baking extravaganza

On Thursday I had the day off and was home-it felt like a long time since that had happened.  So, I was a happy little cook and baker in my kitchen. Here’s what I made:

–Protein bars (www.passionatehomemaking.com)

–Vegan chocolate chip pumpkin bars (www.peasandthankyou.com)

-Wheat Bread Dough (My own artisan bread cookbook-wedding gift!)

-Lentil and Kale Soup (www.thenourishinggourmet.com or click here)

Protein bars:

Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars (err a little under baked):

Wheat Bread Dough:

Lentil and Kale Soup for dinner Thursday:

   

Shout out time: I had my own little tweaks to each recipe, but pwease go check them all out. Passionate Homemaking was the first blog I ever heard about and started reading this past winter. I love her passion and commitment to God, her family, serving others, simple and sustainable living, and tasty recipes. Mama Pea over at Peas and Thank You is really, really funny, has adorable kids, and I’ve been reading her blog since she started it (a few weeks now?). Last, you’ve heard me talk about The Nourishing Gourmet several times now with the amazing, frugal, and nourishing recipes that she creates. Check ‘em out!

-In case you’re interested (I know you’re sitting at the edge of your seat), I had a green goodness smoothie for breakfast, and a huge salad with black bean dip for lunch on Thursday. Friday I had another green smoothie and salad with hummus for lunch. For the smoothie, just blend a big handful of spinach with some milk, then add a banana, ice, kefir or some plain yogurt, and blend again. You don’t even taste the spinach. I love when I crave lots of veggies and really enjoy them. Doesn’t happen all the time, you know? As in, I usually want to polish off an entire pan of my Coconut Chocolate Chip cookie bars. Oh wait, I have done that. Ok, not in one sitting, but it wasn’t good nonetheless. 

Thursday night, Joe was outside working on putting in our fireplace!!!

I brought him some snacks:

  

“Whatta man whatta man whatta man whatta mighty good man.” The lyrical genius of En Vogue…anyone? anyone?

Then on Friday I had the day off too, so after bringing my mother and sister-in-law to the airport and working out, I came home and finished working with the dough to make my first ever loaf of artisan bread. Speaking of those Coconut Chocolate Chip bars, I made those for dessert later that night, since we had an impromptu dinner party, in which our house was the place to be if you’re spouse was out of town and hanging out with Joe and me was the next best company: aka my father-in-law, other sister-in-law, Lora, and Katie (my sister, duh). Lora, thank you for pointing this out! We watched Food, Inc. that night. Oh boy, we’ll talk about that more maybe in another post. Go out and rent it tonight.

Back up to Friday afternoon. This is what I came home to:

  

A fireplace in my wall! This north wall used to look like this:

 

I know, you may be thinking, “Those crazies took out a window?!” Yes, yes we did. But it really didn’t let any light in and just backed up right to our neighbor’s, so out she went.

Later that night:

Go Joe go! Doesn’t that box for the fireplace remind you of a sauna? 

Dinner was a chicken stir fry:

And….my first ever loaf of homemade bread!!! (Doesn’t really go with the stir fry, but who cares?! We were diggin’ it.)

 

This bread was so easy, with a crunchy crust and soft, chewy inside. Topped with some butter and pumpkin butter. Thanks God for simple and good gifts like homemade bread!

After dinner there was random samplings of my protein bars, under baked pumpkin bars, vitamins (what? yeah), and finally freshly baked coconut choc. chip bars.

Oh how the Lord has blessed me with these girls: my sister Katie and sister-in-law, Lora, with sweet baby Madelyn.

Can’t forget how much this guy makes my heart melt faster than real butter on my fresh bread (especially as he loves on his little niece):

I am one grateful girl. God’s love is GOOD. Psalm 28:7 “He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”

This was one loooong post, so if you stuck with me, thanks!! Now go have an amazing weekend!

xoxo

Lauren