Bad looking boobs, good looking bread

Recently at my work, via a holiday silent auction, I had the opportunity to learn (or re-learn, as was my case) how to make sourdough starter and thus, sourdough bread. It's been many a year since I have made bread, let alone take care of a starter, so I was pretty damn excited to get kneading. 

We began creating our sourdough starters-to take home, yes!- set them aside, then used a ready starter to begin the bread making process. It was pretty fun doing this at work, allowing the bread to rise in my cube, going into the kitchen and watching Sue's amazing kneading techniques and learning her tricks. I took home my bread creation, which I had to make into four balls rather than one loaf (due to me neglecting to bring my Pyrex dish from home).

The bread smelled great baking in the oven, and I couldn't wait to try it. I placed a large baking dish full of hot water in the rack below to get steam and help the baking process. After the timer went off, I popped the bread out of the dish and placed it naked on the oven to get the crusty, golden crust. It became all too obvious, mostly due to the cross-cuts on top I did before baking, what an uncanny resemblance to a certain female attribute my bread had taken. But oh-my-god the bread was good. I think I ate a whole quarter loaf that night. 

Bad looking boobs, good looking (and tasting!) bread.

My New Years Resolution

As we start another year, we all start yet another to-do (or more like to-don't) list called, of course, Resolutions. You know and I know that probably 95% of us don't accomplish everything, or even one thing, on our list, but every year we expect more out of ourselves and say "This is the year I'll finally _____". Why do we do this to ourselves? I don't know either, I was hoping you would. 

I recently read a great article about 10 New Years Resolutions Worth Trying and I found this gem of a quote that I'm going to refer to every January 1st:

"It seems to me the standard (failed) New Year’s resolution has two strikes against it right from the outset. First, it usually involves some kind of annoying self-deprivation I’m not emotionally ready for. And second, I don’t usually have the resources readily at hand to shore up my chances for success." 

With that in mind, I reexamined my personal resolutions and resolved to do one thing I know I can accomplish..... *drum roll*  ....... Rather than deprive myself of all the wonderful food out there in hopes of gaining that 'swimsuit figure' (and face it, that's never fun anyway), I instead want to capture the simple beauty of all the food I'm not denying myself! It's a real goal with added benefits and I'm up for the challenge.

Morning Coffee

In Oregon, you get used to weather predictions about snow failing short 9 times out of 10. So Saturday night was no different for me. We were told snow was on its way, I kept hoping and wishing as I typically due, prepared to be let down in the morning. 

Then 7am rolled around. I was groggy but couldn't sleep, so I took myself to the coffee maker and noticed this white gleam coming through all the windows. It happened. Snow, beautiful snow. Granted, we only had less than an inch, but for these parts that's pretty damn good. 

I filled my coffee mug, grabbed my phone (which substitutes as my camera for the time being), bundled up and went outside. 

 With the sun breaking out from the clouds, the snow looked pristine and perfect. I just stood there, taking it all in, absorbing the icy air into my lungs, savoring the moment, morning coffee in hand.