Crab Legs and Homemade Bread

The last of our company left today.  Adam's parents had to head home to get back to work.  They have a couple of inches of snow waiting on them when they get there.  I'm crossing my fingers for them that it continues to snow and they get a snow day tomorrow so they'll have time to rest and prepare for the 2nd half of the school year.

On New Years Eve, Nick and his fiance, Ashlie, were on their way back home from a SC, GA trip and it worked out well for them to stop here and stay the night.  Nick played basketball with Adam at Belmont and is now a lawyer in LaPorte, IN.  Ashlie teaches at a Mother's Day Out program and is also a photographer.  Nick is SO lucky to have Ashlie.  She's perfect for him and we are looking forward to their nuptials coming up in July.  The girls enjoyed showing off their toys to them.  We (the adults) could only stay up until 10:30 on NYE, but it was so good to see them. 

For Christmas, my in-laws got me a ....KITCHEN AID MIXER!!!  It is amazing.  It is red, it is beautiful, and I love it.  I used it for the first time before Nick and Ashlie came to beat the egg white for a coconut cream pie.  I was showing off how I could walk away from it to go put the flour and sugar back in the pantry and by the time I got back to the mixer, the whites were almost finished!  It was amazing. 

I put it to use again tonight, but this time using the dough hook.  I found a recipe on Pinterest.  Men don't really understand Pinterest, and I am probably the last person to join Pinterest.  But it is an online pin board that you can post all your ideas, favorite things, inspiring pictures, Do-it-yourself projects, and recipes and all your friends can see them.  You can steal other people's ideas or they can add yours.  Well, this recipe was for a pull apart Garlic Parmesan Bread.  Here's the blog that the recipe originated from...

The Pastry Affair

I haven't had a chance to look at any more of her recipes, but this one was a keeper.  It was pretty easy and it tasted delicious!

Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread

from the blog The Pastry Affair

Yields 1 loaf
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/3 cups barely warm water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 1/2 cups all purpose (or bread) flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the yeast and water. Let sit 5 minutes until yeast is foamy. Mix in the olive oil, salt, and flour. If you have a stand mixer, attach the dough hook and knead the dough for 5-6 minutes, or until elastic. If you are doing this by hand, knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until dough is elastic, 7-10 minutes. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel.

Allow to rise for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until dough is doubled in size.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, parsley flakes, and minced garlic. Set aside.

Punch down the dough. Tear off small pieces of dough (roughly the size of the bowl of a medium spoon), coat in the butter mixture, and place in the bottom of a bundt pan. Repeat this process until you have one layer of dough balls. Sprinkle on 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Continue layering the dough balls and cheese until you have 3 layers. Cover the pan with a clean towel and allow to sit until dough has doubled in size, 20-30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bread is golden brown. Serve hot with a side of marinara or tomato sauce.

Tonight we had crab legs to go with it.  I love boiling crab legs at home.  We get the zataran's crab boil and boil it for about 3-5 minutes.  It is so much better than a restaurant because you just leave them soaking in the water and they are tasty, warm, and easy to crack open.  The girls had fish sticks. 

Adam returns to the grind tomorrow.  The girls also go back to school and I'm back to my usual schedule.  We sure enjoyed being home and enjoying each other these past two weeks.  To help me get through my blues, I look to the future and find things to look forward to.  We have a lot of fun coming down the road.  :)

Aubrie is blow drying Grandma's hair

Emilie with her pal, PoePoe

The girls applying make-up and doing their hair.

Emilie had pigtails today for the first time.  She was super cute.

The girls riding on their cars with Tia.

We were watching the Rose Bowl Parade today and when Aubrie saw the queen, she went and dressed up and put on her crown and started waving.  We've got to work on the smile, though...

Love to all! Pin It Now!