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2014 Resolutions Revisited

19 Jun

Well, we are halfway through June already and I thought it could be fun to look back at our goals that we set at the beginning of this year and see how we’ve done with them! To read my post from January , click (https://thestartofagoodlife.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/2014-resolutions/ )

My Goals for this year:

~Get Health Back  -I have been more active (in large part due to my OH) in this goal. Doctor’s appointments, essential oils, listening to when my body says ‘stop!’ and trying new diets to see if they help. Sadly, I am still in the ‘slump’ that I have been in since last October, but the small glimmer of hope I have  is that even though they are still bad daily, I do seem to have a good portion of the day relatively-pain-free and have enough energy to be productive. Although, these past two days do not follow that pattern. So, while I have not made the progress I had hoped and prayed for I am clinging to the silver linings that I see. 

Travel – Aside from some trips to Portland or Eugene, this hasn’t happened at all. I do have plans to go visit my friend and her darling little girl end of next month though and am really-very-super excited about it!

Get in Shape to run a 5k – I must admit, that just this week I have laced up my running shoes, grabbed Lady’s leash and headed out for a walk. With the nice weather settled in, I decided I’d better get this goal going. I haven’t started running yet, gotta break the new (from the clearance rack!) shoes in and get Lady ready for more intense exercise. Since she’s 9 this summer and used to only random bursts of activity, I want to be careful in how quickly I get her running with me. 

courtesy of Laughing Tree Photography

courtesy of Laughing Tree Photography

Start Writing Again  – this one has been touch – and – go since January. But since I signed up for the Camp NANOWRIMO that starts in July, it should pick up quite a bit. I was able to focus for a bit today and worked on a story that I’ve got going. 

Become a better Housekeeper  – I think I have – mostly. The chronic pain makes it hard to keep it where I want it, but I feel like I have grown some in this area. I think part of that too, is just my attitude about it. Sometimes it can still get a little negative, but if I am able to think of it as the way that I contribute – since I’m not able to go out and work – it makes it easier. Plus, when I am just feeling awful but the dishes are bothering me, the OH steps in and does them. So nice. 

Figure out Niche for Blog – I think  I have, overall. I was thinking I would find a specific topic – baking, cleaning, writing, etc… – but I enjoy, and have heard from a few of you, that you enjoy the variety of topics. So, the continuation of this goal is :  get  a  blog button and recipe helper. Improve Photography. Improve Traffic. From what I’ve been learning, it looks like I’ll have to pay to upgrade my blog in order to do most of what I want to do on here, so, once money is a little less tight and non-existent, I’ll click that ‘upgrade’ button!  Speaking of which, I have recently gotten on Google+ – check me out under Laura Waxman! 

I have also added a few goals recently :

Start a morning routine   (I’ve started writing one out, once I finish it, I’ll share it with you!)

Send something special with my OH each week (notes, letter, baked treat etc)

 

How are you doing on your goals for this year? Did you completely forget about them? Or have you already fulfilled all of them? Please leave a comment below to share!

 

*To check out more photography from the seriously talented Viktorija – check out her website!   http://laughingtreephotography.com/

Giving a Hat a Second Chance at Life

17 Jun

I have a darling brown hat that I have had for at least ten years now. It has been my favorite hat since the beginning. It has gone with me to the Oregon Coast, the California Coast, North Carolina and even Spain. Suffice it to say that it is basically the perfect traveling hat- getting smushed doesn’t hurt it a bit. And no, I don’t remember where I got it. Everything  was fine until after coming home from Spain and I – gasp – washed it. Maybe it was something in the rain over there, but after that, it was faded and kind of sad looking.  And then, I decided it was also the perfect hat for working in a bakery. . .  and sweat lines appeared pretty quickly . ewwww.

 So, the favorite all-outfits-match hat was sadly relegated to the sidelines for quite a few years. I’ve worn it off and on, but always very conscious of the sweat lines marring it’s perfection.

cute hat  - sad stains and fading...

cute hat – sad stains and fading…

I have been trying to figure out how not to have to throw it away for about a year now, ribbon around the band perhaps? lace? But everything I came across was the wrong width, looked awful or any other number of reasons that it didn’t work out. But, one night a few weeks ago, I realized I had the perfect lace (correction: it was my mom’s lace I had from another project I had done). After getting approval from her to use it, I quickly got to work. It only took maybe five minutes and wowzers, the difference.

All I did was pin one end of the lace at the back of the hat’s band. Wrapped the lace around, putting random pins in as I went.

pinning..

pinning..

Then I folded the ends of the lace at the back and lined them up as best as I could.

fold, pin, repeat

fold, pin, repeat

After that, I threaded some white thread (I didn’t have cream colored thread) and stitched my way around the brim. I only stitched at the top of the lace, and wasn’t too intense about that. All I was shooting for was it being sewed on enough to stay.  And that was that – I now will be able to wear my hat more often again! Granted, the bit of lace around the brim doesn’t cover all the fading and such that is on the hat, but it separates the different colors enough that I don’t think anyone will notice.

complete!

complete!

*I know I have been a bit missing on here lately and I’m hoping to remedy that starting this week. I am excited about what I have coming up here on The Start of a Good Life, and I hope you’ll keep coming back to visit!

Thoughts and Fires…

8 Jun
thoughts and fires

courtesy of laughing tree photography

What a day! First we had the Pregnancy Resource Center’s Walk for Life (an easy 2 mile walk after turning in the pledges -thanks friends for supporting a great cause with me!)  then this afternoon was my sister-in-law’s baby shower!!!  We finished off the day with grilled tuna sandwiches and watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. My OH (other half) is being a sweetheart and washing the mountainous pile of dishes left from our busy past few days.  So for now, it is my turn on the laptop.

I am in a ‘writing’ type of mood – which every now and then comes over me – and am contemplating what, exactly, I should write. Should I start getting something together for the writing camp with nanowrimo in June? Or perhaps work on the children’s story I started a few months ago? Or, should I write that email I’ve been meaning to write for the past month? Sigh. Sadly, it will probably be a bit of each, so I don’t end up accomplishing much of anything.

~~~~ Well, that’s what I had started out with last night, but with the morning and the mornings’ news, I decided to finish this up with a news article about the fires that are very close to home. The closest in my memory. Quite scary. Those in this area are encouraged to conserve water. As of this morning, the two fires have consumed over six thousand acres.

For the full article of what’s going on with them :

http://www.ktvz.com/news/two-brushfires-break-out-west-of-bend/26382078

 

Until next time, stay safe, say some prayers and have a good Sunday!

~Laura

Sleep and Writing – it’s a good combination

4 Jun

I must admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed and worn out right now. I know part of it is having stayed up too late and waking up earlier than normal. Being sleepy makes me grumpy more negative. . . Which is not cool. But, there are other causes for it, and once things are more settled and planned and concrete, I will share them with you, for now, and for the next few months, if I seem to whine, daydream or come across as simply unsettled, forgive me, and say a prayer for me! Big changes are good, fun and a part of life, but I feel like, until they are completely for sure and planned, they just upset the calm, steady day to day more than I might prefer.

For now, I’m going to plan my OH’s graduation party (!two weeks!) and then maybe a 4th of July party/picnic. And Saturday morning is Pregnancy Resource Center’s Walk for Life which we will be heading to early-ish! And then it’s my sister -in – law’s baby shower in the afternoon! I am super excited for that as well – they are having their first girl. EEk! 

 

Well, do you remember when I did the NANOWRIMO?

(read here for original post  https://thestartofagoodlife.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/writing-again/ ) They also have a ‘camp’ in the middle of the year and I just signed up for it. I am thinking I’ll work on either a children’s or young adult piece.

Here is the link if you want to check out my profile for it! http://campnanowrimo.org/campers/dreaminagain

(I have tried – unsuccessfully – to put up pictures to go with this post, but for some reason, they aren’t showing up. Sigh. And I’m too tired to keep arguing with this laptop… So, forgive the boring-ness without a pretty photo!) 

Thanks for stopping by and I’ll talk to you again soon!

~Laura

Book Review- May!

29 May

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ” – Chinese Proverb

How crazy everything has been! I am sorry  that this is the first post this week, but as it was a holiday earlier in the week, I’m sure you’ll forgive me. 

Right now my hands smell like lavendar thanks to the fabric softener that I just threw together… We will see how much I like it once the clothes have dried from waving in the wind.(I have a goal of hanging more laundry out to save money by not using the dryer as much but I abhor stiff clothes and towels.) I’ll let you know – and share with you what all I did to make it if it ends up being worth it! ha. 

Next for today is to clean the kitchen – how does it get dirty so fast? – and then make some strawberry jam. Yum! 

I think this past month I have read more than any other month this year! I love it.  There’s only a few books this time around that I’m not too excited about, but most of them have hearts or exclamation points next to them (that’s how I mark their rank to me. heart = love. ! = great etc…)  Now on to the list :

True Valor (book 2) by Dee Henderson – Part of the the Uncommon Heroes series. Gracie is a pilot in the Navy and Bruce is an Air Force Pararescue man. While they both are deployed, they write love letters until one day Gracie is shot down behind enemy lines. Bruce is part of the team that their only goal is to get her out alive. Henderson once again draws you into the military world with fantastic characters and descriptions.I also love the integral role that faith plays in the characters’ lives.  For the description of the first novel, click here- https://thestartofagoodlife.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/book-review-april/

True Honor (book 3) by Dee Henderson – last book of the Uncommon Heroes series. I think this is my favorite of the three. It is intense as its’ storyline deals with the September 11th attacks. Darcy St. James is a CIA officer gathering intelligence on the men profiting from the attacks. Sam “Cougar” Houston is a Navy Seal whose team gets deployed based on the information Darcy gathers. During this war, their romance flourishes. But then they find out that Darcy’s name is high on the terrorists’ hit list. I adore Darcy. She’s tough, gives her all and yet is overwhelmed and exhausted of keeping it all together. 

The Heartache No One Sees by Sheila Walsh – I must admit, I don’t think I’ve made it even halfway through this bible study book. It is good, but it isn’t turning out to be quite what I wanted. It is interesting learning more about Sheila Walsh – as she has her personal story in each chapter. This book is to help women with broken hearts from their past learn to accept Christ’s healing and acceptance. It is very well written, my disappointment with it has nothing to do with the actual book. Like I said, it’s more that I was searching for something else. 

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Take Hold by Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz – This is off my OH’s bookshelf. And I have not picked it up as much as I want to. This book teaches about the unity and equality between Jewish believers and non- Jewish believers through Messiah;  the inheritance of non -Jewish believers through the covenants of Israel. As the back cover states “What is your relationship to the Land, the People and the Scriptures of Israel?”  

In Sheep’s Clothing by Susan May Warren – Gracie Benson is on the run – from the man who murdered her best friends. The man trying to keep her alive, an FSB agent, is haunted by mistakes of the past, and intent on catching the man who ruined his father’s life. What Gracie doesn’t know is that she carries a medical secret that in the right hands, could save millions. Outwitting the Russian old guard with a small group of friends is the only way to save Gracie’s life. ACK! I love love love this book. This romantic suspense, has everything you want in a novel! 

The Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman – This is a modern retelling of the Brother’s Grimm fairytale, Snow White and Rose Red. I must admit that I forgot how much I enjoy this book! Bear, a rough and mysterious young man shows up on Blanche and Roses’ doorstep. While the sisters’ opinions on him are opposite, he becomes their closest friend in New York City. But Blanche’s fear that he was putting her family in danger, become horribly real and they must fight for their lives. (!!!) This book is a must read! I got this years ago from a dear friend and it has become a yearly read for me. 

Black As Night by Regina Doman – This is also a modern retelling of a fairy tale. This time it is Snow White.  She handles this one as well as the last book. I am halfway through it right now – and don’t remember too much about it which makes it more fun to read!  A runaway girl named Nora is found in the vestibule by seven friars who work with the homeless. While they offer her a place of safety, Bear searches for his missing girlfriend, Blanche. This suspenseful story brings back the characters from the Shadow of the Bear book with a whole lot more background on them. (plus I just found out there’s another book to this retelling ‘series’! i’m so excited to find it!!!) 

The Belly Off Diet by Jeff Csatari – I got this book from the library to try out some new recipes. It’s actually from Men’s Health, and is interesting reading. It’s got a quick-start 7 day program – recipes, workouts, etc – that is proven and says that you will see results within days. The exercises don’t require a gym (always a plus!) and the meal plan isn’t one that leaves you full at the end of each day. It’s full of REAL food – spaghetti, chicken wings, pizza, taco salad, etc. I’ve tried several already and plan on keeping them in my ‘repetoire’! For anyone looking to lose that stubborn stomach weight but hate the gnawing on your insides because the portion sizes are too small – check this book out! 

 

I already have a list of books to read this coming month – some from the library, some from my own shelf! Including – but not limited to – Finding Betty Crocker, A Tiger in the Kitchen, Fast, Fresh and Green, A Beauty so Rare and finishing Take Hold. I do want to read the Anne of Green Gables series, but not sure when I’ll start that! 

Happy reading friend and I’ll talk with you next week! 

~Laura

The Garden has been Started…unless the seeds are duds.

22 May

Well, I have almost survived this week of daily doctor visits.

I am happy to report that the prescription sunglasses are ordered and will be here in about two weeks! I am super excited.. as are my eyes. I am hesitantly optimistic that the ‘specialized chiropractor’  will be able to help me feel better . (if you want the link to him, check out https://thestartofagoodlife.wordpress.com/2014/05/20/friends-banding-together-via-the-wide-web/ ) I have learned some very interesting things about how the body works from my two appointments with him.  So I will be going to him two times a week for however long, to see if he can help me. It is completely different than anything I have tried in the past, so here’s hoping! (and praying) 

As for my seed starting, I was able to go out to my mom’s house and have fun with her planting planting and planting. I had hoped to make these –  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/146085581637800748/ newspaper seed growing pot , but sadly, folding, or as it’s called , origami, is not a gift that I was blessed with. I got all the way through the instructions and….I didn’t have a ‘pot’. . So, I tossed it in the burn barrel and said ‘all well’. And decided to use up the empty pots that my mom had already offered. This is what I brought home : 

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But imagine, if you can, a large golden retriever, all these pots plus two more, my purse, sweater, small friends welcome sign to hang by my door, a grocery bag with miscellaneous items and me all in my 68 Volkswagen Beetle. Yes, I did it, with the help of my mom – since my back was still hurting and I was under doctors’ orders to not lift anything… It was an interesting – which means slow and careful corners and praying the whole way – drive to my house but we all survived!  

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The two green pots with obvious life in them are the strawberry plants my sister gave me (yay!) and she also gave me an oregano plant – which I of course, forgot to take a photo of. This bottom pot is my avocado plant – I suspended a seed in a jar with water and voila! We have a plant. The skinny bit with one leaf ( just realized the photo cuts off the leaf. it’s on the right front)  is also avocado… I was advised at one point to trim the growth of the avocado because it was super tall with just two leaves at the top… well, i trimmed it and put the top bit in the water too. And, while I thought it would die, it has started to get roots on it too! Crazy! The other tall bit – back right – is garlic. I did the same thing with a clove of garlic and now we will see if I get garlic to grow! 

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy days to read my bit of a blog. I appreciate it so much, and get excited every time one of you leaves a comment, likes or follows. God bless and have fun this Memorial weekend!

Baking Dreams

20 May

I’m sitting here watching the movie “Julie and Julia” and while I must admit I forgot about the random ‘sketchy’ scenes in it (why oh why do they have to put stuff like that in movies?) – it makes me want to pull out my rolling pin, Kitchenaid and apron (freshly washed too!) and start baking. Not baking like I do anymore, but with milk, butter, eggs and sugar. I want to put it all together in my mixing bowl and know for sure and for certain that what I’ve just put in my oven is going to come out soft, tender, flaky and delicious. I miss those carefree days. I miss baking every Saturday morning with OPB on the radio. 

I never had to work to bake, it came naturally to me from a young age. It definitely helped having a patient and wonderful teacher in the form of my mom. I learned so much from her, that through the days of culinary school, I’d go home and tell her that what she had taught me years ago had a ‘technical’ term in the cooking world. While culinary school was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I am glad that I made myself push through all the obstacles and finish it. One day I hope to have my health restored and open that little bakery around the corner with my dear friend, and as we always said ‘leave a legacy for our families.’ 

So, go out and buy a pound of butter and make something delicious for me. I’ll be sitting here, struggling to figure out this new baking style and trying not to get frustrated at another loaf of bread coming out too dense. (It doesn’t help that I am a ‘snob’ when it comes to baking). 

Good night, dear world. And enjoy your desserts.

~Laura

Friends banding together via the Wide Web

20 May

Well, the weather has turned nicer here in Central Oregon and that has inspired me to start the seeds for my garden! I am going to buy a bag of dirt – does anyone else feel strange saying that??? – and head out to my mom’s this week to get them going. She has a ‘container’ that will be perfect for starting them.  Plus, my sister has said I can grab some strawberry plants that are taking over her garden area so I’ll be getting strawberries too (hopefully) this season! Exciting! I will share all about it as soon as I’ve actually done it – my week is full of doctor appointments (more on that later) so I am not sure when I will actually get out there to do it. But I can’t wait! I know, it’s probably a little late to start seeds, but I figure any time before it’s actually warm enough to just plant them outdoors, is a head start. Shrug. We will see how it goes!

As for the doctor appointments, I was recommended to a new doctor. . . and new doctors are not my favorite. I get all nervous and want to do anything but go! It’s so pathetic – especially with how many doctors I’ve been to over the years. Anyway, his name is Dr. Gillett  (http://www.alignedhealthcare.com/ ) and he’s a, how I term it, specialized chiropractor. So I’m heading to him this afternoon , and tomorrow, to see if he can help me with these migraines! I am hopeful but nervous. . . thank goodness my dear mom offered to go with me today (think she knows how I am about these things?). And then, later in the week, I am headed in to the eye doctor for an exam (since it’s been two years now) and to see about getting prescription sunglasses. Now this appointment, I am excited about. (not the exam part… I hate the puffer thing… shudder. I convulsively blink and it takes forever and ever… and then that light thing that looks like something is headed straight for your eyeball??? anyway.. you can see why I don’t go unless I have to) It will help relieve the stress my eyes go under every day that I step outside with the sun shining. I need very dark sunglasses since my eyes are so sensitive  to light  – thanks to the migraines – and I also need my glasses so my eyes don’t strain  going from close up to far away, so this could be so wonderful for my poor little eyes. I’ll keep you updated (because I know you all are sooooo interested in my eye situation haha)

I want to share something  else so exciting with you (and it has absolutely nothing to do with gardening or doctors!) Periodically I will have some fabulous photos here on The Start of a Good Life that are from my dear friend, Viktorija Girton, from  Laughing Tree Photography.    http://laughingtreephotography.com/   You will easily be able to tell which are hers just from the difference between her photos and mine!  ha, but  really, I am so excited that she has agreed to share her photos with me (and you!) and fill in some otherwise blank canvases with her great capturing of the world around us. I love this shot of these flowers. I almost want a print of it for my house, I love it that much!!  Go and check out her page and if you are in the NC area, have her capture your next event! (shameless plug for my friend there!)

 

 

Today’s post was really just to update you on those three things. I will let you know how today’s visit goes and how my forage into seed starting works out!

Happy Tuesday to you all – and don’t forget, this weekend is Memorial Day weekend! Plan something fun with your family – relax!

~Laura

For the Love of Vintage Volkswagen

15 May

Okay, I just found this online (through a friend!) and have to share it with you.  Click this link to check out this ad from 1974 for a small trailer that a Bug can pull! It is super cute and is now on my wish list.

http://joeforamerica.com/2014/05/votd-5-15-14/#BjfYGoRxgRHoYm3H.01

As you might know by now, I own a 1968 Volkswagen Beetle. My parents gave it to me on my 16th birthday – and I drove it daily for years until I just couldn’t take the winters in it! It has been parked for a few years but now it is out again and I am loving driving it! My OH has even started driving it and enjoys it – which also makes me happy. Lauras pictures 735 (2) Lauras pictures 736 Lauras pictures 721 (2) Lauras pictures 720 (2)Lauras pictures 722 P1070683 (2) P1070708

 

 

Working on the Bug for the past 10 odd years has been so much fun – spending evenings and weekends in the garage with my dad.  Presents were of the car variety – new pedals, chrome parts, new upholstery, etc etc.  And I loved it – she has been ‘my baby’ , time and money money money spent on her. I don’t plan on ever selling her.

I hope you have a car – or something else – with similar memories and fun. Happy Driving!

Delicious Dairy free Creme Brulee

8 May

My OH did something amazing a while ago. He made some delicious dairy free creme’ brulee. YUM. 

We were having some friends over for dinner and watching the Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (yes, we are that cool. it’s an great movie, as long as you fast forward through the spider part. yeck) And we always like to make a yummy dessert as a treat after dinner, since it is something we don’t really splurge on when it’s just the two of us. While I was thinking of something uninspiring like – cookies – he came up with making creme’ brulee. 

Now, you’ve got to understand that this was a love of mine after Culinary school. I adored creme brulee. But with this lifestyle change, it no longer fit in any way what I could eat. So, I was all for giving up the thought of making cookies to let him experiment away. After a quick stop at the grocery store to grab the required items, we came home and this is what he came up with.

 There are several notes throughout and at the end of the recipe, so please, please read all of this before starting your creme brulee! Take the time, it’s worth it. Trust me. 

He printed off Alton Brown’s recipe for Creme’ brulee (which, if you know anything of alton brown, his recipes are fantastic!) that was on foodtv.com . Here is our version of the recipe:

1 qt goat milk

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped (yes, take the extra time to do this! the flavor is so much better)

1 cup coconut sugar (ours was coarse, so he tossed it in the blender to decimate it)

8 duck egg  yolks (the original recipe called for 6 yolks)*

2 qts hot water (for the baking of it)

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

Place the goat milk, vanilla bean and its pulp into a medium saucepan, set over med-high heat and bring to boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and reserve for another use. *He put it in our tea ball to be able to easily remove it.*

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In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 c coconut sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stir constantly. Pour the liquid into 6 (7 to 8 oz) ramekins. Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the ramekins.

*All my ramekins are in storage right now, so we borrowed a rectangle casserole dish (i think it’s 9 by 13) from my mom instead and put that inside a roasting pan. We didn’t measure how much water, just poured some in til it was halfway up the sides of the casserole dish. *

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Bake just until the creme brulee is set, but still trembling in the center. Approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top. Divide the remaining 1/2 c vanilla sugar (*mix some vanilla extract in with your sugar) equally among the 6 dishes and spread evenly on top. Using a torch, mlet the sugar and form a crispy top. Allow to sit for at least 5 min before serving. 

*As my torch is also packed away, we spread the sugar on top, put the oven on broil and put the dish on the top shelf of the oven to crisp-ify the sugar. The door was left open to ensure that it didn’t burn. 

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Notes : 

OH says he would buy the thicker goat milk from Trader Joe’s instead of the canned goat milk we used. That way it would have less of a goat-y flavor. (but, out of the 5 of us, he’s the only one who really minded it) 

OH doesn’t follow recipes exact (which is upsetting to my recipe-loving self) so this recipe ended up being sort of doubled in the end, that’s why we were able to fill a casserole dish. Not that i ever complained, mind you. 

Also, feel free to taste test along the way and add more sugar – since coconut sugar is not near as sweet as regular, we typically double whatever is called for.

We cannot eat chicken eggs, that is why i specifically say ‘duck eggs’. but if you’re lucky enough to get your eggs cheaper than $6.99 a dozen, feel free and use chicken. He also used more eggs to make sure it would hold together since our goat’s milk was thinner than heavy cream would be.

Happy baking! Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out if you try it! 

I think I’m going to go try my new bread recipe… it feels like a day for baking.

~Laura