ARIZONA

So Inoke & I just got home from a trip up to Arizona. We had a fabulous time. It was sunny and 85 every day. We stayed with Angela & Vama, it was so much fun to hang out with good friends again and spend time with Mallina & Eva. I have missed Angela dearly since they moved in November, so it was especially fun to have my friend back for a few days. We got our hair done and went to the movies and just hung out catching up with each other. I deffinately was sad when it was time to head back to Hawaii. Inoke had so much fun playing with Mallina & Eva. So hear are some pictures of our trip:

This is Mallina doing the shaka while glued to Ratatouille...

Here is me & Mallina...

And, here is me with Eva, how can you not love that little face?!?

Amish Friendship Bread

I L*O*V*E, love Amish Friendship Bread. It has been years since I last tasted the sweet treat so imagine my delight when I was reading the Honolulu Advertiser the other day and found a whole article on just that, Amish Friendship Bread. I am one of those people who really dislike any form of chain letters or chain emails or forward this to ten people or you will have bad luck messages; so it is with a bit of irony that I would love a bread that not only requires TEN whole days of cultivation, and sharing of the resulting starter. If you have never tried this cinnamon treat, I am telling you it is so worth all the hard work and tender care. So instead of passing on a bit of starter to you I am posting the recipie so you can make your own batch and if you don't want to pass on a cup to another person after the ten days... then that just means all the more for you to enjoy!

Amish Friendship Bread

Freindship Bread Starter

1 pack active dry yeast
¼ c warm water
3 c flour (divided)
3 c white sugar (divided)
3 c milk

Disolve yeast in water. Let activate for 10 min.

In 2 quart glass, plastic, or ceramic bowl combine 1 c flour and 1 c sugar. Sift thrououhly so flour doesn’t lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 c milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. This is DAY ONE of the ten day cycle. Leave mixture loosely covered at room temperature.

On DAY TWO, DAY THREE, and DAY FOUR stir starter with a spoon. On DAY FIVE stir in 1 c flour, 1 c sugar, and 1 c milk. DAY SIX, DAY SEVEN, DAY EIGHT, DAY NINE stir only.

On DAY TEN; stir in 1 c flour, 1 c sugar, and 1 c milk. Remove 1 cup of starter to make your first bread, keep another cup of starter for your next batch, and give the other two cups away.

Caring for your Amish Friendship Bread Starter

Keep 1 cup starter in sealable plastic bag. DO NOT REFRIGERATE.Day 1 to Day 5: Knead the starter lightly each day while in the bag.Day 6: Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour; smoosh and squish in bag until mixed.Day 7 to Day 9: Knead the bag each day.Day 10: Empty bag into a bowl. Add 1 cup milk, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, stir. Take 3 portions (1 cup each) and put into resealable bags. Give two away and keep one for yourself. Use fourth portion to make your bread.

Amish Friendship Bread

1 c starter
1 c oil
½ c milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 c sugar
1 tbl cinnamon
½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 large (5 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 2 large loaf pans or 1 9X13 cake pan. Combine starter with oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir well.

In separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and pudding mix. Add to wet mixture, stirring well with wooden spoon. Pour batter into prepared pans. Sprinkle top of batter with cinnamon and sugar. Bake 60 min, until toothpick comes out clean.

Gas Prices...

So here is my rant for the day. Gas prices are crazy in Hawaii. I realize that we are on an island and it does have to come over on a barge and all that, but come on. Were we live the current price at Chevron (the only gas station for 23 miles) is $3.57 for the regular unleaded. If I happen to make a trip to Honolulu I can stop in at COSTCO for the $3.45 "cheapest on the whole island" stuff. But when I sit and calculate how much it costs me to drive the 70 miles round trip to "town" it really doesn't help me out. In February when Inoke & I were in Arizona we filled up at a whopping $2.71 that is ALMOST a whole dollar cheaper! So I found these cartoons that made me laugh about the current situation and ever rising gas prices. At least I can laugh about it.

Feb 2008 Trip

Where I live...

Several times I have been reminded by others to quit complaining about how dang expensive living in paradise is and to just enjoy Hawaii. So lately I have been making a conscious effort to really appreciate how beautiful my surroundings are. Count your blessings, name them one by one...

For example I can stand off my front porch and see the blooming plumeria trees.


And the amazing sunsets and sunrises of Hawaii. This is what I see every night from my front yard. How can I not be greatful for the beauties that surround me?