Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!

Holiday Creations and Celebrations

Big GUS

Madelines

Hurley Adaptations:

Use a Double Boiler to blend eggs and sugar for 5 minutes on high.

The mixture should be frothy and double in size.

Beat in Vanilla and lemon zest.

Transfer to ice water to cool.

Add butter and stir. Then add flour mixture.

FOLD, do not mix.

Cool in refrigerator for 30 minutes minimum.

Lightly flour Madeline pans. I do not use butter.

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted

1-cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour

1/2-teaspoon baking powder

1/8-teaspoon salt

3 large eggs, at room temperature

2/3 cup (133 grams) granulated white sugar

1-teaspoon pure vanilla extract

First, melt the butter and allow it to cool while you make the batter.

In a small bowl place the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk until well blended.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar at medium-high speed until the mixture has tripled in volume and forms a thick ribbon when the beaters are lifted (about 5 minutes).  Add the vanilla extract and beat to combine.

Sift a small amount of flour over the egg mixture and, using a large rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the beaten eggs to lighten it.  Sift the rest of the flour over the egg mixture enfolding being sure not to over mix or the batter will deflate. 

Whisk a small amount of the egg mixture into the melted butter to lighten it.  Then fold in the cooled melted butter in three additions.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or several hours, until slightly firm.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).  Generously butter two 12-mold Madeleine pans.  Dust the molds with flour and tap out the excess.  (Could spray pans with Bakers Joy instead.) (Make sure the pans are well greased or the Madeleine’s will stick and be hard to remove.)

Drop a generous tablespoonful of the batter into the center of each prepared mold, leaving the batter mounded in the center.  (This will result in the classic "humped" appearance of the Madeleine’s.)

Bake the Madeleine’s for 11 to 13 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers spring back when lightly touched.  Do not over bake these cookies or they will be dry.

Remove the pans from the oven and rap each pan sharply against a countertop to release the Madeleine’s.  

Transfer the Madeleine’s, smooth sides down, to wire racks to cool.  The Madeleine’s are best served the same day but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days or frozen, well wrapped, for up to 1 month.

When serving dust with confectioners sugar.

Makes about 24 - 3 inch (8 cm) Madeleine’s.

Variation:  Lemon-Poppy Seed Madeleine’s - Substitute 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar for 2/3 cup white sugar, substitute 1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract plus 1 teaspoon finely minced lemon zest for 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and add l tablespoon poppy seeds after adding butter.  Proceed with recipe.

Bittersweet Chocolate Madeleines - Melt 4 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate (in pieces) in top of double boiler (stainless steel bowl over a saucepan) until melted.  Let cool slightly.  Follow the above recipe but add the melted chocolate to the batter after adding the melted butter.  Proceed with recipe. 

Yesterday, I completed the 3rd leg of the CIM Relay Race. It was so much fun and very inspiring. This was not just a race, but an event. Every part of the race was covered with cheering spectators. Those in the CIM ranged from every shape and size and raced for many causes. One group carried an American flag the whole 26.2 miles. We saw a few who were legally blind, others who wheeled their way to the finish line. It was a gorgeous day and couldn't have been more beautiful.

Team Andrew placed 25 in the women's division and 165 out of 883 relay teams!!!

I have been really focusing lately on thanks. And it has really changed my perspective on life. Why not give thanks everyday. and not just be thankful, but live as if it is reflective in my life.

This week I have conquered several classes at the gym. Prepared for the 10k tomorrow and baked and canned.

Cookies: Persimmon; Gluten-Free Peanut Butter; Madelines;
Pancakes: Banana Walnut
Muffins: Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Canned: Persimmon Freezer Jam; Fresh Peach Jam

I really wanted to make Chocolate chip, but I'm out of butter....

Have a happy thanksgiving and live a life of thanks!!

currently updating my calendar with more races. I think I'm down to about 1 a month...

V.O.T.E.

VOTE tomorrow!

I’ve decided to dedicate my miles to everyone who votes and posts on this blog! So please vote tomorrow!!
Not everyone has the right to vote.
Some have fought for a long time for this right.
And some of us, don’t vote and complain about the problems.
Just vote!! It does make a difference!!

The many faces of me

The many faces of me!

Today I have been pondering about things that I would like to do before 25:
1. be more patient
2. do more for others
3. run a half-marathon
4. run a marathon
5. take a trip outside of California
6. learn to cook Thai cuisine
7. bake more
8. have a garden that was bigger than this year
9. make more time for people
10. do something out of character (I'm not very spontaneous)
11. get a teaching job (that one is out of my control)
12. beat my running scores
13. host a few more parties
14. take more walks with the hubby
15. get better at cleaning
16. write a short story (or finish)
17. paint 3 canvases
18. enjoy the skin i'm in (is that Dove's commercial?)
19. do more thoughtful things for Steven
20. sew more
21. make a quilt
22. create a creative outlet that results in some extra moolah :)
23. encourage my family and friends to go to church with me
24. give back to my community and volunteer at William Jessup
25. ????

I'm gonna give it a day or two to figure out the last one!

Thanks for the birthday wishes!!

Not the best but the furthest

I shouldn't have had two cookies for breakfast. I also decided no more alcohol.

Workout: Run
Date: Oct 31, 2010
Distance: 9.07 mi
Duration: 1:25:34


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Apple Hill Bound!

Despite the stormy weather....family trip to apple hill. Can't wait!!

Day 8

Workout: Run
Date: Oct 18, 2010
Distance: 4.00 mi
Duration: 35:38

Day 3 of training: a success. It's hard to follow a plan, when all I want to
do is beat my scores. It will eventually pay off.

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Running

Started my half marathon training.
4 miles with four 30 second sprints. Whew! 37 minutes (9.25/mi)

Life

Lately I have been
running
still subbing
running
reading my bible
running
and watching our new addition Gus Gus

2 months

5 months

Today!!

I promise to be better at posting.

Sincerely,

Hurley Girl

First Year Anniversary

Last weekend we celebrated the big first anniversary! It was so wonderful!

Our schedule:

Saturday:

Watch USA soccer game at Beach Hut Deli

Pick up cupcakes

Drive downtown and stay at the Sheraton

Walk to Mikuni

Walk to Crepeville

Back to hotel

Sunday

Watch England soccer game

Have coffee and breakfast at Old Soul at the Weatherstone

Back to Granite Bay

It was very fun and eventful! Enjoy our photos!

Preschool Update

So I made it through a week. These children are precious! I have been told that I look like Mary Poppins. Hmm! Haven’t got that before?! Anyway, I love it even though I have dealt with countless tears and potty accidents. It has been so wonderful! They are a few in the class that just light me up and make my heart warm. One little boy came up to me and kissed me on the cheek.

Uhh, I LOVE IT! Did I mention that?

Anyway, this weekend will be an update on the garden!

Hurley Girl

Preschool

Today I began what was to be one of the most intimidating adventures ever. I have experienced preschool before and was utterly terrified! Okay may more frustrated. I cannot stand chaos...period! It seems like a distraction, no wait a disaster to learning. But somehow it seems to be everywhere. Classroom management has caused me to become OCD. I want to make sure that everything is perfect and that all the students are finding a way to learn. It doesn't have to be the same, just doing something productive.

I digress...

Anyway, I walked into the classroom and it was...BEAUTIFUL! Everyting had a spot and the students were so well behaved. Why? because of classroom management. 

The students are adorable to say the least and I have fallen in love with each of them. I will greatly miss my kindergartners, but this will keep my mind preoccupied so I'm not crying all day in how truly amazing those kinders were.

Well keep reading for more adventures in preschool, because I'm sure there will be more.

Did I mention I had to cleanup vomit today? Ahh..preschool...hooray?!

Stamps

Please vote:

Which one is cute, but not too girly? 

Number 1 

Number 2

or Number 3

Let me know!!

 Hurley Girl 

Cute Free Things

I have been using my Memorial Day to find fascinating things to keep me occupied this year.

Here is one:

www.downloadandprint.com

You can download invitations for FREE and alter the names and dates to fit your occasion!

Enjoy your week!

Hurley Girl

Moving

Yesterday we finished moving from our old apartment to where we will be living. In the meantime, we are at Steven's parents for the summer. It will be very exciting!! I can't wait!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

So tonight I enjoyed a lovely evening watching The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (TIDP). As the movie came to a close, my friends descibed the movie of having no plot. Sure to their credit the plot line was a bit disguised by the brilliant colors and daring effects. But I can't help but to think there is more. Perhaps the Devil is more than we have percieved him to be. He is more than just tricky but plays the game of winning and losing lives. The movie does seem to look at life as an object that can just easily be wasted and thrown to the gutter. I digress, the devil makes a deal with Dr. Parnassus for his daughter because the devil gave DP his wife and his youth back. The devil and DP's relationship began when the devil approached DP while he was a monk. DP explains to the devil that the world will always exist just as long as there is someone telling a story. The devil attempts to stop the storytelling; however DP realizes that there is still someone somewhere telling a story, it just doesn't have to be the story he is telling. Anywho, the idea seems to fall back on that life is unpredictable. No matter how much you anticipate and think your life will end the way you like, you forget to take into account that there are other people in your life that make footprints and can alter your life. You, can never hold the key to have your life planned because you cannot hold the key to anyones elses. Okay I may need to sleep on it and see what this comes to.


Let ya know soon.

Hurley Gurl
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Dreaming

Lately it seems that I have been
thinking a lot about volunteering at my Alma mater. I feel that the importance of mentoring and encouraging women to understand the concept of friendship!! Somehow we are told as women to just be kind to everyone even when there are those who refuse to change and are constantly plauging a friendship. So I guess the real question is who needs to learn: the peolpe pleaser or the toxic person who refuses to engage in a relationship?

Well if anyone reads this then I am asking for your thoughts! Seriously, what is your honest opinion?

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Growing Up

It seems that my posts are few and far between. I am hoping to use a camera more, a thing that I used to be so good at. Anyway the few things that have been changing in my life:

Steven recently got a job!! Normal hours hurray!

Having more sub jobs and making new contacts.

Learning a lot about teaching and loving all the wonderful teachers I have subbed for.

Working out may have become a habit that I am obsessing over.

Reading, but not as intensely.

It seems that I'm going to need to learn to change my schedule now that Steven will be home now when I'm at home. Not complaining just a realization.

Until tomorrow, or whenever I get a chance to be on this thing.

Much Love!

Hurley Gurl