The One Where I Wax on About Baking!!!

Hey Y'all!

Well, I am four days away from FREEDOM! We have four days of school left this week! I have one more work day next Monday and then I am FREE for the SUMMER!!!! Pitty Pat and I are over the moon! AND, could I have used any more exclamation points in those last few sentences?

This weekend was a long weekend for us, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I spent everyday on the beach with several great books. I took a break from beaching' it today.. I am starting to resemble a coffee bean. And since my best friend is coming next Monday, I will have plenty of time to hit the beach again soon. Today I spent the day hanging with Mr. P, catching up on The Young and the Restless, straightening the house, and organizing my craft room with my projects that I want to work on this summer. Busy day, right? Oh, and I still have to cut the grass tonight when it cools down. Hello!

The other thing that I have been doing a lot of is baking. If you have been hanging around this blog for awhile, y'all know that I love to cook and bake. And trust me, I just might have to rename the blog, justjuliaknits and cooks because, once school is out, I have a ton of recipes that I can't wait to try! I don't know why it is easier for me to cook when school is out, I think I just enjoy it more and I have alot more time.

Anyhoo, onto my recent baking. A few blog posts back, I posted about a book I read, Friendship Bread. So over spring break, I made my own Amish Friendship Bread Starter, and the rest they say is history. I have baked loaves of bread for friends. But, what everyone seems to be clamoring for these days are my cookies! Y'all. They. Are. So. Yummy!!!

This is where all of the goodness starts. With your Amish Friendship Bread Starter! I have had mine going for about a month and a half now. I have given lots away and frozen some of it too. It comes in handy when it is frozen, you can bake on demand! Now my starter has a new home, a nice glass jar. It is very happy!

This is the acutal Amish Friendship Bread baking. The recipe makes two loaves.

Here is my Snickerdoodle batter. It is kind of sticky, but if you put it in the fridge over night, and then bake on parchment paper or a Silpat, you will have out of this world Snickerdoodles!

Here are the Snickerdoodles ready to go in the oven. Oh my!!!

GOT MILK? 

Here are my other cookies, and in my humble opinion, I prefer these over the Snickerdoodles. These are slap a pig, kick a horse GOOD! They are of course, Chocolate Chip. And they are perfection. Crispy on the outside, chewy and gummy in the middle.

 Paddington says, "Woman, you better bake me some Amish Friendship Bread Bones! I know where you sleep at night!"

I have tried many other recipes with my starter, all thanks to The Friendship Bread Kitchen. Another big hit that I have baked is the Triple Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread. That lasted all of 5 minutes! Luckily I have neighbors and friends at school who are happy recipients of my baking! :)

So that is what I have been up to! Check back tomorrow when I update my Read's From the Beachchair... I have read 4 great books this weekend!

See ya later!

:) JKP

SUMMERTIME!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Y'all,

Well, we are t-minus 5 days left in the school year. The last day for the children is NEXT Friday, June 3rd. I still have to go in a work Monday, the 6th. But we are SO CLOSE! I am always ready for summer, but this year in particular, I seem to be like a kid on Christmas Eve!

If you have been keeping up with my Twitter feed, you will notice that I have been busy baking and reading! And pondering drinking lots of Margaritas! Right around spring break, I made up my own batch of Amish Friendship Bread starter. Since then, I have made countless loaves and variations of Amish Friendship Bread, and cookies too! My co-workers have been the main recipients of my baked goods, and they are not complaining! As y'all know, I LOVE to bake and cook and having this starter around to feed and bake with has been quite fun! Over the long weekend, I have a post planned with all of my baking. It has been a great stress reliever!

The other thing that I have been doing a lot of is reading! I usually kick up my reading into high gear during the summer, but this year I started a little earlier. Somehow, I have come across a ton of books that I want to read, and they have found their way to me! I haven't updated my GoodReads yet, but I did want to post these on the blog! Also, I think this big reading push has a little something to do with all of my TV shows being on hiatus for the summer. No new Castle, Good Wife or Big Bang Theory. I am ready for my summer shows!

If you want a laugh out loud funny book, then you need to read Tina Fey's BossyPants. Now let me say, this is an "R" rated book, but y'all it is spit out your sweet tea funny. Just warn the folks at the beach that you are not crazy, the book is just funny!

As many of you know, my class mascot is the penguin. And, unless you live in the Antarctic, you probably know that Jim Carey is staring in "Mr. Popper's Penguins" that opens in June. So of course, I have read this book and I am now reading it aloud, a few chapters a day to my very excited second graders. Remember that this book was originally published in 1938... and that is what makes it so charming. I know they have changed the plot to be a bit more modern for the movie, but it is still cute. I am planning a movie date with some of my students so we can all see the movie together!

The weather was so nice when I got home this afternoon, that I picked up another book out of my library stash. The Provence Cure for a Brokenhearted is really great. It is about dealing with grief (which HELLO, I know a lot about) and recovering from loss. But this book is not sad. And, parts of it take place in France, which makes it a perfect summer read. Start it today!

In a pinch, when I want a quick breezy read, I always grab a Danielle Steele novel. However, reading Danielle these days is like reading a cookbook, she definitely has a recipe to writing her books. I checked out 44 Charles Street from the library last week. I finished it in a day sitting on the beach. It was OK, but you could do worse for a vacation read.

I have also picked up a few classics to read again once school gets out for summer. The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird are just waiting for me on my coffee table. Ahhhh.... SUMMER!

I am also stalking some online reading summer lists for kids. I will admit, I was a big nerd in school and read EVERY book on my summer reading list. I am still like that. Even though I am the teacher now, I still like to read the books on the summer reading list each summer. It's my way of earning a literary gold star!!!!

That's about all that has been going on here. My vertigo is still acting up, so I am drinking lots of water, cutting down on my caffeine and getting lots of rest. Keep your fingers crossed that it stays that way. The summer heat tends to do a number on my vertigo.

Pitty Pat can not wait for summer to start! Only 5 more days!!!
Tootles!
JKP

I'm Ok, You're Ok

Hey Y'all!

I just wanted to let y'all know I am ok. I got hit with the dizzies a little while ago, but I am doing much better. This last attack has not been as bad, but it has left me EXHAUSTED. We have had some major DRAMA going on at school AND my Friendship Bread starter has taken over my life! But all in all, I am good and Pitty Pat is doing a great job of taking care of me. I only have 14 and 1/2 days left of school. I also have a big wedding this weekend for one of my oldest friends. I'll be back in just a bit, I promise!!
Tootles,
JKP

Spring Break Antics!!!

HEY Y'ALL............

So guess where I went today? Here's a few clues.............It involves cooking......And... It's my Disney World........





Have you guessed yet? SAVANNAH! And, of course, I just had to eat at The Lady and Sons! The last time I visited the restaurant was about 7 years ago, right before Paula went global. I actually got to meet Jamie and Bobby Deen on my last visit. Of course, this time, it was much different. The food was still yummy and I am still full almost 12 hours later! Paula actually has her gift shop around the corner these days. I picked up a Tervis Tumbler with The Lady and Sons logo.

After lunch we walked around Savannah and even visited The "official" Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil bookstore.



Some folks take cruises during spring break, I road trip!

My Amish Friendship Bread starter is coming along nicely! Today was day six, so I got to add a few more ingredients this morning before my road trip. I get to finally bake on Tuesday. And boy, I don't think I am going to have any problems getting rid of a loaf and some starter!

Stay tuned, spring break isn't over and you never know where I will end up!
Pitty Pat says... "Mama... I AM SO TIRED OF ROAD TRIPPING I CAN'T EVEN HANG ON TO MY BONE!!"



Tootles,
JKP

Reads From the Beach Chair

Hey Y'all!

Well, it has been a while since I did a "Reads From the Beach Chair" post, so I thought I would do one today. Since it is spring break, I stocked up on library books last week, so I would always have a book to grab! Usually, to find books I like, I cruise the top 100 lists over on Barnes and Noble and Amazon. While I am searching, I have a tab open with my public library, Horry County Public Library, and then I look to see if they have the book I am looking for and if not, I request it. I currently have about 22 books here at home and another 15 coming my way on hold at the library. As you can tell, I LOVE to read! I have thought about getting an e-reader. But, my local library has not set up an e-lending program yet, so really it makes no sense right now for me to have one. I am sure I would love an e-reader, especially a NOOK, but with gas prices the way they are I just can't quite justify it right now. Also, I think it is really important to support our public libraries. So until my library comes to the 21st century, I am going to be reading old school!



One of the first books I couldn't wait to get a hold of and read was Friendship Bread, by Darien Gee. Y'all, this book is so great! It is all about how a Friendship Bread starter changed a town. I loved this book and could not put it down. It even spurred me on to make my own starter on Sunday. (More about that in tomorrow's post!) You really need to read this book if you enjoy baking or reading about how folks can change their lives, especially after devastating events. It is such a good read! Darien has even set up a website called The Friendship Bread Kitchen where they post a new recipe for Amish Friendship Bread each day. The mango blueberry loaf is on my list as soon as I can bake on Tuesday! The Friendship Bread Kitchen is also on Twitter, so give them a follow. I have enjoyed tweeting with them this week about my starter!

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of being in a book club at the school I was teaching at. Since I moved 6 years ago, I haven't found another book club. Hmmm... I am thinking I should start one! I have noticed in the magazine All For You, they do a book club once every few months. If you visit their bookclub page, you can see all of the books they have been reading. So far I have read Going in Cirlces (so good, it's all about Roller Derby!) and One Season of Sunshine (great beach read!) Luckily my library had the rest of them in, so I plan to read the rest of them over spring break. All For You magazine is also where I learned about The Friendship Bread book too!

The other book I have in my beach bag/suitcase is Water for Elephants. Because hello. The movie is coming out on Friday, and I am a big stickler about reading the book BEFORE I see the movie!

Finally, I started a book at the beach today called Knit in Comfort. Of course, I always have to have SOME knitting fiction around. I am not sure if I am going to like it, but I promise to stick it through until at least the 5th chapter!

Well, that's about it for today. Today I spent some time on the beach, so Paddington is not so happy with me right now! Let's hope a walk and some doggie ice cream will fix that! He has really enjoyed having me home these past few days. It's just a little taste of summer! We are going to hunker down tonight and watch Harry Potter- I was too dizzy to see in the theatre when it came out in November.
Tootles!
:) JKP

All Things Royal!

Hey Y'all!

Well, I am finally on SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!! It kicked off with a bang... I had a cousin's wedding to attend on Saturday follwed by some very severe weather. We had a least 5 tornados in our area on Saturday alone. We are all fine here at the beach, but it was very scary weather!

I have been busy since we got out of school Friday. I have already read two books! I will post about my spring break reading tomorrow. Today, we have much more important things to discuss! Have you heard about a little wedding taking place across the pond from us? I swear I was really born British, but no one in my family has fessed up to that fact yet. Maybe my family pulled an Obama with my birth certificate? Instead of North Carolina, I swear it should say England!!

Anyhoo, I have tracked down THE MUST haves of this royal season. Besides that all important wedding invitation! For those of us knitting die hards... if you can't be in London for the big day.. you can always Knit your own Royal Wedding. I kid you not!



If this is not your cup of tea, fear not!!!!Just stroll on down to your local Bath and Body Works to pick up some antibacterial royal fun! With names like "If the tiara fits," "Royal Pucker," and "Princess in Training" you will be feeling like a part of the royal family in no time at all.



If you are longing to know the true LOVE story behind Wills and Kate, tune into Lifetime TV tonight for the "Moment of Truth" movie all about the future bride and groom. My popcorn is ready!



Finally, the folks at T-Mobile sure have it down on how to choregraph a royal wedding. I got a big chuckle out of this Friday afternoon! I think that "Prince Harry" is my favorite! Although, they all are great! :)



I am sure this is exactly how things are going to roll at Westminister Abbey!

Well, as y'all can see, I am pumped about this royal wedding. Pitty Pat has no comment!
See ya tomorrow!
:) JKP

Let's All Thank God That the Month of March Is OVER!

Hey Y'all,

Well, to say that the end of February and the entire month of March sucked would be an understatement. This was mainly a work thing, but still, things sucked. I try to be positive when things suck, but you know. When you leave school in tears everyday, and contemplate changing your entire career, you know that things are on the pretty big end of suckage. This really had nothing to do with me, but the fact that some dynamics changed in my classroom and things went bad fast. REALLY BAAADD. As teachers we don't have alot of control over things and sometimes things just have to work themselves out. Thank goodness this situation has, and I feel like I can finally breathe again. And, so can my students. So, WHOOOSAAAAAA! And for now, my new career as the jewelry counter manager at Target has been put off. :)

Anywhoo, I have been up to some fun things. Mainly this past weekend, when I knew that things were about to change for the better. This past Saturday, Mr. Pitty Pat went for his spring cut. I also went for something springy, but mine was a mani pedi! Here we are showing off our new looks!

My OPI color of choice was "Girls Just Want to Play." Sounded good to me! Pitty Pat loves his new do and has been rolling and rubbing all over everything! Also, looked what hopped off of my knitting needles! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bunny hat!!

I have already sold several of these at school. The bunny hats are really easy, and I can finish one in a night! I can change out the color of the bunny and even do different color ears. I have a boy version and a girl version. Both are so cute!

Ohhh... and the other thing I did a few weeks ago? I cashed out all of my reward points on a card. I ended up getting almost $100 in gas cards and a gift card to Amazon. I ended up purchasing an exercise DVD I have wanted for awhile. Y'all know what a fan I am of Stephanie Huckabee. She used to be an instructor with The Firm in Columbia. But, now she is doing her own thing! I already own her series called Powerfit Harmony and love the idea that you can get a great workout in 20 minutes a day. I ordered her other DVD Powerfit Plus with my Amazon gift card. I also scored her first series, Powerfit, off of Ebay this weekend for $6! So, as you can see, I am looking forward to getting back on the exercise wagon! My last bought with vertigo really made it hard, but with the month I have had, it is a necessity!

Anyway, that's what has been going on here. Pitty says hi... and if you are on Facebook... friend him!

Tootles,

JKP