It's Fall Y'all!

The temperature dipped into the 40's last night! Brrrr.

We're off on a road trip this weekend. Our annual family reunion in the north Georgia mountains. The theme this year is Greece. You won't want to miss the photos from this one. I hear there is a toga party in the works for tomorrow night. So, stay tuned.



Have a fabulous weekend!

Love,
Lambda Lambda

Waldorf Light

Here is how to add a little happiness to any day.

Dice a couple of crisp fall apples.

Toss in a handful of juicy red grapes.

Add a dallop of vanilla yogurt and a sprinkle of sugared walnuts.

Enjoy a tasty treat served from a cheery, handpainted bowl!

Thank you, Abby, for my birthday bowls!

Love,
Laura Lee

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Broadcast...

...to bring you this Emergency Quilting Announcement.

While I was pondering a wedding gift for my nephew James and his bride-elect, Kathryn, who will be married on October 27th, it occurred to me that I had just enough time to eke out a simple quilt for them in the next 2.5 weeks. I mean, what newlyweds wouldn't love to snuggle on the couch with an original Laura Lee quilt? Well, duh! That's a no-brainer.

Unlike normal people who like to plan ahead and be finished with a project well ahead of a target date, I, on the other hand, actually do my best work under pressure. I get energy from the adrenaline rush of knowing I have a deadline breathing down my neck.

So, the Christmas quilt project is on hold for the moment. Sorry, Ellen. I'll pick it back up after I finish this gift for the love birds.

Since I doubt my nephew even knows I have a blog, let alone actually looks at it, I feel safe enough posting a few photos of what I'm doing. This heap of scraps is actually going to become something beautiful, a Log Cabin quilt.


Here are the four blocks I finished yesterday, and the four I have under construction.




This pattern is so easy because all you do is cut the center squares and then you strip! That's right. Your blog author has a secret pastime. I've been stripping for years. Strip quilting, that is. I rotary cut strips of fabric the same width and just go round and round the center square, trimming as I go, creating a log cabin block. No tedious measuring and piecing for this one.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. It really shouldn't take me long. In the mean time, I'm sure you'll be riveted to your computers...

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming......

Fun With Pizza Dough!

When Ryan was in high school, he took a mini-mester class for a week called "Fun With Pizza Dough." They made all sorts of interesting things with pizza dough that week and Ryan, very at home in the kitchen, thoroughly enjoyed himself. His teacher, Mr. Simons, brought in his own recipe and shared it with the students. We've used this recipe for pizza ever since.

In the past three or four years, we have only ordered out pizza once or twice. Our family really prefers this homemade pizza over delivery. And, oh my! The savings! I can make four large pizzas for our big, hungry family (and any spare kids who might be visiting) for right at $10. And there is always some left for lunch the next day. I really should pop a thank you-check in the mail to good ol' Mr. Simons. He has saved us so much money!

Here is the recipe for one pizza.

Mr. Simon's Quick and Easy Pizza Dough

• 2/3 cup water
• 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• scant 1/8 cup sugar

Heat water to 115 degrees and add yeast. (I just use very warm tap water.) If you have a mixer with dough hooks, this makes it even easier. Add all the ingredients and mix for several minutes. Cover bowl with damp towel. Let dough rest for 30 minutes. Grease pizza pan and roll out dough. (If I use a baking stone, I don't grease it.)

Top with pizza sauce. Top with cheese. Then put your other toppings of choice over the cheese. I have found that this order keeps everything from falling apart upon cutting the pizza.

Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 16 minutes.

Below is the recipe quadrupled, which is what I typically do for our pizza-lovin' brood. The fourth pizza is always a dessert pizza with loads of butter, brown sugar, diced apples, chopped nuts, and cinnamon.

Don't forget the mood music.

4X Pizza Dough Recipe for the Serious Pizza Lovers

• 2 2/3 cup water
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 8 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• scant 1/2 cup sugar

"I love pizza! It's part of my Italian heritage....."

Ciao!
Laura Lee

Dressed for the Occasion

Soup just tastes better in my pink bandana headpiece and gold beads.

I always read my books in full bridal attire.

I cut and paste in a veil, too.

A princess never knows when her prince may appear.


She may meet him in her dreams...


...so she must be dressed for the occasion!

I'm a Hopeless Cooking Addict!

I've decided that I just can't NOT cook! Brad called on his way home from work just now to ask, "Mom, what's for lunch?" I said, "Nothing! Whatever you can pull together. I'm not cooking today. " We're going out for dinner tonight to celebrate my birthday a few days late. And I had no intentions of cooking lunch.

But then...

But then, my friend and fellow cooking addict, Sharon, sent me the link to this cooking blog. And, oh my word! The first recipe I saw looked so good I couldn't stand it. I had to make it for lunch. The only thing I didn't have on hand were the peppers. Oh well, it still turned out great and we scarfed it up in record time. I halved the recipe for a quick lunch. And I figure it cost maybe $2 to feed the five of us lunch today.

Pasta with Garbanzo Beans

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 pound fusilli or gemelli pasta
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 16-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 heaping cup of fresh basil, sliced
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• a healthy pinch of crushed red pepper (optional)

Prepare pasta according to package instructions, making sure not to overcook. When pasta is almost done, sauté garlic, red pepper and bell peppers in olive oil in a separate saucepan for about 2 minutes. Stir tomatoes and beans into the oil and heat through. The pasta should be done at the same time the other ingredients are hot. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot it cooked in, then add the garbanzo mixture. Toss this together with the cheese and basil. Season to taste with lots of freshly ground pepper. Serves 4 to 6.

I managed to snap this photo of Lacy's bowl before she inhaled the last bite.

Enjoy your weekend!

Love,
Laura Lee

The Mom Song

I wanted to share this video clip by Anita Renfroe. This is for all the moms out there, who, like me, repeat themselves daily.

Erika and I went to see her live a few months ago when she came to town. She is an absolute riot. I laughed so hard I cried!

Enjoy!

Love,
Laura Lee
P.S. Happy Birthday to me!