erica danielle

During "soup season" aka winter there is nothing like warm bread and olive oil to accompany a steamy bowl of soup. The other night I found the best french bread recipe from Keep Home Simple, to go with our chili. This recipe is so easy, so fast and SO good you'll never be buying a baguette at the grocery store again! Ingredients (I halved this to make one loaf and it turned out perfect!): 2 1/2 Cups Warm Water 2 T. Yeast 2 T. Sugar 1 t. Salt 3 T. Oil 5 1/2 -6 Cups Flour Sprinkle the yeast and sugar over the water and let it sit for a couple minutes until it starts working. Add the salt, oil and flour and either knead the dough or use our dough hook attachment until the dough is smooth and kind of pulls away from the bowl. Let the dough rise for about 15 mins. I usually turn my oven on to 170 degrees, stick it in there and then turn off the oven, it rises quick. Turn the dough onto a silpat or a greased cookie pan and bake for 30 minu...

The season's of our Friday nights have dramatically changed over the last couple years. When we moved back to Chicago we made it our goal every Friday night to find the best BYOB in the city. We found some gems (and some duds) but it was the most fun tradition. When we found out we were pregnant the idea of getting back on the train to go anywhere sounded awful, so we opted for take-out nights in. Our neighborhood was full of diverse foods and we had fun trying new things. Our favorite by far was splitting a burrito from Lindo Michocan . We thought it was so great that we could both eat for under $4 (if we didn't get the chips and salsa). Now with little Lucy girl, and perhaps because Menomonie isn't necessarily diverse OR full of fun new restaurants to try we decided to start a new tradition: picking a fun recipe and cooking it together once Lucy goes to sleep. Our first go was a success, and we both decided this was such a fun way to spend time together and try someth...

Today is the last day of 2013. Lucy woke up early this morning and as we snuggled in bed, we all decided it was because she wanted to savor the last day of the year she was born. It truly has been the best year ever. Many, many ups and downs landing us on the mountaintop that we are on right now in our cozy home as a family of 3. Highlights include:  Mexico with the love of my life.  working with these 2 beauties every day  trip to Kentucky to visit this turkey.  Sten graduates. door county with kate and peter.  this amazing deck.  our babymoon to bay lake  our little chicky's birth!  a super successful eye surgery  thanksgiving  our first family vacation up north Christmas. Goodbye 2013. Cannot wait to see what 2014 will bring.

So not ready to come out of the Christmas time bubble. I had my mistletoe mix playing on repeat this morning while cleaning and putting away all of our million bags from staying at my parents for the last couple days. It was a magical Christmas from beginning to end. Highlights include: - Waking up Christmas Eve morning with Caleb and Emily, egg bake, PW caramel rolls, Lucy time, and of course a game of cards. Such special people. - Christmas Eve services at Cedarbrook. - Waking up Christmas morning and having a picnic by our fireplace with Lucy before hitting the road to celebrate with my family - Time around the tree with my family, opening presents, playing with the kids and eating a delicious meal. Lovin her fingers lately This is little Olive. Santa baby <3 dad's and babies, nothing better. unfortunately I did not get a picture of Amos. BUT he is as cute as EVER! Me and my girl. I just love her. - Family Balderdash game with so many laughs....