New Bread Machine

The second year anniversary traditional gift is cotton. Short of getting Paul some new boxers or polos, I had nothing for this anniversary. But when my mom and I came upon this bread machine in a closeout store I knew Paul would love this much more.
Since Paul ended up being sick on our anniversary, so I decided to make a loaf of bread myself.

Garlic Bread

1 ½ cup Water, 80° F
2 tbsp Butter
4 cups Bread Flour
2 tbsp Dry Milk
1 ½ tbsp Sugar
1 ½ tsp Salt
1 ½ tbsp Dried Parsley Flakes
1 – 1 ½ tsp (to taste) Garlic Powder
2 tsp Bread Machine Yeast

The top deflated a bit. I looked up some troubleshooting could be too much yeast or too much liquid. I'm not very good at "measuring" things perfectly. So either of these are possible. It didn't hurt the taste, the top just looked funny.

I'm in search of some more tasty recipes! I found a pdf online of some recipes. But I'm trying to get inspired to do something special. Send me your recipes. I'll give them a go. Or maybe Paul will. He is the better baker in our marriage.

Coffee Filter Wreaths

I love when I'm not even looking for a new idea and one just pops up on a blog that I follow. I giggled when I first saw it, but in an amused way. So I knew I had to make it. Especially since it looked easy enough for me to make. Thanks to Little Miss Momma for this Coffee Filter Wreath.

I used it to spruce up a boring corner in our bedroom. (Its hard to find a wall in our apartment it isn't covered with some kind of art, picture, or craft.)

Then I started thinking about a fall wreath... But white isn't fall.
Ta da. Dye the coffee filters.

So I got some Rit dye from the grocery store and went to town. Well actually it took me a long time to build up the courage to actually do the dyeing part.

So bam! A fall/Halloween orange wreath. I am currently weather testing it right now. It is under the porch roof, but I will be interested to see if any rain that blows in on it messes it up.

I love how it turned out. My next wreath is going to be a red and white candy cane. That way I only have to dye half as many coffee filters. haha!

Update: December 2011

I might even be making some extra for friends. What do colors do you think would be most popular?

I just got 5 packs of 200 coffee filters for $4. Well I'm off to scrunch more coffee filters!