{ Bagels, Beef Stew and Biscuits }

It was a proper winter day here in North Texas.  The skies were grey, it was cold, it was windy and it just felt like we were finally in the middle of winter and not still holding onto summer temperatures.

As much as I love homemaking, I always find that days like these, catapult me into even more busy homemaking.  I don't know if it's the weather, the gloom outside or the warmth of the candle glow inside, but I find that I'm more productive when the weather outside is yucky.

I started with the usual morning dishes and kitchen clean up. 

And then I had a hankering for bagels, and since I didn't have any in the house, I threw some together.  You know if you really think about it, most of the things we buy at the store, we are more than capable of making at home.

I know it's easier to buy, and sometimes we don't quite feel like going to all the trouble, but aside from the time it takes to make, I still believe that homemade is 100% better, hands down.

Bagels for me are the one thing I make that will never be the same as the store bought, looks wise that is.  Taste wise I find them better, but looks wise?  Nope, never manage to get them looking like the ones we buy, and I don't know that I ever will but that's not going to keep me from making them myself.

Quick tip for you when making yeast dough and wanting to help with the rise.  Place a cup of water in the microwave and microwave for about 2 minutes.  The place your bowl of dough, covered in the microwave.  Don't remove the cup of water, leave it in there too.  Close the door and let sit.  The steam from the water will create a nice hot, humid environment which in turn is perfect to help the yeast develop.

I've been using this method for a long time, but especially during the winter when it's harder to find a spot in the kitchen that is not cold.

Now that Jasmine is working, she is on a good schedule.  Can we just take a minute to reflect on teenagers and their sleep schedule?  Goodness gracious, is it ever frustrating.  Until very recently, both my kids stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and then slept until late in the day, and no matter how much the hubby and I got on them, it just wouldn't work.  They seemed to constantly be walking around like zombies and even after 12 hours of sleep, they still felt tired.

I know it's normal, but it's quite frustrating to deal with.

Anyway, now that Jasmine is on a proper schedule and has been for a while, she will often eat breakfast and lunch with me, and this week we are both PMSing.....I know......TMI, but I like to keep it real here on the blog.

After lunch we were both craving some chocolate, so I quickly made us some Mint Chocolate Mug Cakes.  You can find the recipe over on the blog.  It is so quick and so easy, but delicious.

I got all the Christmas decorating done, the village up, the stockings and one of the trees done, as well as the garland above the living room windows.

Schooling ended up not happening as Nick is now poorly with the cold that hubby and I had, poor kid.

After all the chores were done, I got started with dinner which perfectly enough for today's cold and dreary day, was a nice pot of beef stew with some garlic cheese biscuits.

It was so yum, and my poor boy had 5 helpings.  Yes, FIVE.  It helped his sore throat and filled his stomach too.  We gave him some more cold meds and he went back to bed.  I'm hoping by tomorrow he is feeling a little better.

Starting tomorrow, I'll also be driving around back and forth.  Jasmine has her work schedule and let's just say, I'll be one busy lady with all the driving I have to do this month.

I'm off to crochet a little before turning in for the night, or I may just climb under the warm bed covers and watch TV, it IS quite cold tonight.  Brrrr!!!!