A Sigh of Relief

Today I have taken many sighs of relief. 
Sighs of satisfaction. 
Sighs of feeling a heavy load finally being lifted. 

Listen.

Did you hear it?

I just sighed again.

Since before the start of the school year, my "To Do List" has been growing ever-longer.  Literally, it has been:   Check one thing off - Add two or three more.  There was no getting ahead.

This "busy-ness" has been of my own making.  I am a bit of a compulsive volunteer, my three children are involved is sports and have homework and then there's the everyday living and life that really does require a lot of my time. 

Imagine.

Anyone who knows me that is reading this knows that I serve on the PTO board of officers at our local elementary school.  With that comes a degree of obligations, especially at the beginning of the school year.  Add to that, chairing a committee for the school carnival (which took place yesterday) and I've had a basketful of responsibilities to tend to lately.

Last week, I was finally able to complete the compilation of the school directory, had it proofed and sent it to the printer.  Now I wait to distribute the finished product (probably sometime next week, so I shouldn't get too comfortable) and then I can put that project to rest.  Finally.

The PTO carnival was yesterday and once I send our sponsors and donors their socially obligatory thank you letter (so they'll donate again next year!), I can finally lay that project to rest.

The only thing now staring me square in the eye every time I pass through our dining room is a big bag (and I DO mean B-I-G) of Box Tops and Labels for Education clippings for the latest collection drive my co-chairperson/friend and I recently kicked off at school.  I had every intention of working on them this afternoon while all the kids were at school.  What is it they say about good intentions?

Instead, I ended up balancing the checkbook, writing this blog entry and baking this most incredibly over-the-top, yummy, not-diet-conscience bread.  I'm usually not very good at avoiding what needs to be done in order to do what I simply want to do.  But I decided to give myself a break this go-around   Take a look...

Jalapeno Cheese Beer Bread

I ear-marked this recipe back in the spring and I never got around to baking it.  Then the heat of summer and swimsuit season set in and well, I don't bake bread in the summer, (except for the occasional banana bread).  I have a roast in the oven now and I can just imagine how good this bread is going to taste with a little broth sopped up in it.

Here's the link if you'd like the recipe.  I got it from "Tasty Kitchen" over on The Pioneer Woman.  I've made many of her recipes and even have her beautiful cookbook.  With all due respect to Ree, when I make this again (and I will) I will reduce the amount of melted butter I pour over the top and I will increase the amount of pickled jalapenos.  This recipe is a keeper.  I comes together quickly and is just right for this time of year.