Bucket List #6 New Restaurant 1 of 10

Sky Modern Japanese

A new restaurant opened in the shopping center where I work called Sky Modern Japanese. We have been awaiting their opening, and finally received an email from the development announcing their "soft opening". My co-worker and I decided to try it today for lunch. Our manager had been on Saturday and loved it!

They have a sushi bar, a drink bar, hibatchi and regular tables where you can order any of their offerings. Neither of us are big on sushi, but love hibatchi. It is always fun to watch them cook!

We both ordered chicken and vegetables, and the cook did food for a table order also, so we enjoyed watching him prepare that, too. The creamy mushroom soup was EXCELLENT!! A little spicy, but very good.

The meal was really good! It was chicken with vegetables, and choice of white or fried rice. It all had very good flavor. This is definitely somewhere we will eat again!!!

Bucket List #34 Bread Recipe 1 of 10

Classic White Bread

I have never baked bread from scratch (using yeast and actually kneading the dough, letting it rise, etc.) but I love to bake sweets and pumpkin bread.

I want to try some bread recipes to make, to eat with meals, or just with butter! One of my goals on my bucket list is to bake 10 different bread recipes. I decided to start with a simple one, and it turned out to be the recipe on the package of Kroger brand yeast! (recipe at the end of the post)

I follwed to recipe exactly (except using regular all purpose flour instead of bread flour). I think it turned out great for a first time bread maker!!!

Classic White Bread Recipe

All dry ingredients should be at room temperature (70-85 F)

2 3/4 c bread flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 c water
1/4 c margarine or butter, melted
1 packet Active Dry Yeast
1 9"x5" loaf pan (greased)

Follow packet directions to dissolve the yeast. Proceed with recipe. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 c flour, salt and margarine or butter. Add 3/4 c of warm water (105-115F) and foaming yeast mixture to dry ingredients, stirring very well. Stir in remaining 1 1/4 c of flour to make a soft dough. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, usually about 9 to 10 minutes. Cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes on a floured surface. Roll out the dough to a 12"x8" rectangle. Beginning at the shortest ends, roll the dough up tightly. Seal each end by pinching down at the seams. Place the dough, seam facing down in a greased 9"x5" loaf pan. Cover completely and allow to rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, usually about one hour. Bake at 375F for 30 to 35 minutes or until the bread is golden brown in color. Remove from bread pan and allow to cool on wire rack. Slice bread into 3/4" to 1 1/4" slices. Makes about 9 servings.

Bucket List #14 Grow Herbs

One week later, they are still alive!!! I purchased existing established plants, one basil and one cilantro. These are two herbs I use a lot, basil on pizza and cilantro in salsa. I have used the basil twice on pizza. Hopefully I will do a better job of keeping these alive this year than I did last year!!!