dear: things that make our home feel like love

lately i've been in a funk since christmas ended. taking down the decorations felt like one.big.disappointment. i was saddened to see our decorations go into the box for 320 days. sad to see the cold snow outside our windows. a little sad school was starting. and all around just a little empty. i made a resolution to start cooking more often for a few reasons. 1. i need to improve 2. i owe it to my sweet husband who entirely deserves it 3. i really do love it. and i found out that it makes our home "feel like love." this last week i made some "to die for" homemade bread. it is so delicious you might hate me because you will eat the whole loaf in one day. husband has asked if I will make it every week i told him we'd have to see! (secretly i want it every day, but not so good on the bod) i am going to share the recipe with you and also tell you that i l.o.v.e. barefoot contessa books and would kill to meet ina garten.

honey white bread:
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees)
2 packages dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1-1/2 cups warm whole milk
6 tablespoons melted butter, cooled
1-1/2 tablespoons honey
2 large egg yolks
5 to 6 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 egg white, lightly beaten


Dissolve the yeast in the warm water with the sugar (wait 5 min). Add the warm milk, butter, honey and eggs and mix on low for 2 min. Add the flour a bit at a time but don't add too much, just until the dough stops sticking to the sides of the mixing bowl (about 10 min) Knead for one minute by hand on floured surface and roll into a ball. Place in buttered bowl and cover with damp towel for one hour, allowing the dough to double. After dough has doubled divide in two and roll into loaf shape and place in buttered bread pans and allow to rise for another hour, covered with the damp towel. Use slightly beaten egg white to brush on top and bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 or until the bread fills hollow. Cool, eat, and seriously enjoy!

here are a few other things that have brought love to our home:
nightly scripture reading with one another
date nights "in"
a new little puppy who has so much love to offer us
our dear friends and family who visit often
exciting and unknown chats about our future together as a family

p.s. does anyone know how to get formatting back on blogger? i used to be able to change my font size and choose to have my text centered, etc. and now that is all gone...let me know how to fix it if you know!