Live from the Katnip Lounge, The Kat Pack!

Starring: The Baby *Tiny Johnson * Felix * Rupert * Scouty * CC * Sweet Pea * Maui * May Ling * Salem

and...*Angels Grayce, KonaKitty, and Sylvester* always loved, never forgotten




Sunday, November 30, 2014

Snuggling with Sheebie



Friends and Kitties!

We're joining the Sunday Selfie Blog Hop:


Sheebie here, with a kinda-sorta snuggling selfie.
As you can see, I never lack for feline company.  

I'd like to apologize for not commenting on as many blogs as often lately--the pure-D fact is that I'm burned out.  Don't worry, I'm not considering stopping blogging because I'm incapable of shutting up but I wanted to let y'all know that we still make the rounds and enjoy reading every day.  

Thanks for all the nice comments on my yoga post!  I'd like to encourage all of you to give it a try sometime, even if you have a disability you can benefit from seated poses either on the floor or in a chair.  What I'm doing is the result of a year of practice and I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I'd be capable of the flexibility I've achieved--not to mention the wonderful feeling of mental centeredness that lasts far beyond the actual routine.  Scott practices regularly as well which helps him cope with his arthritis.  He uses a series of DVDs put out by a yogi named Peggy Cappy, and she is great; each pose/asana has variations according to your physical ability.  (She has stuff on YouTube, check it out!)

Scott and I have gone back into the kitchen and have been chef-ing up a storm lately.  Neither one of us cares for restaurant--or even prepared--food any more (flatus, anyone?) so out of self-preservation we've re-divvied up the household chores and I've made time to bake and cook.  It's funny, I wander into the kitchen thinking I'm "just going to do thus-and-such" and HOURS later I stagger out, laden with loaves, meals, and sides.  Scott, who up until recently was indifferent to my cooking (he used to be the chef) is now actually requesting certain dishes!  It's very fulfilling to prepare something nourishing for someone you love.  Even if it's yourself--we all have to eat.

On that note, I had a request for my pretzel roll recipe and it's at the end of the post.  I've  tweaked it a little to suit our taste, but the unaltered recipe can be found HERE--as well as lots of other excellent cooking ideas.  I find they are best eaten the day you make them (they take about 2 hours start to finish) or frozen then zapped in the microwave.  We always have some in the freezer, they are our go-to for sandwiches.

So, you have your instructions for the week:
1. stretch
2.  eat well
3. love yourself

Happy Sunday!

XX  Sheebie  XX




WHOLE WHEAT PRETZEL ROLLS

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 packet active dry yeast (2-1/2 tsp)
2 tablespoons coconut oil (or other fat)
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 cup bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup baking soda
Pretzel salt or coarse ground sea salt, for sprinkling

Directions:
In a small saucepan, heat the milk, 1/2 cup water, sugar and molasses to 105 to 110 degrees F. Add to the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast over the water mixture and wait 10-15 minutes until the yeast blooms.

Combine flours in a mixing bowl.

Add the flour mixture to the bowl with the blooming yeast, and then add in the coconut oil. Mix on medium speed until the dough has come together and is smooth and elastic in texture and pulling away from the sides of the bowl, 5 to 7 minutes.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board and form into a ball. Cut into 12 equal pieces. Using your hands, roll each piece into a ball and place onto a lightly floured surface. Cover with a dish cloth and let them rest in a warm place for 12 to 15 minutes.

Once rested, flour your work surface again and form the balls into flat discs, about 3" across. Place back in the warm spot and let rest for another 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place one oven rack high and one low. Line 2  baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.

In a large pot, bring 8 cups water to a boil, and then add the baking soda. In batches (3 or 4), place the discs in the water and cook for 30 seconds on each side.

Using a slotted spatula, remove the buns and place onto the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with pretzel salt as they come out of the water to ensure the salt sticks. Then cut 3 diagonal slits on top of the bread, not too deep.

Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, rotating between the top and bottom racks of the oven halfway through the cooking.

Enjoy!


33 comments:

  1. Some times ya' just gotta take a bloggy break that is for sure! It is crazy cold her in Southwest Sask. Please send Banjo and I some sun rays??? :)
    xo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think my human needs to spend more time cooking! Not bread, though - more like a chicken casserole made out of mostly all chicken.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's good to hear you are doing well - cooking good food is good for the soul as well as for the body (those pretzel rolls look yummy but a little bit fussy for me - I guess I'm a lazy cook. I did cook a turkey today so we could have our home Thanksgiving and turkey leftovers :-) XOX T & the furry gang, who are finding the warmest spots in the house they can to snooze when it is in the 20's outside! (Like this morning when I found George all stretched out over the heater vent - no wonder it was so cold in the bathroom!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just thinking bour pretzel rolls is makin me hungry!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Snuggling selfies are the best for Sunday Easies :D Have a good one :) Pawkisses :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's a cosy looking picture ! I too swear on Yoga ! I discovered it in 2007, I was stiff like a stick ! Ever since I feel more flexible and have no backaches anymore since I do Yoga ! Best thing I ever discovered to keep me fit !

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is a great picture! You must feel very loved. I want to start yoga myself, but I want a teacher who isn't about the 'trendy' of it, but about solid teaching. When I find that, I will get started on it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wish I could do yoga but I am so stiff from years of falling or being thrown from mad horses and breaking different parts of my body. I can touch my toes, but that is only because I have short legs.I never thought they were short until the physiotherapist came to me in hospital, and called me the lady with short legs. Just because she was 6 foot something!!!
    Flynn says to tell Sweet Pea that she is his most favourite white kitty.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey, stretch, eat and love sounds like a plan to me!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've been thinking about trying Yoga but didn't know where to start. I'll check out the videos. Glad you are feeling better!
    hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Sheebie
    Mom is actually thinking about checking into a yoga class in January.
    Being a retired State Employee she is a member of Silver Sneakers group she thinks yoga is one of the things offered.
    Hugs madi and mom your bfff

    ReplyDelete
  12. When I cook I pretend I'm an iron chef, with running commentary. Unfortunately my dishes are never iron chef quality.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tell Sheebie time away will help her recharge her batteries. Her food looks delicious

    ReplyDelete
  14. A break is always good. Enjoy time with your lovely kitties.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely snuggle selfie <3
    My mom-person needs a brake now and then too ( so she say´s:).

    Happe easy SUNday !

    XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the instructions! I'll have to keep them in mind.

    This is my time of the year to bake when it's cold outside! I'll have to try to pretzel, they sound wonderful.

    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sometimes, you just need to slow down.. We, cats, are already yoga masters, but Mum loves your instructions for the week (she already practices !) Purrs

    ReplyDelete
  18. We still kuv dat blanky. And what a way to welax. Mommy sez fanks fur da recipe. Now hers gotta get da gumption to make 'em. MOL

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Lexi

    ReplyDelete
  19. Peggy Cappy is GREAT for Yoga for people of all abilities and ages.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sometimes you really do need to take a momentary break from stuff, I think. That allows you come on back, full swing and perhaps even stronger than before!

    Purrs,
    Nissy

    ReplyDelete
  21. The peeps always divide up the cooking especially for holidays. TW cuts and sautes the onions (Pop hates onions) and soaks/prepares the bread for the stuffings and Pop cuts the apples, celery and combines all the ingredients. They’re in it together which means neither has time for The Cat.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ...and breathe. deeply.

    I used to do yoga years ago and I stopped. I regret that every single day. I LOVE yoga! maybe I need to get back to that now.

    No worries about being m.i.a....I'm doing the same thing. sometimes you just have to regroup and get off the computer.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the recipe, but I am too lazy to make rolls. Nice selfies though. Please visit us for a giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  24. 1. stretch
    2. eat well
    3. love yourself

    Yep!! You're a cat!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. You definitely have a full house when it comes to snugglers. I will pass the recipe on to my hubby. He's the bread baker in the family. I will try to follow your three instructions for this week. Thanks for joining and supporting our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    ReplyDelete
  26. We understand the need for a break...just don't make it permanent!

    The mom says when she has a couple of hours she's gonna give these rolls a try. She likes to cook and bake but just doesn't seem to have enough time to do either.

    ReplyDelete
  27. We can definitely understand feeling burnt out. It's hard to keep up with everyone every day. There are definitely days when Mom says she needs a break. As long as you don't stop posting :) Mom says she will have to give yoga a try too.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oooh that food you are cooking and baking sounds awesome! Sweet selfie!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for sharing :) Going to check out the Yoga, would rather do mine at home than try to go out so this might be the ticket :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thank you for a lovely post - and what a treat it is. We are late for the Sunday Selfie but Mum was determined to honour friends who visit and who blog wonderfully for us all. THANK YOU!

    Harvey, Miranda and Silver.

    ReplyDelete

Oh Boy...this is gonna be GREAT!