Comments on Cozy.Cottage.Cute.: Mini Goals for the New Year

oh my! The things you have been putting off around...

2012-02-20T02:50:58.081-05:00

oh my! The things you have been putting off around the house sound exactly like mine! That linen closet? urgh! It's a nightmare and every time I look at it, I'm like, 'I must get in there soon...'

I bought Julia Child's baking book at Sam'...

2012-01-26T09:44:03.204-05:00

I bought Julia Child's baking book at Sam's Club a year ago with a learning to bake bread goal. So far I've looked at all the pictures! Does that count towards accomplishing my goal? haha. Anyway, just found your blog and becomming a follower as I enjoy your projects and your wit.

psst! over here! the "joy of cooking" w...

2012-01-21T14:39:34.506-05:00

psst! over here!
the "joy of cooking" white sandwich bread recipe was a hit! so much so that i'm making it again right now, and boyfriend has made the suggestion that we not buy bread ever again! *spoiled*
the recipe makes two loaves which is a bit much for just boyfriend and i, so i tried to cut the recipe in half, but alas... as soon as you falter and put in that second tablespoon of sugar, youre doomed, and have to go with the original amounts. doomed to two loaves of wonderful light and fluffy homemade bread! shucks :)

I've been checking out your blog lately and it...

2012-01-14T20:57:20.915-05:00

I've been checking out your blog lately and it's fun! I learned to knit a few years ago, nothing fancy mostly baby blankets for friends, it's not hard to learn and can be soothing... I have a bread maker and I LOVE it! Put the ingredients in and walk away! I got mine free from a friend and it works great, I know I've seen quite a few on Craigslist too...

I would LOVE to learn to knit :/ i had two lessons...

2012-01-10T02:27:57.149-05:00

I would LOVE to learn to knit :/ i had two lessons about 2 years ago but I want to buckle down find somewhere they have lessons and actually DO IT! Good luck! Oh and as for bread my grandpa and I were just making French bread the other day super easy! The man has a video on youtube it's quick and easy french bread and it's AMAZING! Good luck with the mini goals!

Hi! I'm learning to bake bread RIGHT NOW! I m...

2012-01-08T16:17:54.907-05:00

Hi!
I'm learning to bake bread RIGHT NOW! I made some a week and a half ago for the first time, and it was good, but a little dense for my liking. I want a lighter fluffier bread. I had used the recipe that came with my brand new KitchenAid mixer than Santa dropped off this year. I was afeared of trying, but I just did it! Like a champion!
As I type this to you, I have a couple loaves about to go in the oven. I'm using the Joy of Cooking recipe for white sandwich bread. If it's any good, I'll let you know!
Good luck with your goals! If number 4 comes true, we'll get to see how all the rest pan out! (get it? PAN... BREAD PAN... sorry, I'll go now :)

What lens are you using now for blog pics? Those p...

2012-01-07T23:10:05.314-05:00

What lens are you using now for blog pics? Those pictures of your dogs are just beautiful! And no, I won't think you are lame if you knit, because I totally know how, & like to whip up a scarf myself every now & then! :)

I have a breadmaker and love it! I use it on the d...

2012-01-07T15:36:43.358-05:00

I have a breadmaker and love it! I use it on the dough setting, and when the dough has risen, make buns or loaves from it. You have to let them rise again in the pans, but totally worth it. The loaves are much fluffier this way.
I even use it to make my homemade pizza crusts (better and healthier than bought!) This is great if you are short on time.

I got the Zojirushi bread maker for Christmas and ...

2012-01-07T11:57:58.551-05:00

I got the Zojirushi bread maker for Christmas and I L.O.V.E it!!!! It it so easy and makes wonderful bread horizontally with no big holes in it. It looks like it just came out of your oven. We have 4 children and they always want to eat "the good bread" when we have sandwiches. We've done pizza dough in it and I'm planning on making bagels and pretzels this week. The great thing is, you can put in all your ingredients and set it to begin whenever you want. I love that I can put it all in at night and wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning! Here's the link:http://www.zojirushi.com/products/bbcec Found about this bread maker from another blogger mom who had nothing but fab things to say about this machine. She was right!

Yes! I have two goals this year, one is to eat bet...

2012-01-07T11:15:19.643-05:00

Yes! I have two goals this year, one is to eat better and try to lose some weight (notice I didn't say diet... that's dooming it right off the bat!) and the other is to use up some of my craft supplies that I've hoarded over the years! I've been working on that and posting my projects on my blog.

As for your closet... don't think of it as an "unfun project"... after all, how many times do you open the linen closet? Probably several times a day right? So it deserves to be cute too! I redid a couple of linen closets I had in my house and made them cute (at least I think they are! LOL!) Take a look if you are interested!

http://littlevintagecottage.blogspot.com/2011/10/tackling-another-partially-finished.html

http://littlevintagecottage.blogspot.com/2010/12/linen-closet-redo.html

Think of them as fun, fast, mini projects... instant gratification!

Good luck with ALL your goals!

Tania

whew! thats quite the list! you go girl, Happy New...

2012-01-07T09:03:58.860-05:00

whew! thats quite the list! you go girl, Happy New Year!

Bread is super easy to make without a bread machin...

2012-01-06T18:57:34.876-05:00

Bread is super easy to make without a bread machine, especially if you have a stand mixer with a dough hook to do the needing for you. But, even if you don't, it's still easy. I might get a bread machine if I wanted fresh bread every day, but that would be dangerous!!!

These rolls are my favourite: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2007/12/french-bread-rolls.html

This is the best bread recipe I have ever used! So...

2012-01-06T17:27:45.322-05:00

This is the best bread recipe I have ever used! So good: http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html

I just posted my goals on my blog, I want to master the sewing machine! Like be able to sew up a pretty dress or five! I plan on going Vegetarian this year and I also want to work on my blog like you! :)

Ngaio May xx

Your puppies are so cute (great photos btw)! We lo...

2012-01-06T16:51:10.532-05:00

Your puppies are so cute (great photos btw)! We lost our Golden last summer - they're such wonderful dogs.

Good luck with your goals! I've been trying to learn how to knit for years and finally gave up. Crochet was easier for me for some reason.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Artisan-Bread-...

2012-01-06T15:06:10.463-05:00

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Artisan-Bread-Five-Minutes-Day-Jeff-Hertzberg-Zoe-Francois/9780312362911-item.html?ikwid=artisan+bread+in+five+minutes+a+day&ikwsec=Home

To help you with your bread making goal...I'll email you a sample recipe from this book - i use it all the time! :) also, if you come visit me I will teach you how to knot. ;) or try this website for helpful videos - http://www.knittinghelp.com/

1 - Roary = adorable even when he's giving the...

2012-01-06T14:47:14.693-05:00

1 - Roary = adorable even when he's giving the stink eye.

2 - I'm also planning to learn to knit, though I have given up on resolutions. it's just a plan.

3 - thanks for sharing!

great resolutions- i love the last one- i have a l...

2012-01-06T14:31:38.262-05:00

great resolutions- i love the last one- i have a lot of those unfun things to do, too. and of course i would love to see you blog more! :)
and if you make that bread- i am coming over! i have abread machine and i love to use t. i don't use it often because sawyer doesn't like the honey wheat bread i made as much for his sandwiches. but i like to use it for special lunches and such and make rosemary bread. YUM. i have the williams sonoma one that we got 9 years ago and it is still working! :)

What lens are you saving for? I might have it. I...

2012-01-06T14:20:24.557-05:00

What lens are you saving for? I might have it. I'd also like to greatly improve my photography skills, and learn to bake bread. We had a breadmaker, but gave it away for not using it enough. It did make wonderful, hot fresh, bread. You might want to check out "Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day"! Great idea to make mini goals.

I had always wanted to bake bread too! I finally b...

2012-01-06T13:11:51.757-05:00

I had always wanted to bake bread too! I finally baked the "no knead" bread recipe that has been around forever and it was good but I made Amish White Bread from allrecipes.com http://allrecipes.com/recipe/amish-white-bread/detail.aspx
and oh my word! It was delicious!! And easy. :) I read through a few of the comments and one of them had tips if using a kitchenaid mixer so I follwed the directions and the bread has turned out great every time!! Good luck. :) Oh yeah, I would love to knit too. At least I like the idea of knitting. ;)