American Idol time ya’ll. I’m pumped about this episode. I think mostly because I had to wait so stinking long to get to it. Silly Obama. Pick another night for your speeching. So here we go!
Jasmine Murray – Wrong song. Really the wrong song. Sing something that shows off those pipes girl. She’s a sweetheart girl who really really can sing. But this song doesnt showcase that at all. I had her on my list as a shoe in for the top three from this group. She had WAY too much stage presence also. The kicking and the angry parts to the performance just had me floored (and not in a good way). At the end you could really tell she was resigned to the fact that she’s not coming back this week.
Matt Giraud – Viva la Vida! Oh I’m so hopeful! This song oh… too many runs. But I like him so much I cannot be objective. I think I might have to admit he fell flat. I think he was being really smart in trying to pick Viva la Vida, but his soul doesnt plug into it.
Jeannie Vailes - I have no idea who this girl is. This is the unfair thing about American Idol. They only feature a few people. But I’ll tell ya Jeannie… I’m feeling confident that this is the last time we’ll be seeing you. Her right hand is distracting me. I’m worried shes going to grab someone from the audience and scratch them or something… Thanks Jeannie for your time have a nice life.
Nick Mitchell – I’m so happy to see Norman. I really love this guy. He can barely sing. I hope America sends him through. He’s a true entertainer. And that last note! Dude can sing! Simon can hardly hold it together. I love him. I’m putting him in my top three just to spite.
Allison Iraheta - Oooo a Heart song. Oh wow. This girl has a voice. I have to say I cant remember her from Hollywood week. But I’m fairly certain I’ll remember her now. Wow. I just love everything about this performance and her. She reminds me of Kelly Clarkson. OH girl! Sing on! Oh and her mama crying. Oh I just wanna cry with her.
Kris Allen – Man in the Mirror. Gosh I hate when they do Micheal’s songs. But we’ll see. First off… starting a bit low. Feels a little awkward. But chorustime feels a little better. I like him. He’s got some chops. But the song is starting to feel repetetive. I was ready for it to be over about a minute before it was.
Megan Joy Corkrey - I remember her from auditions. I like her. Put your Records on is a song I’m getting tired of hearing. Lets see how she does with it. I like her voice. She always reminds me a little of Fiona Apple (a personal fav). She needs a serious dose of stage presence. I’m a little apathetic about this one. If she went through I’d be ok listening to her again, but if she didnt I’d completely forget about her I think after that performance. Apparently Paula “hearts” her. Wow apparently the judges felt more for her than I did. I think idol wants to put a vocal through that has that Amy Winehouse feel. The heavy big vocals are getting tiring I think for Idol.
Matt Breitzke - Interesting… rockersound. I dont mean to be mean… but watching I feel like he’s moving in slow motion. But his voice sounds pretty solid. Wow… white guy dance. But his voice is still good. I cant look at the tv anymore or I’ll loose all focus. I keep waiting for this song to build to something. It hasnt yet. It’s like it only reached a certain level of intensity and then just stopped. I kept waiting for it to go somewhere.
Jesse Langseth - I’ve never heard of this song. I think vocalists need to start picking songs that will make them win, not songs they love. Sing songs you love in your car driving down the road. That said I think she isnt crashing and burning. She’s on key, and she’s not blowing it. But I’m having to force myself not to Fast Forward through the rest of the song. And one other thing… weird shirt.
Kai Kalama – I really like this guy. He takes care of his mom and he’s a good guy and he’s freakin adorable. Lets hope he’s got the chops to go with it. We need to seriously work with these guys on their white man dancing stuff. But that said… he’s yummy. Can I use that word? Does it make you uncomfortable? I’m sorry. In addition to that… he can sing pretty well.
Mishavonna Henson – First off… her background is one of my favorites to work with in my job! How pathetic is it that I notice that and not her voice. Scott loves this girl. But I think she’s boring. I cant help it. Her voice is very nice. She’s growing on me as the song goes on. I think she picked a good song. Or at least not a terrible one.
Adam Lambert - I have a feeling i’m going to love him no matter what he sings. I just want him to be in the top 12. I love love love him. Satisfaction. I like it. A rock song. Dont blow it Adam. Oh dear. Maybe he is. It is seriously drama. But I dont care. I like him. He can SING. He’s just over the top.
So who is going through. I dunno. I’m blah about the whole thing.
for sure – Allison Iraheta
Adam Lambert
Matt Giraud
I’m unsure on Matt. If I’m going to fail it’ll be there. I really just didnt get a lot out of this episode. The performances all around (with the exception of Allison) were bleh.
I make bread. With my hands. Some people are put off by hand made bread because they think it’s difficult. I disagree. It takes time and patience, but the end result is well worth the wait. So, I’m sharing the bread with you. It’s called heavy white bread because it will make your butt heavy. I’m sorry to break it to you. But let me share one more thing…. Once you taste it you wont care. Your butt could get as big as the state of Michigan and all you’ll be able to concentrate on is the taste. Who cares if your rear takes up 3 zip codes. Try the bread.
This is what you’ll need:
- 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 6 cups bread flour
Take your bowl of warm water and dissolve the sugar, add your yeast and give it a good stir.
Patience is the most important requirement for making bread. If you rush it you’ll ruin it. Yeast is a very finicky character. Give it time to “proof” (I have no idea whatsoever what that means). In layman’s terms let it sit in the bowl till it becomes really frothy like this.
Once you reach that point add your salt and oil and give it a good stir.
Grab a large bowl. This is where we’ll be adding our flour and making the magic happen. Make sure it’s big enough.
Pour your yeast in and with a measuring cup add your flour one cup at a time stirring constantly.
At first it will just look like lumpy soup, don’t be discouraged I promise it will get better. You’ll be adding flour over and over and suddenly the dough will come together and stick.
At that point you’re ready to get your hands in there. Wash them… set your spoon aside… and get your hands in there! Mix everything together until your bowl is mostly clean.
Your bread will need some loving kneading so pour it out of your bowl onto the counter. Scrape the bowl to get every bit you can of the stickings (I just now made that word up, but it fits) onto the counter. Now knead for about 10 minutes, or until the dough is smooth.
Like this.
Grab your giantest bowl. Spray it with some baking Pam or rub crisco on it, or pour canola oil in a smooth it around whatever you want, but grease the bowl. If you forget the whole game is over.
Swirl your dough around in the bowl so the outside of your dough is slippery.
Now cover it with your prettiest yellow towl and walk away. No I guess the towl doesn’t have to be yellow…. blue would also work nicely, or a nice olive green. Let the dough double. Depending on how cold it is out it might take an hour or 2 or you might need to turn the oven on and heat the kitchen with it. (don’t do this if your husband is home. they get really REALLY mad at you… something about bills and electricity and blah blah blah)
Your dough will double. Dont believe me? Scroll up and look at the before shot.
Drop your dough onto the counter again. Punch it down and knead it again for a bit.
Divide your dough into 2 or 3 sections. For fluffier bread go for 3.
Set your dough into your bread pan, or onto your baking stones. Remember to grease them first! Very important! You’re going to leave it here through the baking process so whereever you place it dont plan on moving it. Allow the dough to rise once more, be CAREFUL putting it in the oven. After about an hour of rising the dough is like a giant air bubble. If you pop it the game is over.
Bake at 350 for 30 or so minutes or until the tops are nice and brown. For a special touch brush the tops of the bread with butter 5 minutes before the bake is done. This makes the tops soft and yummy.
Droolage right! Now cut yourself a slice and enjoy. Your butt will thank you.
I’m sitting here watching Ugly Betty off my DVR and I accidently stopped on a McDonalds commerical. It occured to me as I watched the “hip” young people dancing around my TV screen that McDonalds never shoes it’s real customers in their commericals. Where are all the people that have to order 2 seats on Southwest flights? Where is my electician who carries ketchup packets in his tool belt and always has dried mustard on his beard. I wanna see those guys on tv.
So yeah… just finished watching idol. 3 out of 3. What can I say? I’m just good. 
Zucchini bread is a phenomenon in our house. I’ve never seen anything devoured so quickly. I’d like for you to experience it’s goodness so I’m sharing it with you today. As breads go this is by far the easiest to make.
Here’s what you’ll need.
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 1/4 cups white sugar
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated zucchini
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Spray your pans with pam or oil them or make them not sticky somehow. I like to use Pam “baking” because it has flour in the mix and leaves my pans nice and clean without icky aftertaste.
Measure out your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Take all your dry ingredients and sift them together in a bowl.
Set the sifted ingredients aside and in a separate bowl mix together your oil, vanilla, eggs, and sugar.
Now you have two separate bowls of nothing… combine them and you’ll have something amazing.
While those two lovely bowls are sitting aside grate yourself a few zucchini. Measure as you go so you dont grate too much.
Now you’ll need to slowly combine your dry and wet ingredients. The majority of your moisture for this bread will coem from the zucchini so do not be suprised if your batter is very tough to mix. I actually blew out the motor of a mixer the first time I doubled this recipe so I would suggest you dont do that.
Once it’s all mixed together scrape the bowl together and add your zucchini. Your batter will really mix easily once you get the zucchini going.
Once you have a lovely batter add your walnuts. Now I would say these nuts are very optional. It all depends on my mood… sometimes I just want them and sometimes I just really dont.
Once you’re all mixed up pour into 2 bread pans and bake at 350 for 60 minutes.
This might seem like a long time, but it isnt. Depending on your oven you might only need 40 minutes so the first time you make it keep an eye on it. It shoulndt jiggle in the middle (I wish I didnt jiggle in the middle) and you should be able to insert a toothpick and remove it clean.
The result is amazing yummy zuki bread. Let it sit in the pan for 20 minutes. Then it’s all yours baby!
My lovely Maggie snuggled with me as I watched the Superbowl. She is an excellent heater. 
