Some of you may have read of my kitchen calamities on Sunday and efforts on Monday. Well, I have happy news to report from the kitchen:

First, I’ll report on the crockpot:

Successful Crock Pot Pork
Successful Crockpot Pork!

As the pork was simmering, my blog was, too. And fortunately the Organizing Junkie was reading.

She suggested I shorten the cook time. When I read her comment it occured to me that perhaps she was onto something… My successful crockpot meals had been prepared in an older crockpot. All my horrible ones were prepared in brand-new ones. (And I kept buying new ones to fail in again and again.) Perhaps the newer ones cook faster!

I quickly re-thought the cooktime, took it from 8 hours to 6 and voila! Yummy Pork! It still wasn’t perfect, but it was much better.

I spoke with the Happy Housewife this morning and she suggested I take it back 3 hours. I’ll give it a try. In the meantime, we ate the pork for dinner last night and then re-heated it, adding a thick barbecue sauce for dinner tonight. There were happy eaters all around the table. And for the first time in my nine years of marrried life, I asked my huband if he would want me to prepare such a crockpot meal again. And he said “Yes.” Wooo-Hooo! I’m feeling good!

Also today I tried the Luscious Blueberry Loaf in the breadmaker. Cha-ching!

Luscious Blueberry Loaf
Truly Luscious Blueberry Loaf!

 Now that I know how to follow the instructions and wait until AFTER the knead time to add the blueberries, I can make a fantastic treat. I sliced and wrapped it for tomorrow morning. But I also snagged a few slices for my very appreciative family which they enjoyed tonight. They would like for me to make another loaf.

And, for my first loaf of bread, I chose wheat. It was a little more dense than I expected, but still quite nice. And to have fresh bread ready right as I was serving dinner was fantastic.

Fresh baked wheat bread
My first homemade wheat bread

I am very encouraged after today’s kitchen experiences… but then it probably didn’t take much after Sunday’s big mess!

If anyone has any bread recipes to share, I’m ready to try ’em out! Honey wheat, anyone?


Comments

6 responses to “I CAN do it!”

  1. Maurine Avatar
    Maurine

    Which breadmaker do you have?

    I have the Zojirushi BBCC-X20.
    You can learn more about it at http://www.Zojirushi.com.
    Today I’m planning to make pizza dough for lunchtime and then a braided loaf to take to our neighbor’s house at dinnertime.
    –Amy

  2. I have a few recipes for you :). I think your bread would be less dense, if you milled your own wheat, but I don’t think Mr. 144 would buy off on that one right now. Your loaves look great! How did the bread sticks turn out?
    Toni

  3. Somebody's Mimi Avatar
    Somebody’s Mimi

    May I come and visit? Sounds like there is going to be fresh, tasting, and healthy food… And lots of it!
    I’m not familiar with bread making, but I do know a few quick and too easy recipes for the crock pot… but my timing is always off too.

  4. Great job! I knew you could do it!

    I like making pitas…but using my wonderful new mixer, not a breadmaker. But you could still prepare the pita dough in the breadmaker, though. I use this recipe from the Fresh Loaf:

    http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pitabread

    I also have a mean breadstick recipe that my family loves. I can email it if you’d like.

    QOC

    Thanks for the encouragement. Hope you’re enjoying that new mixer. :)
    I’d LOVE the breadstick recipe.. please email away!
    –Amy144

  5. That blueberry bread looks amazing!!!

  6. Oh my gosh, well done!! I’m so happy for you! Your bread looks amazing. I find a lot of bread machine bread recipes on the Taste of Home site and in their magazine. Next you have to try pizza dough, I’ve got a great recipe on my site if you do a search for Pizza Dough in the bread machine. Let me know if you can’t find it.

    Laura

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