Thursday, November 29, 2012

A Few of my Favorite Things

Aah, it might be gray and gloomy outside
but this is precisely the kind of day that reminds me again why I love being a homemaker.  Warm and snug in my little house,  I'm enjoying the beginning of the Christmas season.
There are the decorations, including this jewelry tree my beloved grandma Nana churned out one year -- I believe she made about ten of them.  Nana's been gone a few years now, but that just makes the things she made all the sweeter.
There's the Christmas music blaring,
the fire blazing (it IS blazing in there, trust me),
the most wonderful scented candle in the world -- mint chocolate, does it get any better?
the World Vision gift catalog to ponder (let's see, do you think Grandpa would prefer ducks this year, or maybe a goat for the needy?)
And this:  sweet brioche with dried cherries.  Recipe from this book.  Courtesy of my very accommodating bread machine.

SWEET BRIOCHE WITH DRIED CHERRIES

3 eggs
1/2 c. water
1 stick butter
3 1/4 c. flour
1/3 c. plus 2 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1 T. yeast
1/2 c. dried cherries
In bread machine, dump eggs, water, butter, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.  Start the machine.  Once it beeps (mine does this at about 30 minutes in), it's time to add the dried cherries.
This is lovely fresh from the machine, or made into toast later.

 

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9 Comments:

Blogger Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I may try that bread recipe tomorrow. I actually have all the ingredients!

November 29, 2012 at 3:32 PM  
Anonymous Barbara H. said...

There's nothing quite like baking to cozy up an overcast day.

November 29, 2012 at 3:57 PM  
Blogger Sunny Simple Life said...

How cozy the scene you set. I am loving our cloudy rainy weather too and decorating for the holidays.

November 29, 2012 at 4:31 PM  
Blogger Tina said...

Hello Lynn, thank you so much for your nice comment at my food blog! I am not sure what part of the country you are in but the shot of the sky in one photo reminded me of Pennsylvania. My home state which I miss at time :-)

Lovely brioche you made. Would go wonderfully well with my afternoon coffee.

November 30, 2012 at 9:08 AM  
Blogger Farm Girl said...

I like your favorite things. I bet you have had more of the storm than we have. My husband's Grandma made those trees too, how I wish we were married when she was making them, I would have loved to have one. I just love them.
My garden didn't do well this year either. Just the eggplant. It is still going to town. I think it was just too hot.
We haven't got too much rain but I am keeping my fingers crossed for the next round. Stay dry and close to the fire. :)

December 1, 2012 at 6:25 AM  
Blogger Elena said...

Your bread looks so yummy! I love youre grandma's tree. I have some snowflakes my mom made many years ago and they too are such sweet reminder of her. Have a wonderful Christmas season!

December 2, 2012 at 7:06 PM  
Blogger ~~louise~~ said...

Hi Lynn!!!

Thank you so much for leaving your encouraging words on my blog. You are as sweet as that Sweet Brioche with Dried Cherries. (let's not tell Marion about it though. She'll have me baking it to relive her gout, lol :)

I enjoyed you sharing "a few of your favorite things" and just in case I don't make it back here before Christmas, enjoy the season and a very Merry Christmas to You and Yours!!! Louise

December 6, 2012 at 5:37 PM  
Blogger Miss Debbie said...

Hi Lynn, Thanks for visiting me! Seems we have a stove in common...we have a Squire that looks identical! We get a similar catalog from Samaritan's Purse. Always exciting deciding what to "buy"!! I usually choose the things that keep on giving! I'll have to share your recipe with my daughter...she is the bread maker in the family!

December 6, 2012 at 6:46 PM  
Blogger Blond Duck said...

I hope you're having a good holiday season!

December 11, 2012 at 7:02 PM  

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