Signs of Spring

With a bit of snow and rain in the forecast, it's nice to see signs of spring.

Lavash Bread

I picked up Peter Reinhart's "The Bread Baker's Apprentice" and decided to try my hand at Lavash bread. The recipe is actually for Lavash Crackers (which sound yummy, too), but you can also make a softer variation for roll-up pinwheel sandwiches by rolling the dough a little thicker than you would for crackers, and slightly underbaking it. The recipe was simple to follow, the dough easy to work with (I kneaded it by hand), and the resulting bread was tasty. Both BF and I really enjoyed it in sandwiches. Overall, not bad for my first time out. However, the next time, I will roll the dough a little thinner and reduce the baking time even more to make the finished bread just a tad more pliable.

Do you have any tips for making lavash bread? I'd love to hear them!

Cheers!--Janyce

Upcoming Events

Thought we might share some upcoming events:

March 18, 2011 - Bangor Arts Walk. From the top of Park Street to the bustling hub at Union and Main, experience the richness of Downtown Bangor! Dance, painting, sculpture, music, photography, fabric and fiber arts are all waiting for you to explore. Grab your friends, enjoy dinner downtown, then head out to discover the city’s art treasures. Sponsored by the Downtown Arts Collaborative.

April 2, 2011 - Financial Fitness for Women. How fit are you financially? Are you just starting out in a career or owning a business, are you mid-way in your career or is retirement within a few years? Do you need more information from financial experts on investments, taxes, budgets, health insurance? If you answer yes to any of these questions, please join us. There will be several workshop options in credit, insurance, investing, retirement and legal areas. The key note speaker is Marion Syverson, a financial expert and author. Proudly sponsored by Bank of America Home Loans & a fundraiser for the Maine Centers for Women, Work & Community. In partnership with area women's groups - Tuesday Forum, Zonta Club of Bangor & NAWBO. Free admission.
FMI: Women, Work and Community or call Renee Hudgens at (207)991-4926.

April 16, 2011 - The Big Thaw Arts, Crafts and Vintage Fair. 10am to 4pm at the Mayo Street Arts Center, 10 Mayo St, Portland, ME. What better way is there to celebrate spring than with handmade crafts, music, food, good times and good people? FMI: The Big Thaw Portland.

Simple Lunch

I made bread yesterday and paired it with some local cheese and an organic apple for a simple, but yummy lunch!--Janyce

Buoy Napkins

The sun came out long enough yesterday to get pictures of our newest design: buoy napkins. Now, we're just waiting for the weather to turn nice enough enjoy them with a picnic lunch!

The Big Thaw

We're happy to announce we'll be at "The Big Thaw" Arts, Crafts and Vintage Fair on Saturday, April 16 at the Mayo Street Arts Center, 10 Mayo St, Portland, ME. 10am to 4pm. What better way is there to celebrate spring than with handmade crafts, music, food, good times and good people? We're looking forward to seeing you there!

Cold day, warm scone

After teasing us with Spring, Mother Nature has brought Winter back to Maine with new found gusto. -10 brrrrr. To help get me through until Spring I've turned to baked goods.

Cinnamon Scone Recipe
2 cups flour
4 Tbsp cold butter chopped into small pieces
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg
3/4 cup milk or cream
1 tsp vanilla

Glaze
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp maple syrup



Mix dry ingredients together and blend in butter with a pastry blender
Lightly beat egg and mix in vanilla and milk
Add wet ingredients to dry
Cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes until golden brown on the bottom
Mix glaze ingredients together and drizzle over warm scones

No Skateboarding

I couldn't resist this picture. Something tells me it will be a while before anyone has to worry about skate boards and roller blades on this set of stairs.

Cheers!--Janyce

Things we love

Janyce and I are always trying to make our homes a little greener. This includes cutting down on the amount of plastic we use. Not using plastic is something that can be hard. It seems as if everything these days is bottled,wrapped, or lined with plastic. So we were really excited when Rocky Top Soap Shop came out with Shampoo Bars. Yeah!!! No more plastic bottles of shampoo. The bars lather up really nice and work great. They are Maine made too which means they get extra "eco-friendly" points for being produced locally.