Holiday Baking

My last Blog got a whooping 4 views... The boyfriend has admitted he doesn't even read it any longer and I kind of wonder why I even bother any longer.
         
I've been doing some new stuff and I am frustrated.
       I tried Salt water Taffy. Which is another boiled thing. I've read many blogs. Some called for high temperatures of 300. Some 275. One I found was 225 for a very Soft taffy.  and since I will be feeding it to younger and old people. I figure that i would try a medium ish at 235. I soon found it, that Blog had to have lied or their thingie is wrong.You're supposed to test it in Boiling water because that temp is always the same..but anyways, It would not hold in any form or way and remained a liquid, Another I did at 265 and it could not be pulled but after some refrigeration, It held it's shape enough and tastes good, but its a insane soft candy that slowly loses any shape. I also did one at 295 which yielded a hard taffy that soon became chewy. But they weren't the flavors that I originally aimed for. I wanted to make a nice Vanilla and the other a classic Strawberry. Don't get me wrong. They still taste Yummy.
On the foods notes I've been cooking up a ton of meals that John and I tend to have weekly and both thoroughly enjoy. Packed with Vegetables. Everything I make tends to have onions, carrots and mushrooms because they are yummy and nutritious! I did what meals that the mother in law requested. Chili was weekly, but now they have asked me to cook less because they can;t deal? handle with the "fancy" cooking. it seems they want less flavor? they claim Simple food but what i make I consider simple.   Seems a regular for them is grilled pork chops(salt and pepper) served with canned beans. Or burgers, Sausage and perogies...
I am slightly insulted though they didn't mean it that way. I don't believe in using canned crap all the time.  my recipes don't start with a can or end with multi's being added. Its cheaper buying dried beans then canned with no salt added or such. If you plan your meals. Soak the beans then simmer for a hour. Canned tomatoes are the exception of course.
So I am taking a step back from cooking. I won't make the effort anymore.

I was having a bit of issues with the EI office.First off I didn't apply right away because I thought I would get a job right away.(seems I was wrong) and I was missing my record of employment from Mr.Ribs. I had quit anyways so I had to fill in a very Long forum of why I quit. The day I went in to check in with EI about everything. after I went and got the mail and there it was. Only about 9 Months late but the nice part, he put it down that I was laid off. So that clears up any question if I would receive it.
While I was getting help with resumes and what not, The lady hinted I might be getting about 500 every two weeks which isn't much but it is something to keep the bills paid and I am grateful for that. though I do Wonder how shaun who worked at the same job but worked less time, gets 800 every two weeks.

The gifts that I got people, They seemed to enjoy, Minus the children because they didn't seem to care at all.  Senior Dolan liked the Seed Flower and Power station, Carey was amused with her Lighted block, Glass tea pot and new bread knife. My John claims to love the cup i painted for him.
Terri Liked the Bracelet, Brendan was amused by the booze, Evan and I reminisced about The Crown Royal in the Purple Bag. Seems dad enjoyed it with 7-up. I had a small glass in memory of him too. The cups that I spent more hours intended on were set aside and i doubt will be remembered.
I got some neat things as well, A reflective retractable leash, A new Holder for doggie bags(sherlock destroyed the last one) A Pooper scooper thing, Chocolates, A light up thingie for sherlocks collar and one for my keys, nail polish, mother earth news , New ear Plugs( sherlock ate mine) A pink hearted Onsie, Yoga pants, A giant Wok. Etc. John is pleased with his gifts as well. :)
Though the Taffy's weren't touched at the dessert table. The ones I put in the older kids cups, when opened we ewwed because they were sticky. I don't think one made it into their mouths.  Though Zane got the tin full of them from the chinese gift exchange because it was the left over under the tree and no one wanted it. He claims he loves taffy and took them but i kind of think he heard me tell john how I was disappointed that no one even touched them or he could really Love taffy.

I successfully ish... knitted a hat.  in Multi colors.. the very top was kind of wonky and it took me a couple dozen attempts at starting to get it right. I struggled more then I should of but it seems to be to the theme of my last two months.  But I remembered how to complete a purl Stitch, But I'd never done one on the same Line as a normal Stitch.So the hat was purl 2, knit 2, Repeat.  So I did it and when I was done the line it was so weird twisted and I couldn't do a thing. I youtubed it to find that you had to bring the yarn under the needle to complete a purl stitch from a knit stitch or you create another Stitch and it makes it really wonky...  After i got that figured out. Randomly i would forgot to do it and add a stitch and could not figure out why the next line wasn't working right. Frustrating!.
But I finished it. With much slacking. I did it in 5 days. I gave it to Bailee who then wore it for half the get together until my grandma gave her a bright orange and pink knitted hat.
I will be attempting a purple one for myself... hopefully it will go better.

I fully admit I can't say I will write another Blog as no one is reading them and It feels useless to post it if no one will read it. I can't even admit that i will post this one for people to access this one.

Butternut Squash Bread, Beer Bread and DIY Soap!

Well I shared my Last Post with the Humboldt Buy, Sell and Trade because through my online surfing, Looking for great deals for our Home, People have asked why we are doing it and such. That Entry actually reached 200 Views! Which is just Crazy.  But hopefully people find it useful.

Our Trailer has windows and a door... Sort of on the door part. Can barely open it at this time!
The plastic is going slow but we finished the "bedroom" Area. It is finally coming into place Kind of.  John is aiming for us to be able to sleep in there by Sunday which is pretty darn exciting I think.
He is even making sure I will have stairs so I won't fall down in the Middle of the night.  Since I usually Pee like 3 times in a evening.
I do thoroughly enjoy having access to a Kitchen with a fridge! though I fully admit I hate the Lighting, Kind of dim in the Kitchen.. If anyone knows me, I adore a very Bright Kitchen. Screw the brightness in any other Room. My Kitchen needs to be very Bright. It is very Important to me, And John has promised to work on it to make it bright and Lovely in there.
Anyways, I have been cooking up a storm in the kitchen and Loving it.  One day I made Peanut butter Chocolate chip cookies, Almond Joy Pie,  Almond Joy Pudding, Nutella Pudding, Coconut Cream Pie, For the main meals, Chicken Noodle soup, Chicken pot Pie, Chicken stew with tarragon dumplings, Cream of Potato and Bacon, Borscht, Stuffing for a Roast Chicken Dinner, and at least three batches of Baking Powder Biscuits.
The Biscuits were a huge hit each night and the whole batch devoured in one Meal.  The Crazy part they are the fluffiest I've ever made.   I have switched to Coconut Oil instead of butter.. While using coconut oil if gives it a strong smell of coconut but the actual flavor is very Light, more noticeable if the biscuits are eaten cold.   But With coconut oil, You use it at Room Temperature and can mix it in until it resembles Corn meal and they still Turn out incredibly Flaky. You can see all the yummy layers! I've used it in Pie as well. Same Results!. But I'm pretty sure my Mother in Law is starting to think I am trying to make her fat or something with all the things I'm making.  Though she is really enjoying having food ready when she gets home from work.  Best part. She does the Dishes! I try to load and unload the dishes when I get a chance and I do some by hand.. I try to make it so she doesn't need to do a lot... Sometimes..
 Senior Dolan keeps finding Carrots in stuff and isn't a huge fan of them. He finds them evil it seems though he has gotten used to it.
Recently I've dipped my fingers into more home made bread with giant success!
Yesterday I made Chicken Barley Soup with bone marrow broth as the base. I also made a Butter Nut Squash Yeast bread. It did not raise as huge as I wanted, It had a slight orange color but you could not taste it and it had some nutritional value! Today it's Hearty Chili with Beer Bread. My bread rose really well too. It's so Sexy!

Recently John and Senior Dolan have fixed the door! No more struggles!

I have no had any Luck with finding work yet. Not a single call. It's getting me kind of down.I know John is feeling the same way well though I am enjoying the extra time I get with him.