Easter Fun

yellow flowers

Not to rub it in or anything, but the flowers are lovely here and the weather is mild and sunny.

lilies

In honor of Spring Break and Easter, Kristen and I have been knitting Easter eggs. Well, she knit 2 and I knit one.

eggs

The pattern can be found here: http://purlbee.squarespace.com/knitted-easter-eggs/

She also made home-baked bread. We will have Pumpkin Soup and home-baked bread for dinner tonight, and lamb chops tomorrow.

bread

Kristen

The bread recipe is from the Good Housekeeping Cookbook:

5 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups flour
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 pkg. yeast
1/2 cup milk
butter

Combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Heat 1 1/2 cups water, milk, and 3 Tbsp. butter until very warm (120-130 degrees Butter does not need to melt.) With mixer at low speed, gradually pour liquid into dry ingredients. Increase speed to medium and beat 2 min. Beat in 3/4 cup flour to make thick batter. Beat 2 min. With spoon, stir in enough flour to make a soft dough.

Knead 10 min on floured surface. Place in greased bowl to rise till doubled. Punch down, cut in half cover with bowl for 15 min.

Grease 2 bread pans. On floured surface, roll out dough to 8 x 11", roll jelly-roll fashion and place in pans. Let rise till doubled.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush loaves with melted butter. Bake 25-30 min. till sounds hollow when tapped. Cool on wire racks.

And the Cream of Pumpkin Soup:

2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. minced garlic.
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
4 cups (32 oz) chicken broth
pinch nutmeg, salt, (white) pepper
1 cup half and half cream
1/4 cup grated asiago or parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. fresh parsley or another herb (sage, rosemary, basil)

Saute onion and garlic in butter. Stir in other ingredients till hot and smooth. Add cream and cheese just before serving. Makes about 6 cups.

This soup is a fine backdrop for lovely homemade bread, with its mild creamy flavor. Kristen's bread was perfect, with a lovely texture.