| Random Thoughts From a Confused Mind | ||||
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Saturday, July 13, 2002 ( 1:35 PM ) MB I started working part-time this past week for a consumer electronics retailer. Most of my time so far has been spent in training. I worked there years ago (nine years since I worked for the company but thirteen years since I worked in one of their stores.) A lot has changed, mostly for the better. We used to hand write tickets, now it's all on computer. Taking good care of our customers is one of the few things that has remained the same. So, when the store got busy, I would take a break in the training and help customers. I couldn't write up any sales since I wasn't in the computer as a sales associate yet...until Friday. Before that I would just help the customer and then turn them over to someone else to write up the sale. I've only written one sales ticket so far and it was for a wireless phone. I bet I'm the only one in the company with a 1:1 wireless hit rate now (the company loves it when you sell wireless phones and service). I know that will change next week, but for now it gives me something to brag about. My husband works for the same company, so I can tease him about how my hit rate is better than his...although we both know he can out sell me any day. I was lucky that the manager of the store closest to me was someone I knew from when I worked for the company before, and a manager that I have long respected. It's been a long time since I've worked outside the home and it has made it much easier going back to work since I know my boss. Now all I have to do is learn about all the new products the store sells...and try to remember what I used to know about fuses, wires, connectors, adapters, resistors, capacitors, and all those fun little things that never change. Wouldn't you just know that the first morning in four days that I don't have to work, it rains. This isn't really a problem since mostly what I had planned for today is reading (with occasional naps). Maybe if I get really inspired I'll bake something... possibly a couple loaves of White Bread: 1 package active dry yeast 1 tsp. sugar 1/2 cup warm water 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk 1/4 cup warm water 1/4 cup shortening, melted 1/4 cup honey 2 tsp. salt 6 cups bread flour 2 Tbl. butter, melted In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the evaporated milk, 1/4 cup water, shortening, honey, salt and 2 cups flour. Stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll out each half and roll into loaf shapes, sealing seams by pinching. Place in greased 9x5 inch bread pans. Butter the tops of each loaf with melted butter; cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm area until doubled, about 30 minutes. Place a small pan of hot water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover loaves and bake until tops are golden brown, about 25 to 35 minutes. Brush butter onto crusts while warm. Or, if I'm not quite so motivated, I'll use the bread machine: 1 1/4 cups warm water 1 Tbl. butter, softened 1 Tbl. white sugar 1 tsp. salt 3 cups bread flour 2 Tbl. dry milk powder 1 package active dry yeast Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select White Bread setting; press Start. Permalink Wednesday, July 10, 2002 ( 11:33 PM ) MB Conor and I made Blueberry Muffins this evening with fresh blueberries: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed frozen blueberries 2 cups flour 1/2 cup milk Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin or line the cups with paper liners. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), cream the butter until smooth. Add 1 cup of the sugar and mix. Add the eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt and mix. With the mixer running at low speed, add 1/2 of the flour, then 1/2 of the milk, and mix. Repeat with remaining flour and milk. Fold in the blueberries by hand until well mixed. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake until golden brown and risen, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan at least 30 minutes before turning out. Makes about 16. Permalink Tuesday, July 09, 2002 ( 7:18 PM ) MB For your viewing and listening pleasure...would someone please explain why the angels are there? There are a few others to chose from here. Of course, no music video comes close to this one. Permalink ( 6:41 PM ) MB There are news sources all over the Internet. Finally one that speaks to me...Junk Food News. Permalink ( 4:58 PM ) MB It's probably sites like this that give a reason for sites like this. Permalink Sunday, July 07, 2002 ( 1:12 PM ) MB Recipe for a hot day - Ice Cream in a Bag 1 Tbl. sugar 1/2 cup half & half (may substitute milk) 1/4 tsp. vanilla 6 Tbl. rock salt 1 pint-sized Ziploc bag 1 gallon-sized Ziploc bag ice cubes Put the sugar, half & half, and vanilla in the small bag and seal it. Fill the large bag half full with ice, add the rock salt and then place the small bag inside and seal the larger bag. Shake the bag until you have ice cream, about 5 minutes. Open the large bag, remove the smaller one and wipe off the top. Open the small bag and eat the ice cream out of the bag. Permalink |
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