So, about that focaccia… I didn’t forgetaboutit. ;) The first batch I honestly didn’t let it develop enough bubbles and ran it out to a friend before I took a picture of the golden-brown beauty of flavorful deliciousness. The second batch. It was a lot thinner because I used half my dough and some other adjustments. Next time, I will go all out and use the whole batch of dough for a thicker, heartier bread. What do you think? Moving on, trying to get the hang of making sandwich bread. There’s so much room to add different ingredients to ramp up the flavor. I’m talking about making cinnamon and sugar bread with or without nuts and raisins. Hello cheddar jalapeno bread, tomato basil, cocoa and oat, and Italian seasonings mixed throughout. It’s not as difficult as it seems. Especially if you give yourself the chance to practice making more than a few loaves. Plus, I’m enjoying making bread without using sugar as a catalyst for the yeast. Seriously, you can just use some unbleached flour o...

So today, I decide to try making focaccia for the first time. Growing up, I had the luxury of a having a really well-stocked small family-owned grocery store in my neighborhood. So, I got to enjoy grabbing groceries like fresh baked ciriola rolls , focaccia, pickled olives, yogurt, peanut butter on demand, and coffee. Bread has always been one of those love hate things with me because of the yeast. I do like eating unleavened breads and crackers. However, there is something so fascinating yet repulsive about eating bread with yeast or using yeast when baking. When pressed for time, it’s easier for me to make a lemon berry quick bread, banana bread, or zucchini or carrot bread. But when it’s the holiday season or I feel up to the challenge, I reach for the yeast, flour and get to it! Now usually when I proof yeast, I try to add some warm milk or a tablespoon or two of sugar. Today, I chose a focaccia recipe that only calls for five ingredients: Flour Salt Yeast Olive oil Warm water I me...

There are certain kitchen tools that I adore having around at my disposal.  Of course, I love keeping parchment paper around so that baking and cleanup is a breeze. Plus, the brand I like using the most is a natural brown color and allegedly doesn’t contain silicates that could make us ill. My sieve is another favorite tool because it has a fine enough mesh to help remove any undesirable clumps or lumps when making custards, pastry creme, or smooth batters. And because I don’t have a flour sifter, I sometimes use this fine mesh sieve to help with my flour when cooking. One of my most favorite kitchen tools is my kitchen shears. It makes me feel like a big kid when I’m holding my kitchen shears and slicing through parchment paper, plastic wrap, or cutting up small vegetables. Forget about pulling out a knife to slice and dice scallions, leaves of lettuce or cabbage, and other tasty foods. Sometimes, it’s worth pulling out the kitchen shears to tackle breaking down meats, prepping in...

Do you like lemons? Do you love the burst of freshness and tart acidity with citrus fruit? If you are not the biggest fan of lemons, feel free to swap out with another type of citrus fruit like limes, grapefruits, or oranges… Either way, citrus fruit is even better during the hot months of summer. The luckiest people can pluck off as much fruit as they desire, fresh off of a tree if they have access to one. Trust me, there’s nothing close to the feeling and taste of savoring a freshly picked citrus fruit, compared to buying fruit from the local market (that’s been sitting around for a bit). Need Some Cool And Refreshing Ideas? Enjoy using lemons or other summertime citrus fruits for the following delights: Lemonade Icebox Pie Cake Curd Sorbet Ice Cream Syrups (for drizzling over ice cream, yogurt, etc.) Mixed Drinks (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic) Spritzers Garnish Fresh Pressed Juice Flavor Vegetables Add To Meats Make Candy Peels Infuse Drinks With Zest Can you think of any other fantas...

Does the word aromatherapy make you instantly think of some frou-frou over-the-top spa or overzealous hippie granola type?  You might actually be a little right, but it still might be worth giving aromatherapy a deeper look instead of rolling your eyes and walking away as quickly as possible. It’s so easy and socially acceptable to reach for less than desirable, negative things to soothe us when we feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed in life.  However, aromatherapy might actually prove valuable to helping maintain a calmer, more pleasant disposition and improve how you experience your home and life. You don’t have to take my word for it. Using aromatherapy might not be your cup of tea. And that is fine. I’m simply writing this post to explore some excellent reasons you might want to give aromatherapy a chance, nothing more. 1. Freshen Up Your Air If you’re not the biggest fan of constantly purchasing cans of air freshener or forget to change your plug-in, you’re in luck. Y...

Lighting is an excellent way to change the mood in your home in a flash. Depending on the style of lighting and the room you wish to curate, you’ll certainly want to consider varying types to match your sense of aesthetics and lighting needs. Think beyond using traditional table or floor lamps. There are a lot of fun, colorful styles of lighting you might not have previously considered for your abode. Check out the following lighting ideas, as listed below!  1.  String Lighting There’s something so inviting and life affirming about string lighting. Don’t underestimate this simple style of lighting, which is often used for decorating and lighting restaurant patios, terraces, and college dorm rooms. Make a statement and grab old-school Christmas string lights in a single or multi-varied color for a kitschy, eclectic look. Choose string lights with delicate small bulbs that emit a soft, ethereal glow that hits just right.  Find exciting ways to creatively hang and display y...