Happy Birthday Jenni!

aka Lana Bella

Hello! Who are you? Give us the 411 about yourself.

Hi I'm Jenni from Lana Bella. Well first I'm a mom of a large brood. We have 6 yes 6 children between my husband and I ranging in age from 17- 2. Three of three of the children are currently being homeschooled. One will graduate next month (so proud of you Brenna)!

When/how did you start your business?

I initially started my business in the spring of 2004 as a cloth diaper maker. I also at the time made wool diaper covers and wanted a wool wash I could send as a sample to care for the covers and also for additional purchases. So Lana Bella (beautiful wool) came from that about a year later. I ended up making more and more soap as our family grew because in the same time it would take me to sew one complete diaper I could complete 2 batches of soap.

What inspires you?

Everything. Food. Color. Kids. I love plants and herbs and love walking with my kids and seeing the herbs popping up from sidewalk cracks or even out of tree trunks. I recently made the decision to discontinue all of the synthetic fragrances and concentrate on the herbal and essential oil blends as a way of being more creative.

What's your favorite thing about your craft?

That everyone uses soap of some sort. I love when people who think bar soap is drying or "old school" try it and fall in love. There are so many ways I can branch out with the herbal line. I love making things that help people.

If you could have one wish granted for the craft community, what would it be?

That people would be more understanding of what it takes to be a micro manufacturer. That its rude and hurtful to stand in someone's booth and say "I could make this much cheaper" and that my time is also valuable and this is my job. I would wish that small makers would be valued, appreciated, and compensated for their true worth.

by LanaBella & Lexi

Note: My daughter Lexi is assisting on this series as part of a home-school project.

Friday Finds: Picnic

Now that spring has arrived there is nothing the kids and I enjoy more is packing a picnic lunch and heading to the park with friends for the afternoon.

First off you need a great blanket and I saw this one and just LOVED the colors they remind me of my four beautiful children

Summer picnic blanket from SophiaAster

A Basket to put everything in I love that its big enough for my large family!

Vintage picnic basket large from Mclovebuddy

A yummy snack treat! I was looking for preserves happened across this fudge in a jar and needed it!

Spoon Fudge by Nikid

Written by Jenni of Lanabella

Bread Baking 101

I admit it I've never really been much of a baker but every couple years I give bread making a try again and this recipe has been a friends staple bread recipe for years so why not try again. Worst case scenario my house would smell great my kitchen would be a mess and I'd have a brick I couldn't feed even to the birds. Instead what I got was BEST case scenario. Yummy house, not as messy kitchen as I thought, and bread that was not only edible but YUM!


CHALLAH Photo by Bowerbirdknits; click here for more info

Challah
2T. yeast
2C. warm water
2 eggs
1/4C. honey
2t. salt
2T. butter or olive oil
7 to 8C. flour (I've been using unbleached all-purpose, but I don't use w.w. for this recipe)
egg wash

1. Dissolve yeast and honey in water (100-110 degrees) in large bowl. Let rest for 10 minutes.

2. Add eggs, salt, butter, and about 3 1/2 c. flour. Beat well with mixer. Add as much remaining flour as possible in your mixer.

3. Turn soft dough out onto well-flour surface and knead for 8 minutes (5-10) Use as little flour as possible for a delicate Challah. It should be velvety soft (like a baby's bottom my mom always said.)
Photo by Cooking with Friends; click here for more info (http://www.cookingwithfriendsclub.com/images/uploads/dough%20rising%20photo.jpg)
4. Place dough in greased large bowl, greasing top of dough as well and cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Let rist for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until doubled.

5. Punch down (kids love to do that part!) and let rise again.

6. Cut dough in half, set half aside. Cut into thirds and roll dough into "snakes." Braid the 3 strands of dough. Repeat with reserved half. Place on greased baking sheet, let rise until doubled.

7. Brush with egg wash and bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes, until golden brown.




Photo by little m:); click here for more info

Variation: Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls

1. Butter a large baking dish sprinkle a handful or so of Brown Sugar on the bottom.

2. Roll half the dough into a large rectangle til about 1/4 in thick

3. Sprinkle 1 chopped apple (or 2 I had a large apple) handful or 2 of chopped walnuts and a good amount of brown sugar and cinnamon (I mixed mine together in a bowl first) and 2 T softened butter and a pinch of nutmeg I also used a little cardamom because I like its flavor.

4. Spread mixture to edges.

5. Roll into a log and cut 1 inch pieces and place into baking dish.

6. Let it rise again until nice and fluffy.

7. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until light golden brown. Enjoy! Makes many so share with friends.

Written by: Jenni of Lana Bella