Pretty Picnic Photoshoot

Although I enjoy many aspects of modern day living, I wish people in industrialized countries lived more simply. The thought of life without so much technology is a bit freeing.  I probably keep a romanticized version of the good ol' days in my conscious, but never the less, it seemed like a captivating time.  It was a time when the people of the world were more connected with the land they lived on.

A dream Jacob and I share, is to be able to live a life less pressured by the commercialized society we live in.  We would have a home far from big city lights, gather fresh produce from our garden, collect eggs from our chickens, get our heat exclusively from a wood stove or large fireplace.  We would ride horses, read countless books, and listen to the rain on our country back-porch, while drinking peach tea.

To get there, we will just have to keep working on our life map, and plot a course that leads to our dreams.

Our engagement photos were somewhat of a tribute to the days, when life was a bit simpler.  We decided to go with a picnic and wildflower theme.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! P.S The recipe for the rolls that we used for the session are at the very bottom of this post, bon appetit! 

Recipe at bottom of page :)

 The "props" for this shoot where the most fun of all. We got most of the food from a local farmers market.  Jacob kept running back for more food in the middle of switching positions for new shots.  He is so silly.  Here is a recipe for the savory rolls above, thanks for stopping by!

Savory Rolls 

makes 6 large rolls

Ingredients:

DOUGH:

• Olive oil, for oiling bowl
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 1/2 cups warm (110 degrees) water
• 6 cups whole wheat pastry flour, plus more for work surface
• 1/4 cup dark-brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

FILLINGS:

Option 1

• 1/2 cup good quality marinara sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

 Option 2

• 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 
• 1/2 cup spinach

Lightly oil a large bowl; set aside. In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water. Add 3 cups flour, and stir to combine. Stir in the sugar and salt. Add remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, stirring until a sticky dough forms. When the dough becomes too stiff to stir, turn it out onto a well-floured work surface. Knead, incorporating only as much flour as needed to make a smooth and elastic dough, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until doubled, this will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 

Split dough in half for the two different fillings.  Roll out dough on a floured surface until 1/2 an inch thick.  Spread either marinara sauce or melted butter over the dough, leaving an inch border plain.  Next, sprinkle the remaining ingredients over the dough evenly.  Roll prepared dough into a log, like you would a cinnamon roll.  Cut crosswise into large sections, each log should produce about 3 rolls each.  Place on a greased baking sheet at least 1/2 inch apart, let rise for another 30 minutes. Bake at 375 for 35-45 minutes.  Let cool, or eat warm.