Breadsticks

In case you don't have breadstick recipe, this is how I make mine.
2 cups warm water
1 T yeast
2 t. sugar
2 T oil
1 t. salt
4 to 5 cups bread flour

Place into a mixer in the order listed. Mix in the flour one cup at a time until a soft, almost sticky dough forms. Knead for 10 minutes. Cover and let rise for about an hour. Roll out onto a floured surface about 3/4 of an inch thick. Cut with a pizza cutter into 1 inch strips and place onto a greased cookie sheet. You need to make sure they will touch when they rise or else they will dry out. Like my skin in the winter. Cover with plastic and let rise about 45 minutes or until double. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

When they come out of the oven, brush with butter or a mixture of olive oil and butter, or just olive oil. Whatever floats your boat.
Generously sprinkle with garlic salt. I like this Lawry's brand because it has flakes of garlic and some cute little green specks in it. I'm not exactly sure what they are but they make it look pretty and I'm all about looking pretty. Like my friends.
Some of my monkeys like me to sprinkle a little Italian seasoning on top of the garlic salt. That is really yummy, too. I have seen my monkeys just eat the breadsticks for dinner and nothing else. They are such monkeys.

I finished it!

Louisa Sheen, 1856

Well, I made the deadline. Just barely. What a stressful day I had yesterday. I must have called my friend Ora 20 times. I really owe her big time, (tamales to be exact) she wrote my artists bio and my art descriptions. I was just too freaked out to get it out of my head. I also have to thank Sarah (the best art teacher ever!) for helping me with ideas for my bio and for teaching me how to paint in the first place. She's a genius. And she is kind.
Here is a closeup of her face. I put in a litle curl on her forehead like so many of you suggested. I had a hard time getting a good photo. That canvas is more textured than I thought and it wouldn't let me get a sharp picture. It really looks better in real life. I just hope I can get a good scan for my family. I plan on making prints for them to have in their houses. Oh CRAP! I have to go and clean my house! I am probably not going to paint for awhile. I think I'll take a shower, too.

Pasta e Fagioli

MMmmmm... Hot soup with breadsticks. Are you hungry? I have been begged to post this recipe about my favorite soup- Pasta e Fagioli. It is like the one you get at Olive Garden only you can make it at home for you whole family and their friends. When I make this my monkeys will call their friends over and it is gone in about an hour. This is a good way to get your kids (or yourself) to eat their vegetables. (I really think they just like the breadsticks)
Let's get started. You will need a large pot, and all the stuff you see here. I don't feel like typing it all... just look, okay?

Sorry, I guess you need the list of ingredients.

1/2 to 3/4 pound hamburger
2 cups chopped celery with leafy tops
1 cup onions
3 cloves chopped garlic
3 cups chopped carrots
Place in a pot and cook on high until the meat is browned. The veggies should be undercooked. Add:
6 cups boiling water
1 t. chicken bouillion
1 t. garlic salt
3 cups spaghetti sauce (I like Prego the best)
Wait until this boils and then add:
1/2 box of you favorite pasta = 1 3/4 cups or 2 cups ( I used mini penne- so cute)

Cook until pasta is just a little too firm and add:

1 can of drained and rinsed lima beans (or one cup frozen)

1 can of drained and rinsed kidney beans

1 can of drained and rinsed northern beans (or garbanzo or navy...just some white beans)

See how pretty the beans look next to each other?

Here is what it should look like. Mmmm smell that? Go ahead get closer, now doesn't that smell great? I like to put it in a bowl with some parmesan cheese on top. And of course, you have to add some kind of bread to dip in it. I used homemade breadsticks. I think that is the best part.

Now go forth and multiply. And then go jogging to burn off all the calories you consumed from eating the extra breadsticks.