Snow! Honest-to-goodness snow!

Last time it snowed here it was nothing to write home about, but I wrote about it anyway. I didn't know if or when I would see snow around here again. Well, it turns out I didn't have to wait long. It snowed today. And it wasn't that wannabe snow it was last time. It was honest-to-goodness snow! It even stuck to the ground. Huge, fluffy, white flakes of snow! It was such a beautiful sight, I wanted to cry. Unfortunately, I was at work when most of the snow was falling and I didn't bring my camera with me. I really didn't think it would snow as much as it did (and in all honesty, it only snowed enough to stick to the grass). Thankfully, Husband understands my need for snow and was willing to take time out of his busy homework schedule to snap a few pictures for me. The snow has stopped for now. The weather people say it is going to start up again tonight. I keep looking out the window, hoping to see snow. No luck yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed and my snow boots by the door!

Mmmm...Doughnuts

In honour of the Olympic Games being hosted by Canada and in honour of me being a Canadian we decide to celebrate in true Canada style. We invited a couple friends over the other night to watch the Games and make doughnuts! These were the best homemade doughnuts I've had! By the way, if you are wondering were the Husbands are in these pictures, let's just say they weren't much help until it came to the eating part!

Our friend Alaina and I making the doughnuts.



Looking good!

She would make a good Canadian: "Don't mess with my doughnuts!"

I had to wear my Canada shirt. Go Canada!



We don't have a deep fryer, but a heavy bottom pot works just as good. The only downside to making your own doughnuts? It uses an entire bottle of oil!

Ta-da!

Here's the recipe:

Classic Glazed Doughnuts

1 package (8g) yeast

1/4 cup warm water (about 115*F/47*C)

1 tsp golden corn syrup

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

3 cups (approx) all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

6 cups oil (canola or corn oil work well)

Glaze

1 1/2 cups icing sugar (or as they say in the USA powdered sugar)

1/4 cup golden corn syrup

1/4 cup warm water

1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

1. Blend the yeast with the warm water and syrup; let stand for 2 minutes. Whisk the milk with the egg and butter; set aside. Meanwhile, combine flour, sugar and salt in food processor (I don't have a food processor, so I just mixed it with my hands). With the motor running, blend in the yeast and milk mixtures just until the dough begins to form a ball.

2. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface; knead for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Sprinkle with additional flour if necessary to prevent sticking. Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 hours. Punch down dough, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. (I almost didn't see this part, and was planning on making the dough the day of. Good thing I decided to re-read the recipe!)

3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/2 inch (1cm) think. Using a 3 1/2 inch (8cm) doughnut cutter, or a large and small round cookie cutter, cut out doughnut shapes. Reroll the scraps once to make additional doughnuts. Cut any remaining dough into doughnut holes. Cover doughnuts with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes (Putting them in your oven with the oven light on creates a warm place).

4. Glaze: Blend together all ingredients, set aside

5. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a wok or dutch oven until it reaches at least 325*F but doesn't exceed 350*F. Gently lower doughnuts, a couple at a time, into the oil. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown (Ours seem to take less time, so just watch for them to turn golden brown). Lift from hot oil and dip into glaze to coat. Transfer to rack sitting over a baking tray. Let cool. Makes 8 doughnuts (although we got about a dozen out of this recipe.

Date-iversary

Let me start out by saying I do not hate Valentine's day. We, as a couple, just don't celebrate it. This is my choice, not Husband's. I simply feel that the day doesn't really mean anything to us. I would rather celebrate a day that has a special meaning for us and for our relationship. Because we met and started dating shortly after Valentine's Day, we celebrate that instead. We call it our date-iversary. We have been together for 3 years (and married almost 2 years). Of those 36 months, we spent the first 6 months living in two different states, 5 hours apart and only saw each other on weekends. The next 15 months were spent not only living in different countries but on different continents, as Husband served his second deployment in Iraq. So, when you break it down, we have spent more time apart than we've been together. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the key to our happiness! Just kidding!

You may be wondering exactly what one does for a date-iversary? Well, it's similar to an anniversary, but not as elaborate. We exchange presents and go out for dinner. And where did we go for dinner? Well, we actually got take-out from two different restaurants: Husband got Wendy's and I got a pasta dish from an Italian place. Why compromise when you can both have your way?

Husband got me some great presents:

I have an ear infection and the Doctor recommended Mucinex to help clear it up. I haven't had a chance to pick some up, so Husband bought some and wrapped it up as one of my presents. Nothing says I love you like a box of Mucinex. I had to laugh out loud when I unwrapped this!

He also got me flowers because I told him to get me flowers. In fact the conversation went something like this:

Husband: What do you want for our date-iversary?

Me: I want flowers.

Husband: Okay

Me: I like tulips; pink ones

(The Symphony bar was all his idea)

A close up of the pink tulips. Proof that he DOES listen when I talk.

The Ladybug Mafia

Remember my post a few weeks ago about the ladybugs? Husband and I recently had to travel out of town for a funeral. The night before the funeral, while we were in our hotel room, I noticed something flying around the room. When it finally landed on the ceiling we discovered that it was a ladybug! I know ladybugs are supposed to be lucky, but what does it mean if they stalk you? I am beginning to wonder if they aren't lucky, but are in fact part of a ladybug mafia and we have done something to make them mad. If we suddenly go missing, make sure someone questions the ladybugs!