Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

Looking Forward to 2010 (Recipe: Garlic Herb Braid)

Well, 2009 is officially behind us. It seems like I know a lot of people who are glad to see a new year come around. Not that 2009 was all that bad… it was just different. I am thankful to have had the year I had, but I am also excited to start fresh with 2010!

I sat down today and wrote out some of my goals for the new year. I’ve been reflecting for quite some time on what I really wanted to focus on in 2010, and have decided that 2010 will be time for me to get back to me. I want to get back to things that make me who I am…things I truly enjoy – like writing, photography, my family and my me time. As I am sure many of you are, I am going to try to find that sweet spot of balance between work and play.

My focus for 2010 will include:

  • Read at least three chapters in a book each week (I love to read, but haven’t read hardly at all since Leah was born! I miss reading and have a huge pile of books I want to get through this year)
  • Menu plan weekly and stick to it (This is essential to balance for me… I MUST start doing this again!)
  • Blog at least two times per week (I miss blogging so much and can’t wait to commit to it again!)
  • Have a date night with my husband at least one time each month (With 4 kids it is difficult and babysitting is expensive, but we need this… I miss being a couple instead of just mommy and daddy!)
  • Participate in and complete Project 365 – a year in pictures (Find my daily submissions in my Project 365 Flickr Set)
  • Host a blogging retreat – as of this morning, plans are in the works!
  • Make a schedule for work versus play and commit to it (Hard to do when you work from home, but again… I love my job and want to continue to love my job for a very long time – having separation is a must!)
  • Create an achievable To-Do list on a daily basis with no more than 5 items per day
  • Send cards and snail mail more often
  • Plan something for the kids to look forward to each week
  • Be more consistent

To get a great jump start on my goals, I am participating with several other bloggers in Ten in Ten: Ten Weeks to Healthy in 2010. Check it out and I hope you’ll join us!

What are some of your goals for 2010? Are you excited to start the new year or are you sad to leave 2009 behind? Either way, I hope that you enjoy health, happiness, prosperity and peace in the new year! I can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for all of us.

Here is my first of many recipes to share with you for the year. I hope you enjoy!

16 ServingsPrep: 20 min. + rising Bake: 20 min. + cooling
  • 4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) quick-rise yeast
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1-3/4 teaspoons dill weed
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 3/4 cup 2% milk
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup butter, cubed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and
seasonings. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water and cubed
butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until
moistened. Add egg; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining
flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about
4-6 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Divide dough into thirds. Shape each into a 15-in. rope. Place ropes
on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck
under. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with
melted butter. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Yield: 1 loaf
(16 slices).

To make life easier, put all the ingredients except the final melted butter, in your bread machine and let your dough cycle do all the initial work.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joan Nova says

    Good luck with achieving your to-do list goals. I find the time I spend on the computer takes time away from other endeavors, like reading. I’m going to adopt your 3 chapter resolution and I’m thinking if I close the laptop, I may just read more. I’ve got about 5 books started. Also appreciated the link to 365. That, too, is something I always wanted to do but with a slightly different variation. I once saw a movie starring Harvey Keitel and he photographed the same street corner every day and depending on the weather or the traffic, the photo varied. I thought that was so cool. I just haven’t found ‘my corner’ muse.
    .-= Joan Nova´s last blog ..Culinary Tour 2010 • South of the Border =-.

  3. Amy from She Wears Many Hats says

    That bread is beautiful! I’ve never done a braid before – I can’t even braid hair! But maybe with the new year I should try something new and not be so chicken.

    The idea of having a daily list with no more than 5 items is great. I’m adding that to mine.
    .-= Amy from She Wears Many Hats ´s last blog ..Fondue and Captain Nemo =-.

  5. Kate says

    I’m excited about Project 365, and for being part of such a great group of food bloggers doing it as well! It should be amazing!
    .-= Kate´s last blog ..onward =-.

  8. kellypea says

    Lots of excellent goals for the new year. I think I’m avoiding stating mine anywhere this year, but have sort of wiggled into the 365 project thanks in part to you. I saw your tweet today and thought that it looked promising, so thanks! Can’t wait to see what everyone turns out.
    .-= kellypea´s last blog ..2009 in Review: One Foodie’s Outtakes =-.

  9. katie says

    An achievable to-do list…. Now that’s a novel idea. I’ll try that one!
    Happy New Year!
    .-= katie´s last blog ..Spinach Strudel; Balsámico de Vinagre de Manzana; the Weekly Menu =-.

  10. Naomi says

    Great set of goals! I haven’t reconciled with mine yet, but love the 365 project … keep hearing of folks that do it, but haven’t jumped on the wagon.

    YES YES YES on date night! It’s a must. Hoping you stick with that one! Do you have a family friend you could babysit swap with for that once-a-month outing??
    .-= Naomi´s last blog ..From sand to snow =-.

  12. Nate says

    My goals would be

    eat healthier
    exercise more
    make new friends but keep the old
    travel more
    spend more quality time with my kids
    spend more quality time with my wife

    How I will do that, and fit in blogging too, is the $64K question.
    .-= Nate´s last blog ..House of Annie’s 20 Best of 2009 =-.

  15. Katie @ goodLife {eats} says

    Those sound a lot like my goals too. Particularly being couple again vs just mom and managing my time better for work/play. Hoping for a great 2010 for you!
    .-= Katie @ goodLife {eats}´s last blog ..New Kitchen Toys =-.

  17. sugar plum says

    Wowow,am inspired really,i love love love spending time with my parents and siblings too…and i love the name Leah so muc ….
    happy brite rocking new year to u…

  19. Candy says

    WOW! Kristen..you’ve inspired me to make a written goals list as opposed to just being in my head! I will be with you on the P365..and would love to be on your email list for the blogging retreat..sounds amazing! 🙂 Happy New Year!
    .-= Candy´s last blog ..Hello, 2010! =-.

  22. Di says

    Happy New Year, Kristen! Sounds like you have some great goals for this year. And the bread looks fabulous! =)

  24. Bunkycooks says

    I love the commitment to read more. I find that the computer replaces so many other things that I need to be doing and reading is definitely one of them.
    I also hope to learn to make artisanal breads this year. I will have to try your recipe out. Happy New Year!
    .-= Bunkycooks´s last blog ..Pulled Pork for New Year’s Day =-.

  25. lululu says

    Oh, some of them are also my goals too. Especially having a date night with my husband. I completely forgot we put aside our relationship as a couple since Ethan’s born. We’ve got to pick it up. Thanks so much for the reminder.
    .-= lululu´s last blog ..Monkey Bread =-.

  30. Mrs. L says

    I bought the binder and set to do the scrapbooking Project 365 last year, but it didn’t arrive until March and it was too hard backtrack so I plan on doing it this year. Figures my little Canon Sureshot would break a few weeks ago. But I’m still going to give it a great try.
    .-= Mrs. L´s last blog ..Chocolate-Cocoa Nib Shortbread Cookies =-.

  31. Liz - Meal Makeover Mom says

    Great goals! Count me in for the blogger retreat. My #1 goal for 2010 is to finish my second cookbook. Most of the recipes are done, so now I just need to put it all together.
    If you’re looking for a few good books, I just finished The Help and Olive Kitteridge. Both were fast reads and hard to put down. If you like “foodie” books, I highly recommend The Big Oyster. I have my 14-year old reading Exodus … which I hope to read when he’s done. Happy New Year.
    .-= Liz – Meal Makeover Mom´s last blog ..Podcast 87: Persimmon Cookie “Rescue” =-.

  41. kamran siddiqi says

    Garlic bread looks delish! We’re here to help encourage you to complete your goals successfully. If you ever need a push, you know where to go. 🙂

    “GO Kristen!!”

    See? I’m encouraging you already… hehe
    .-= kamran siddiqi´s last blog ..i’m still here. =-.

  43. Lisa says

    A blogging retreat sounds cool! I was just thinking the other day that it’d be cool if you could offer a workshops on blogging, cooking, and photography–if I were nearer, I’d sign up in a heartbeat!
    Great list! I esp. love:
    “Plan something for the kids to look forward to each week”
    You make such a great mom! 🙂

  44. Whitney says

    Ok, Made this for Dave’s birthday dinner (along with Chicken Marsala). Had enough dough to make a big one and two small ones for the boys. It was wonderful!!! It’s a definite do again. I used the bread machine for the first part like you suggested and it worked great! Thank you for yet another “Do Again MOM!!!”
    .-= Whitney´s last blog ..Visitors part 2 =-.

  45. RobinSue says

    Wow 5 things a day on your to do list. That is great! I am lucky to get 2 things done. Then sometimes I do things that are not on my to do list too, then write them on my to do list and cross them off! It makes me feel good. There are days I should put breathe on the to do list!! Well I wish you the best with your goals!
    .-= RobinSue´s last blog ..Sweet Italian Chicken =-.

  48. Crystal says

    Great “achieveable” goals. Often we find ourselves reaching for the stars (and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you have a high enough ladder). Good luck and I love the one about the To-Do list. I think I’ll be adding that one.
    .-= Crystal´s last blog ..Financial and Personal Goals for 2010 =-.

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