Snow

I tried to get some shots of the snow we had today.

Can you see the flakes?

I guess it's harder to see than I thought. They were actually rather large, but wet.

Here you can see the total accumulation at our house.

After picking Alayna up from school we did see some houses with real accumulation on their roofs. Perhaps enough to make a snowball or two.

Since snow is a rarity in this part of Texas, Paul reported some of the reactions from his co-workers. There was the usual race to the windows to stare in wonder at the falling flakes. There was lots of panic and attempts to leave work early based on fears of icy death roads or being stranded at work. Salt was actually spread on the sidewalks to melt the snow. The temperature never got below 36 degrees.

Conversation at the Breakfast Table

Cavell: Knock, knock.
Alayna: Who's there?
Cavell: Banana.
Alayna: Banana, who?
Cavell: Banana goes to Grape's house!

Both: HAHAHAHAHAHA

Cavell: Your turn!
Alayna: Knock, knock.
Cavell: Who's there?
Alayna: Banana.
Cavell: Banana, who?
Alayna: Banana goes to Grape's house!

Both: HAHAHAHAHAHA

Alayna: Your turn!

and repeat (ad nauseam). This is a joke that Alayna learned from her friend, Alex. We have taught Cavell another that he really enjoys.

Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Chooch.
Chooch, who?
Choochoo, you sound like a train!

But, he always goes back to Grape's house. I just tested this. I did the train joke, we laughed, he said it was his turn, did the train joke, we laughed, he said it was my turn. Train joke again, we laugh, his turn, train joke. I'm thinking I should get the recorder so you can all hear, but he says it's my turn. I start the train joke. "No. My turn!" and we move on to Grape's house. Since I couldn't get a sound recording, I took a picture instead.

Peacock Feathers

This is a brag post for me. I finished the shawl I have been knitting.

This is the whole shawl, almost. I couldn't quite get tip to tip, it is 88" wide.

"The Peacock Feathers Shawl is a stylized version of a peacock's tail in full display, from the small feathers at the top of the peacock's back, down to the dramatic sweep of the tail."

Here is the tail feather.

Here are some side feathers.

Golly, pictures just don't do it justice. Probably due to my camera and lack of skills with it. I promise it is divine in real life.

Sweet Hearts

As you may remember, Sunday was Valentine's Day. Alayna wanted a fun heart hairdo. We gave this one a try. Some people could tell it was a heart, and others just thought it made her look like a princess. Mostly, she was very happy with her hairdo.
Alayna had her school Valentine's Day party last Friday. We did a single version of this heart hairdo, with rope braids. When I dropped Alayna off at school on Tuesday (there was no school Monday) I was actually stopped by the Vice Principal to tell me how cute her hair had been and how much everyone loved it. Yes, that put a smile on my face.

Let's throw in a cute picture of Cavell. Paul gave him a haircut, and he is wearing the boots that Paul wore when he was little.

Girl Scout Cookies

We all know now is the season of Girl Scout Cookies, whether you are one of the poor saps that only gets to order your cookies or the lucky duck that gets to open the boxes immediately. I have always loved these cookies. I am the lucky duck that has boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, and even the new Thank U Berry Munch cookies in her pantry already. Confession, some boxes are no longer there. Want to know why I am even more of a lucky duck than you? No one else in my family can eat them, therefore these cookies are ALL MINE!


But one does feel a little sad for the young members of my family that will never be able to try Girl Scout cookies. And imagine the agony Paul must feel having tasted the deliciousness of Girl Scout cookies, but no longer being able to eat them.

Never fear. I was directed to a website with recipes to make your own Girl Scout cookies! We decided to make them gluten free.

First up, Thin Mints (adapted for Gluten Free).

Chocolate Mint Cookie

• Whisk together in a small bowl
  2/3 Cup + 1 Tbs Rice Flour
  2/3 Cup + 1 Tbs Tapioca Starch
  2/3 Cup + 1 Tbs Corn Starch
  1 Tbs Potato Flour
  1 tsp Xanthum Gum
  1/4 Cup Corn Starch
  6 Tbs Cocoa Powder
  1/2 tsp Salt

• Cream together in mixer
  1 Cup Sugar
  1/2 Cup Butter, room temperature

• With the mixer on low, add in the wet ingredients. Mixture will look curdled.
  1/3 Cup Milk
  1/2 tsp Vanilla
  3/4 tsp Peppermint Extract

• Gradually, add in the dry mixture until fully incorporated.
• Shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Slice dough into rounds not more than 1/4 inch thick - if they are too thick, they will not be as crisp - and place on a lined baking sheet. You can put them close together.
• Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges.
• Cool completely on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate.

Chocolate Coating
10-oz Semisweet Chocolate
1/2 Cup Butter

• Melt chocolate and butter in the microwave, stirring every 20-30 seconds, until chocolate is smooth.
• Dip each cookie in melted chocolate, turning to coat, and place on wax paper. Reheat chocolate as needed to keep it smooth and easy to dip into.

• Wait. You want the chocolate to be cooled and firm.
• Eat one.
• Place the rest in the freezer.
• Try not to eat them all in one night.
  

Paul tried to recreate his favourite Girl Scout Cookie in gluten free form as well. Samoas, in bar form. Sadly, his did not work out as well. The shortbread base fell apart. I should say it became a powder with some crumbly chunks. It was also rather tasteless. We did not take pictures.

I did a little internet browsing for gluten free shortbread. On the Joy of Baking site I found this.

Rice flour is used in recipes to give the shortbread a more crumbly and tender texture.
Cornstarch is also used in shortbread recipes to produce a more delicate and fragile cookie.

Since those are two of the gluten free substitutes used, it's no wonder that his cookie base was "more crumbly," "delicate and fragile."

On the other hand, based on a lot of different sites and blogs, I did find what seems to be the accepted GF Shortbread Cookie recipe. But, I don't know if Paul is up for another attempt.

Sandwich Bread Victory

After four years of failure and disappointment, we have made gluten free bread that can be used for sandwiches. I do mean we, because Alayna and Cavell both helped me make it yesterday.

Here it is, right out of the oven.

And the extra neat thing? I don't need to show a picture of it 5 minutes later, because it looked the same!

Just look at these beautiful slices!

And the taste is much better than the loaves we can find in the Gluten Free aisle.

I was able to send Alayna to school with a sandwich made on bread. Cavell needed to be convinced he wanted his sandwich on bread instead of waffles. But, once I sliced into the loaf he was happy to go along.

I cut it into little triangles!

The next trick I need to learn? How to slice bread evenly. We have plans to make french toast Saturday. Extra funny, because Paul wants to try making it in the waffle iron.

Paul also wants to try making a gluten free artisan loaf in the dutch oven.