My Daughters' Wedding

Haven't taken a chance to write about my daughters wedding. It's almost two months now. I don't write much, because I don't know how to express my feelings well. But here goes.

It was beautiful!!! A nice day and we didn't see any rain until we were almost home.

In our church we are sealed for time and eternity, so we go to our temples and have the ceremony there. Very special, very sacred, very peaceful. It is just a special feeling inside, not that all marriage ceremonies are not special and beautiful, they are. I love how you know that you are seal to your spouse always, and because of this sacredness, you strive hard to stay married and work on your relationship with your spouse. In the ceremony Michelle cried tears of happiness and we all felt the spirit there. She is a good example to her nephews and nieces and cousins.

The reception was at our church building and the lady who was in charge of decoration did a fabulous job! It was magical and beautiful!!!! Words cannot describe it all, so hopefully the pictures will.

As I drove to my house to finish and pick up the cake, I started to panic. It was hot and steamy out side and I was worried the frosting on the cake would melt. So we packed each tier carefully and away we went. Whenever I make wedding cakes I finished them at the reception, in case the decorations fall from the driving. Well we didn’t get home early enough from the wedding ceremony, so I was rushed and got to the church as the reception was starting. A few people suggested to hurry up and get in the reception line as the mother-of-the bride should do. But how do you hurry the decorations on the cake. I did my best and one of the corners of the bottom tier fell off, so I had to ‘glue’ it back together with more frosting and toothpicks. Any way for all that panic, Michelle thought the cake looked great!

At the reception there were lots of guests and things went well. She looked lovely and we all liked the tux, Alex chose to wear. They both are a good looking couple and are very happy.

It was sad to see them leave for their honeymoon, as I realized I won’t see her everyday, anymore. She now has her own life to live. So to me it is a happy day and a sad day. I hope and pray the best for them and that they will strive to live a great married life!

(By the way, no one ate the toothpicks, as luckily it was the last piece of cake to be cut.)

I want to thank all who helped by taking these pictures: Sarah, Julie, Joey, Cynthia, and Seth. (I also took some.)

Berry Crumble Cake

Jamie,

Made this a couple of weeks ago and forgot to put in on my blog. Didn't have plums right away, so made the 'Plum Crumble Cake' with berries. Oh my gosh! Delicious!!! Thanks for your recipe. Only difference is that I used 1 cup blueberries and 1 cup raspberries! Can't wait to try with the plums. I enjoyed how you tasted a coffee cake, yet the crispy bread crust.

What mixture of the two! We really enjoyed it, for the recipe go to:

http://lifesafeast.blogspot.com/2009/07/jamie-and-clare-bake.html

Very easy to make, hope all of you try it!

BBD #22 Sweet Breads

Almost forgot to post my bread for this months BBD. It is hosted by Stefanie on this blog:

http://stefanie-herberth.de or link to this month bread is: http://stefanie-herberth.de/2009/07/anouncing-breadbakingday-22-sweet-breads/

As most of you know I enjoy this group of people and all the different types of breads from around the world. Everyone is such great bakers and I enjoy reading their blogs. Hope you will too and begin to bake some breads! Thanks, Stefanie for hosting this months Sweetbreads.

In my family, at the holidays we make delicious sweet rolls, so I thought I would try and find a new raisin bread recipe that we could eat for breakfast or snack time. As I am living with my oldest daughter for a bit, I went to the local library and check out some new bread books. One I came across is called: Prairie Home Breads. I found a raisin bread that sounded like what I wanted. Hudson Flour Company is from here and the story that went along with this recipe was great! So here is the recipe, I adapted it just a bit.

The Miller’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread

2 cups milk

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cups whole wheat flour

4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons dry instant yeast

1 ½ cups raisins, plumped in 1 cup warmed apple juice and drained (save juice)

2 large eggs

1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and warm (100 degrees). Remove from the heat and add the butter so it melts.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer or another large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, and unbleached flour, the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and yeast. Using the paddle attachment or a wooden spoon, then beat in the eggs, saved juice and warm milk until you have a soft dough.

3. Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough adding the raisins for 3 to 4 minutes, until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if necessary. Or turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand. Place the dough in a large oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

4. Grease 2 loaf pans, (9-by-5-by-3-inch) and set aside. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in the prepared an. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the bread for 30 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top and sounds hollow when lightly tapped on the bottom; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register 190 to 200 degrees. Cool in the pan or on a wire rack.

This adapted recipe comes from the book: Prairie Home Breads

by: Judith M. Fertig

The orginial recipe:

The Miller’s Cinnamon and Raisin Bread

Makes 1 loaf

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk

2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter

3 to 3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten (available at health-food stores and grocery stores)

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons dry instant, rapid-rise, or quick yeast

2/3 or ¾ cups raisins, plumped in hot water and drained

2 large eggs, beaten

1. In a small saucepan, heat the milk and warm (100 degrees). Remove from the heat and add the butter so it melts.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer or another large bowl, combine 3 cups of the flour, the brown sugar, gluten, cinnamon, salt, and yeast. Using the paddle attachment or a wooden spoon, beat in the raisins, then beat in the eggs and warm milk until you have a soft dough.

3. Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough for 3 to 4 minutes, until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if necessary. Or turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand. Place the dough in a large oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

4. Grease a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan and set aside. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in the prepared an. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the bread for 30 minutes, or until it is golden brown on top and sounds hollow when lightly tapped on the bottom; an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register 190 to 200 degrees. Cool in the pan or on a wire rack.

Book: Prairie Home Breads

by: Judith M. Fertig

Moving

It has been very hard to move after 16 1/2 years. But for now living with my oldest daughter until the end of this month. Very weird to be an empty nester. Haven't got back into the swing of things. It has been nice to be with Cynthia, while her children are visiting their dad. The hardest part is to have your things in storage and when I go to bake, I don't have the items needed to do so. I would be scrapbooking, but again everything is in storage. I bought some yarn to crochet a new tote bag and do some reading, to keep me busy. Have also been helping Cynthia re-do some of the rooms in her duplex. It has been fun to meet some of her neighbors.

Will be making some raisin bread soon, so will get that recipe up.

Am missing the grandchildren and McKenzie and Michelle.

Just haven't been in the mood to blog, hopefully soon!