Even squirrels like donuts!

What gets me up before 6am?

New donuts to try!

Review and more info on the Hurt's Donut grand opening later. Back to bed!

(This was supposed to get posted yesterday morning when we actually got back from our 5am run to Hurt's, but apparently my phone stopped uploading it when I fell back asleep. Oops)

Donuts for a crowd

While in Montana I got the chance to make donuts for a crowd big enough to eat all of them! I was very excited and everyone seemed interested in the process. This was also the first time I used the oven to get the dough to raise (my sister's tip: if the oven was warm, but not so warm that you couldn't touch one of the racks, it was ok to use for raising). I went with all donut holes because I find them easier to work with and made a quick glaze to dip them in as they came out of the fryer (with some help with one of our friends). And they got eaten faster than we could fill up the cookie rack!

Half of them waiting to raise.

Last of them out of the glaze. Lots of weird shapes from the leftover dough, but I don't waste anything if I can help it!

Yeah, I made a nutella sandwich. Why not?

What's in your glovebox?

My recommendations for a happy roadtrip:

1. Registration and Insurance card, easy to find.
2. GPS and charger
3. Flashlight
4. Tire guage
5. Napkins
6. Baby wipes! I have become a firm believer in baby wipes, especially over other antibacterial wipes. They're gentler, smell better, and tend to be cheaper in bulk because there are always store brands available. Great for washing your hands after pumping gas or if the bathroom soap dispenser didn't work or if your face is feeling icky from a day stuck in the car. Endless possibilities!

Random Gas Station

What: Maple raised donut

Where: No idea, maybe Scottsbluff?

When: Tuesday, May 31st 2016

So the drive home from Montana was tough for me. I was tired and cranky and lacking in sleep (it's hard to sleep when there are people to talk to and things to do!) and I started to get a migraine the morning we left our vacation house. Thankfully a ton of coffee and some dramamine cleared that up eventually, but it was still a not so fun ride home.

At one of our stops, the second day I believe, I came in from pumping gas to see the hubby at the register buying me a maple donut! He's so sweet! And it was pretty good too! I'd say a near perfect gas station donut with excellent artificial maple flavoring and a very moist donut. I'd say 4/5. And I was able to get a picture of the donut case, but still didn't write down the name of the station. Maybe you can read it at the top on the baskets or something?

The RV dream

The hubby and I have a new five year plan. We're going to save like crazy, and then do a full year on the road. Get a used SUV to tow a small trailer. Bigger than a tear drop, but smaller than a 5th wheel. We'll start after school is out with a going away party at Mahoney because that's where life starts for us. Then we'll head up north, getting to Alaska by the summer solstice to see 24 hours of sun, come back through Seattle and Portland to visit friends, and SLC and Denver. Swing back through Nebraska at the end of summer in case anything needs to be fixed or anything went wrong, and then the northeast for the fall! Hang out in FL for December and get seasonal jobs at a UPS Store. Refill the bank account a little. Visit the Keys. Stick to the south for January and February. We gotta figure out the nitty gritty still, but the idea is taking shape.

So of course, I've been looking at trailer floorplans like it's my job. I may have found my ideal trailer today. It is ADORABLE! And has a separate bedroom, which I think is a priority for me. We'll see if the hubby likes it, it doesn't have a couch for him to lay on but maybe the dinette will do?

I present, the Vintage Cruiser by Gulf Stream, in aqua. Obviously. Now I need to go find one to see in person!

And the video, so you can fall in love too!

Black Cat Bake Shop

What: Vanilla Creme gluten free filled donut

Where: 2000 W Broadway, Missoual MT 59808

When: Friday, May 27th, 2017

Website

I was super nervous about trying a gluten free donut because my last experience with a gluten free donut was possibly the worst donut experience I had ever had. I actually threw out a half eaten donut. Yuck. So dry.

This was the exact opposite. It was delicious! The dough was super spongy and moist, the chocolate frosting was a perfect ganache, and the vanilla filling in the middle balanced it all out! I didn't even get a chance to eat it the day we bought it, but it was still delicious the next day, and the day after that when we finally finished it! (It was a large donut and we were a little busy on our trip, no judging!) 5/5 without a doubt.

I kind of wish I had gotten more...well, more donuts. We definitely got more baked goods at the place. But I ate those quickly without taking pictures, sorry! If you're every in the area, try the sausage and red pepper croissant, warmed up a little. Amazing!

Foy's Lake Montana

For Memorial Day this year we went to Montana, which was another new state for me and one where hubby had lived before we met. Which he reminds me of constantly. It was beautiful though! We drove out with another couple and the drive took about 18 hours with stops. I just wanted to sit on a deck, look at a lake, and have a drink. That was my one goal for vacation, and I reached it! Here are a couple lake pictures to get jealous over :-)

Just look how clear that water was! Too cold to swim though. Next time, we'll go later in the season!

Best Donut Day ever!

This year's donut day just went from the worst (did I tell you I've had a stomach bug since Wednesday and can just now eat plain cereal? No donuts for me this year!) to the best with this list from Time!

Obviously, I love lists of things. Especially ones that are presented on one website and not as click bait.

And this list has donuts and beer! And my sister's beer creation! Beeramisu! I haven't gotten to try it yet, but maybe in July I will get some.

If you're ever in Philly, go visit! Ramona Susan's Bake Shop, 1255 Marlborough St, Fishtown.

It's National Donut Day!

How are you celebrating???

I don't know if I can top last year, but this year there will be homemade donuts!

Fresh Thyme

What: Chocolate cake donut

Where: Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market, Lincoln NE

When: Monday, April 25th, 2016

One of the new grocery stores in Lincoln is Fresh Thyme Farmer's Market, kind of a Trader Joe's type place. I went there the week it opened and it was PACKED. They have really good deals on fresh produce and some of the best clementines I've ever had. The first time I took the hubby I figured we should get a donut to try them out. We also sampled a ton of cookies and some dips while in the store. The cookies were great, the donut was just eh. Kind of dry and bland. I'd say 2/5. I'll stick with the produce in the future. Or the tulips we got last night :-)