A New Beginning....

Okay, so it's been a few months, but I'm ready to start again.

Biology was a breeze compared to Anatomy and Physiology, which I'm taking this quarter. Tissues, bones, muscles, and the nervous system...all the intricacies of the human body. It's tough!

Haven't done a lot of cooking, baking, knitting or any of the things I really enjoy, but I'm surviving. We're going to Orlando for my birthday at the end of the month - 3 days at the Wonderful World of Disney, and another couple days to soak up the sun. I'm so excited! Hopefully I'll come back refreshed and ready for another quarter of Anatomy and Physiology.

I have been doing a lot of working, studying, and even some working out!

I figure if I'm going to Florida I should try and get some arm definition so I feel more comfortable walking around in short sleeves after this winter of sweaters and heavy coats. I've been doing the elliptical 45 minutes every morning, getting up at 5am, for 2 weeks now! I think if I can keep it up for another 2 weeks, why not another 2 months? Small victories. I'm even using Livestrong to track my food and exercise.

This evening I'm making Shredded Wheat Bread, from a recipe a friend gave me. I tried it once before, in a bread maker, and it just didn't work. This time I'm making it manually, and it's rising right now. I forgot to add the brown sugar, remembering it as I was putting all the ingredients away. I've learned it's really important to have everything pre-measured and ready to go otherwise I forget something important. So, I kneaded it in before leaving it to rise, and I guess I'll just see how it turns out!

Shredded Wheat Bread:

2 large biscuits of shredded wheat, crumbled
2 cups boiling water
2 tbsp shortening
1/3 c molasses
1 tsp salt
1/3 c brown sugar

combine above ingredients

2 packets yeast
1/2 cup warm water

combine yeast and warm water, let yeast dissolve

once yeast has dissolved, add to shredded wheat mixture

begin adding flour 1 cup at a time, up to 6 cups, until dough is no longer sticky.

knead, form ball, and place in bowl, cover with towel, to rise to double.

cut in half, place in greased bread pans, and let rise again

Bake for 40 minutes at 350.