2010 and Guava/Pineapple/Coconut Kuchen

Guava/Pineapple/Coconut Kuchen

-3 3/4 cups bread flour
-1 package active dry yeast
-1 cup milk
-6 tablespoons butter
-1/3 cup sugar
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-2 eggs
-1 1/2 cups sugar
-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
-1 beaten egg yolk
-1/3 cup milk
-3 cups guava paste
-1 cup chopped pineapple
-1 cup shredded coconut

In large mixer bowl combine 2 cups of the flour and the yeast. In saucepan heat milk, butter, 1/3 cup sugar, and salt just till warm (115-120 degrees), stirring constantly to melt butter. Add to dry mixture in mixer bowl; add eggs. Beat at low speed with electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes at hight speed. By hand, stir in remaining flour to make a moderately stiff batter. Spread in greased 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise in warm place till double (45 to 60 minutes). Stir together 1 1/2 cups sugar and the cinnamon. Combine beaten egg yolk and milk; add to sugar mixture, stirring till blended. Add guava paste, chopped pineapple, and shredded coconut. Carefully spoon atop risen dough. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Cut and serve warm. Makes 1 coffee cake.

Now, I have this recipe in a bread book from the '70s, just not with the tropical fare for addition; that's my own concoction. Making it tomorrow for breakfast-yum!
So, here we are on the border of a new year, a new decade. News came from a friend about Twitter connection for my business blog, and it sounds like it could be worth the effort. Now, I may sound primitive in ways; I guess I've liked taking my time with my business but know that its time to move ahead into the techno age to promote my business. She also suggested a possible link between the two blogs, which could be another worthy effort. Interesting what we often don't really give enough salt to until someone else makes a suggestion and then it sticks a little more for thought; my thoughts on some things in life can be so fleeting these days. I've been nesting quite a bit these days. I've often heard of this habit when a child is due to be born but as with my son, I'm an early nester. I like to get things in order, tie up loose ends, and make sure I don't have a heaping pile of OMG!!! to tackle before my life flips over backwards once again. Funny, it took me two years to get it together as to how I could take care of my son, be a stay-at-home mom, and start (& run) my own business. Now, I get to factor in another child and wonder what awaits me. Never to be a dull moment, that I can attest to at this time. So, here's to a new year, a new decade, and endless possibilities.
~Mom

What's Important to Me

I took the weekend to really think about what is the most important for me. Not things, time for things, image, etc...what's most important to me is what you see pictured here to the right-my family. I love my family I was born into, grew up watching and learning from, friends who have become more like family than friends but when it comes to the little, priceless moments in life, its right here. We are currently a family of three with one more on the way-anticipated arrival time somewhere in the beginning to midst of July 2010.
I run a home-based business, offering all natural bath and body products by way of Farmer's Markets, small local shops, and word of mouth by way of friends. I work diligently to create products that people are first of all, going to be interested in, and ultimately, happy they made the consumer choice to purchase my products. I work very hard as a stay-at-home mom to keep my business time, home management time, and family time separate. I can tell you, it hasn't always happened so easily to do so. Sometimes things bleed into each other, dishes get left longer than they should, a tv show goes a little longer than it should, and I find myself on my hands and knees, vacuuming Cheerios from under the sofa and the coffee table. Despite the heaping pile of laundry waiting to be done, the lost library book that keeps eluding me to go back to its shelf, and the days when I feel time just flies by as we move from one activity to another, the best moments are when I can look in on my sleeping child, pull the blanket up to cover his back while he sleeps with his behind pointed up in the air, and hope I've done a good job earlier that same day.
I led a very different life before I became a mother, and sometimes I wonder who I've become. Spontaneous moments have all but become a dinosaur, the latest style in shoes are NOT in my closet, and teaching myself a variety of fiber crafting has become one of my newest cool things to learn these days. I'll not complain too heavily, though; I'm on my path, my journey as a mother. Its not a glorified job that pays well, there's no worker's comp, no vacation, no sick days or pay, no insurance or retirement benefits, no 401k plan, and the "Thanks, Mom!" has yet to come into play. Yet, those priceless moments of toddler's laughter, playing from one area of the house to the next, those walks to the park, trips to the library, discoveries @ the market...well, those no one can box up and put away. I love those moments, the fleeting memories of growth and development milestones and the ones yet to come and be discovered. Money can't buy hugs and kisses, and happiness doesn't grow on trees or fall out of the sky. I just want someone to tell my how Cheerios get in my shoes....
~Mom