Just a side note.

Just a quick tip. My Mom's recipe calls for scalding the milk. For those of you scratching your head and mumbling to your self "What the heck is scalding?" Here is your answer. As with most older recipes you will come across Scalded milk from time to time will pop up. This isn't something that you can buy in the store. You have to do it. . . . yep you guessed it the old fashioned way. No stressing though. It is an extremely simple process. Scalding milk is just heating the milk to the point of almost boiling. (180 degrees)

In the olden days this step was done for health reason, mostly to destroy the bacteria in the milk. Good old pasteurization has already taken care of the process for us. How ever scalded milk can make a bit of a difference in your breads texture (custards too). So if your mom or grandma has a super awesome recipe that you have never been able to duplicate I bet ya she's holding out on the scalded milk secret!!

So here is all you need to scald your milk.
Thick bottom Sauce pan or a double boiler.
Milk (whole is what would typically be used. But I usually only have 2 % in my fridge so that is what I use)
Candy thermometer (only if you want to look super cool to your husband and friends so that they think that you are a pro. . . . ok so maybe in my world I think that a thermometer in a pot makes you cool!)

So here is the whole process Take a deep breath . . . . . you ready?
Put your milk in the pan
Heat to 180 degrees. stir continuously. You will know that you are at 180 when it starts to come to a light froth (tiny bubbles around the edges of the pan.) Or your thermometer will read 180. DO NOT BRING TO A BOIL!!! Remove from heat and TA DA!!! Scaled Milk!

We are back!

Ok so after a bit (and I'm stretching a bit using this word) of a break. Stitches and Staples is back this month. We are going to be focusing on one of my favorite staples . . . . baking!!! mmmmmm. We will be having a bread braiding class on November 30th at 7pm. I will be making super delicious holiday Sweet dough and teaching you guys how to do some fun designs with it. I will teach you how to make a Candy Cane, Christmas tree, and if we have enough time a pumpkin and a turkey. Oh and did I mention that we will be eating this bread!! So make sure that you come over to the church at 7 sharp for good food, great friends, and of course a little bit of organized chaos. It just wouldn't be a Stitches and Staples class with out it.

If you can't make it to this class then just scroll down a couple of posts and you will see the recipe. You can always get the class hand out on Sunday as well. Hope to see you all there!!