Omg BREAD

First let me say, HELLO I AM BACK! Reef has been holding down the fort while I have been moving into my house and figuring out my kitchen and actually getting back into the nitty gritty of cooking again. 

So YAY REEF!!! Thank you!!! (And thanks for the push I needed to get back into this.)

So. Awhile ago I ran across this no-knead artisanal bread recipe ...my favorite blog Lainey Gossip was talking about how Lainey's husband Jacek was on a tear with baking bread. However, they were using a Dutch oven, which I did not own. After agonizing over buying one for literally like 5 months, I broke down and got myself one for Mother's Day. From Amazon, super basic, like $22. And then I decided I MUST BAKE THIS BREAD IMMEDIATELY. 

 

It's a very easy recipe. You mix in your flour, salt, yeast and water and cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 12-24 hours. Mine was closer to 24 hours I think. 

 

I didn't take a picture of it after it rose but suffice it to say, it rose. Then you put a towel down with flour and make a rectangle, cover it and leave it for about 15 min. Then you sort of fold it into thirds and then again until it's kind of a cube/square (also flour and corn meal it a bit) and then cover it again and let it rise for about two hours. 

 

  

So the last thirty minutes of rising you put your entire Dutch oven into the oven (450 for 30 min, lid on). Then take it out and put your dough into the pot and put the lid back on and then bake it for 30 min. It should be noted that I STARTED baking my bread at like, 9 pm on the hottest day of the year so far. Oops. This is my bread halfway through. 

 

Then you take the lid off and bake another 30. Isn't this bread GORGEOUS? 

 

I had to eat two pieces immediately with butter. Omg. And the crust is very crunchy and crackley (in a good way) and I want to eat it all NOW. Omg. Mmmmmmmm

 

Overall. I will COMPLETELY make this again. Not sure if I would do weekly but it's definitely in the rotation of random breads I enjoy baking and eating WAY TOO MUCH. Now it's sleepy time. If I can sleep after eating all of those carbs. 

Also: my friend Melly got me that plate and isn't it so pretty?! I love it! 

Luella? Joella? Hot chicken either way

Howdy Friends! It’s been a minute. It hasn’t slowed down really, but I need to get back to basics here and put my thoughts out there. So Reef is on vacay in Mexico and sending photos of what he’s eating.....it inspired me to write about our fun times here. 

So, my darling bonus daughter (step-daughter) H,  had a thing in central Indy this weekend, so we were out and about down there. One of our stops we had been wanting to try was Joella’s Hot Chicken. 

So, pretty concept. I have done no research on this place at all so far, so I don’t know how old of a concept this or anything. It’s quick casual. They bring the food to your table and do have a tip line on the receipt. I’m kind of two minds on this. 1. If they are refilling your drinks, I get this. But then again 2. They are just bussing my table and I have to get up to get my own refills, I’m not sure why I need to tip you? Anyway. That being said, on a $36 check I tipped a scant 10% (remember, I don’t math). Close up of the fancy soda machine. 

I tried the creme, attempted the root beer (it was out), the birch beer (just tasted sweet?), and the diet cola. Decent. Not sure it was 1.99 decent though.  

We sat in the back, so that was the main menu board. 

So I was kind of not paying attention when I was taking this photo, but it was about $8-9 a plate which included your chicken and ONE side. So. Of course the side I wanted was parmesean garlic fries, which, inexplicably are an extra .75. 

You can also choose your spice level, I went with hot, Jerms and H went the tweener sauce. My hot was good, would go with it again. A little sweet, but not bad. 

Fully embracing the chicken and rooster theme.



Colorful place. Very “trendy”. H said it looked like it used to be a noodles and co. 

Ugh. I just typed this whole thing out and blogger lulled it. Ughhhhhhh. Anyway, I had this. It was good, again had the garlic parm fries. Delish. Spice level was on point. 

Jerms had the chicken and waffle with the choice of tenders. This was the most expensive meal we got, which was $9, plus the upcharge for the shakey garlic and shakey parm foe the fries. Apparently, they have to do .75 more work for the fries. 

H had the tenders and Mac n cheese. Decent. 

In conclusion, did we like it? Yes. Did we like it for $36 for three meals and two fountain pops? No. 

The previous night we had gone to a full service Mexican restaurant, Tequila Sunrise. We have been there many times before and it was $37 before tip for three meals and one drink. Bigger portions and great service. So if you are in the fancy (I know), Carmel, Indiana and you want to spend a lot of money to eat fancy spicy fried chicken, go for it. Though, I will say, the KFC Nashville heat (forget the exact name) will be a more economical and tasty bet. It’s not as “homecooked” feel, but also, it’s not a .99/lb chicken quarter that someone costs over $8. (Don’t forget the upcharge on the shaken toppings for the garlic parm fries.) 

Until next time friends....😘