CD, or a ribbon and button pack! Can't decide- that's OK......becasue for every $50 you spend pick something else out! Funny YES- MORE STUFF FOR FREE! Holy Moly 

So call me (951) 788-9640 to place your order anytime now thruMarch 31st or email me samanthaesqueda@yahoo.com or go right to my online store http://www.westcoaststamper.stampinup.net/

And don't forget if you can't find anything in the SAB catalog that you have to have (which I really doubt that) then you can go to the last page of the SAB catalog and it will give you approximately another 40 items in the BIG CATALOG that you can get for FREE!
What are you waiting for???? Hurry up- Hurry Up  place an order today (January) another in February and March!

 BeeKIND! Please order today!
Thanks for Stampin BY!
Samantha





Saturday, January 22, 2011

Card Swap Saturday!

WOW- what a wonderful day. We had such a great group of girls this time and very creative beautiful cards. Have fun checking them out!

Yolanda, Katherine, and Marlene- very talented ladies!

My Card

Yolanda's love you much card

Marlene's pop-out heart card

Melissa's Sweet Birthday Card

Debbie's love's me, love's me, love's me card :)

Gloria's love you butterfiles card
Thanks for Stampin by!
Samantha

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Card Swap this Saturday

I am so excited that we are FINALLY having a card swap this Saturday and I have a couple of new gals that I met at a scrapbook day :)

All you have to do is design (A very wonderful) card and cut all the supplies for it for at least 8 people and then bring your adhesive, scissors, and cutter to my house and we go around making each others cards. We all bring a dish to share..... what could be better than friends, food, and stampin????

If you are anywhere near the riverside area we would LOVE to have you!

Thanks for Stampin by!

Samantha

Friday, January 14, 2011

Days 11-15

Day 11- another picture of me and my friends
Stephanie, Brittney, and me New Years EVE 2011

Day 12- Why I have a blog, how did I find out about blogs???

I found out about typepad blogs that are $4.95 a month from my friend Sharon Rivera (check out her amazing work on her blog) but then I found out about blogspot for free! I was already a journaler and scrapbooker so of course I wanted to start a blog. I tried doing 2 blogs one for family and one for crafts but geesh... I just couldn't keep up... so I combined them (even though I don't like how my friends have my blog as Samantha's stampin blog on thier blog instead of the Esqueda family blog...but whatever!)

Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt me.

I am sorry that I gave you advise that you didn't like after you asked me for advise. Sometimes that is just how life is. I really can't believe that it was enough to ruin a great friendship and wonderful times. I hope that someday you can forgive and hope that when you say something to someone that they don't agree with that they forgive you and allow you to still be in thier life. I am sure that that has already happened- since no one is perfect and we all say stuff that is offensive or what other don't believe to be true, to others sometimes in our life. You may not even know about it becasue the person moved on and didn't even mention it. I know sometimes friendships are better ended when there are a lot more problems than good times, but I didn't feel that was the case with us. I wish you and your family well.

Love, Samantha

Day 14- A picture of me and my family


Day 15- The first 10 songs on my iPod
actually I listen to Pandora and I just typed in Lady Gaga and what ever that brings up is what I listen to...a lot of Katy Perry also

thanks for stampin by!
Samantha
off to scrapbook tomorrow so stay tuned next week for some great scrapbook pages!