Artisan bread journey continues...

After learning to 'shape' my artisan bread, I fell in love with this no-knead recipe.  It's easy, the dough keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks, and the loaves can be shaped large or small, as rolls or whatever you wish.  The loaves bake up beautifully, and they are a great partner to soups, or sliced and used for panini sandwiches.  They also make great bread for french toast.

 

Once the dough is made, there is minimal mess to bake up a quick loaf, and I love that part the most.

I proof my yeast before I add it to the recipe, and I bake on my baking tiles, with an oven pre-heated to 525 degrees, the highest setting for my oven.  Before putting the bread in the oven, I reduce the heat to 450 degrees, and bake according to the directions in the recipe.

Here is an excellent video showing the shaping process:

I love the airy holes, and as the dough sits in the refrigerator, it develops more - and larger holes, and more flavor.  I prefer it after at least 2 days of sitting, but up to 14 days is fine.  Seems it doesn't last that long in our home, however.

 

There is no question I could use a little lesson in how to slash bread, but it doesn't diminish my results, nor my love of this bread.

An internet search for "Jeff Hertzberg's artisan bread" will uncover several unauthorized copies of the basic recipe, but I suggest the book, if you're interested in breads beyond the basic one I have shown here.

Butternut squash and sausage soup

Devoid of any cooking motivation today, I took the lazy way out.  I stopped by the FoodNetwork's website, looking for inspiration.  Some days I'm not really in a mood to get creative in the kitchen, but I'd rather have my cooking than that of another, so it's nice to have a place to look for ideas, or just a recipe I can make, provided I have the ingredients on hand.  It's cold here now, and trips to the store for ingredients are less appealing than they are in the summer.

I had made bread earlier, and soup sounded good.  I stumbled upon a butternut squash and sausage soup recipe.  It looked great, and sounded good.  I didn't have everything on hand, so I adapted the recipe quite a bit.  However, even with my adaptations, I don't feel as though I can re-post the recipe, so I will provide you a link, then a list of the changes I made.  The recipe can be found here.

 

The changes I made:

I had a rather large squash, so ended up with 6 cups vs. the four called for in the recipe.  I'm glad I had more.  I also was concerned the water in the recipe would not add enough flavor, so I did away with the 2-1/2 cups of water, and doubled the chicken stock.

I didn't have the prescribed sausage, and used what I had, which was a spicy bratwurst.  It was really good.  I think just about any flavor would work in that role.

I wanted the soup to have a bit of a bite, so I added a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to the blended soup.  Great adds.  I would do it again.

I did skip the fried sage leaves.  I didn't want the mess, but I'm intrigued by the idea, and may try it next time.

I found the soup needed more salt in the final seasoning than I expected, but I'm glad I didn't hold back.  It wasn't an obscene amount, but it was needed to pull the flavors together.

The blended soup was slightly runny, and I wanted a thicker soup, so I tightened it up a bit, and I'm glad I did.  I used 1-1/2 tablespoons of corn starch, and 1/4 cup cool water; stirred until blended, then added to the blended soup, simmered until thickened.

Before I served it, I topped it with sour cream, and some fresh grated nutmeg, neither called for in the recipe.  It was a super finish.

 

Cliff said he loves this soup more than my tomato soup, and he's pretty crazy about that one.  I really liked it.  With the above changes, I would recommend it.  I would worry about the flavor intensity without at least the removal of the water, and the doubling of the chicken stock, so if you make no other change, that's one I would suggest.

Such a nice treat on a blustery fall day.

There is nothing to forgive...

In the whole of my life, I don't believe I have faced so many personal challenges, in so short a time...so many ups and downs.  And, somehow, through it all, I have managed to stay afloat.

What have I learned?  I'm still trying to figure that out, but certainly there are things I can add to that list:

I have learned that pain is still pain, no matter the wrapper it comes in.  I have learned that people will let you down, even if they don't mean to.  I have learned that I'm stronger than I thought, weaker than I thought, and while more mature, overall, still a child inside, susceptible to things I'd rather not be susceptible to.

I have learned that dreams are just that.  They come and they go.  Some are worthy of pursuit, and others are not.  I have learned that giving up on the realization of a dream is not a personal failure, but an acknowledgement that what I had hoped for is not within my reach.

I have learned that I want to be joyful and happy.  I want to give love and kindness, even when such is not extended to me.  I have learned that I can stand up for myself, without steam rolling others.

I have learned that I fall a lot, and I'm okay with it, so long as I get up, dust myself off, and move forward, even if I don't always know where I'm going.

I have learned that my life is complete, today, and needs nothing else.  It is full enough to bring me joy, just as it is, and while I 'want' for many things, those desires do not control me, nor are they required for me to find joy in what surrounds me.

For me, that is the greatest gift of all, and when I'm hurting and struggling, as I am now, I will stand again; proud of myself, joyful, and in need of nothing.  That is my gift to myself, a knowing that I will always be okay.

Bacteria finds a way...

With the recent Parvo outbreaks in/around Seattle, and dogs dropping from the most recent strain, my mind is wandering...

Bacteria finds a way, no matter how advanced we believe our combative measures to be.  I have long been of the mind we have helped to create a much bigger problem, through vaccination protocols, anti-bacterial soaps/cleansers, etc., resulting in super bacteria; bacteria that has found a way, and is stronger and more resistant than it would be, had we not given it an opportunity to become strong.  By allowing it to exercise its muscles, as it were, on the obstacle courses of combatants we have peppered it with, bateria (all forms), have just gotten stronger.

Think of those commercials showing us the power of anti-bacterial soaps and cleansers.  Touted as killing 99.9% of all bacteria.  But what happens to the .01% that survives?  How did it survive?  Was it the strongest of the bacteria fleet, ready to move the bacteria population forward, stronger than before?  In my opinion, yes.

So, what's the answer?  I sure wish I had one, but I don't.  I only have my belief system.  My belief system is one where vaccination might put a short-term band-aid on a long-term problem, but it does not fix the problem.  I do not vaccinate my dogs, nor myself.  I do not believe in flu shots, childhood vaccinations, nor vaccinations for animals.

I have put a lot of time and energy into study of vaccination's affect on companion animals, and while it has *some* benefit, I believe the risks *far* outweigh the benefits.  That, however, is another conversation, entirely, and I won't go there...yet.

For now, I'm just pondering...and worrying, and wondering what the answer is, and if we find one, how will we implement it?  Is bacteria just nature's way of culling out the weakest?  I believe so, however, no one, including myself, wants to be the weakest, nor have the weakest pet, to balance the 'survival of the fittest' scales.  Has this been our downfall?

By not allowing our own species to join the 'survival of the fittest' game, have we just continued to weaken ourselves, such that bacteria, super, or not, has the power to overtake us?  I think that may be exactly what is happening.

For the love of Bun, November 28, 2012

It's been a while since I last wrote to you, Bun, even though you are never far from my thoughts, and always in my heart.

Yesterday Cliff opened your box to put your "LickStrong" bracelet inside.  That was hard.  It's such a gut punch.  It's one of two times we have opened it; once to put your collar inside, and yesterday, the bracelet.  Cliff wept, from his soul, and watching him, I felt my heart break even more, if that's possible.

This morning I updated your page on the website, and changed your story to the past tense.  I knew I needed to do that, and had been putting it off.  It just feels so final...not that your absence isn't, but that was very hard for me to do.

I love you so very much, and I miss you so very much.  A day doesn't go by that tears don't stream down my face, as I think of you, and long to hold you, one more time.

I love you, baby.

Chalkboard signs, part one

I mentioned in my 'Thanksgiving' post that my sister and I had endeavored on a chalkboard project over the holiday.  I had seen a small chalkboard made out of a serving tray, and adorned with ribbons.  Seemed straight forward enough.

Friday morning we went to the 99 cent store, and found small metal serving trays.  What a great little score.  I kind of figured we would end up with plastic trays with a silver finish.  Instead we found metal trays, and they were of good weight, too.  A super find, and exactly what the project called for.  I picked up three trays, and my sister also picked up three.

 

A small bottle of chalkboard paint from Walmart, a couple of brushes, and we were rolling, or painting, as it were.  A very quick project, and a fun one, too, with a decent result.

 

As it turned out, the 'engraved' design in the bottom of the trays wasn't cut in very deep, so after three coats of chalkboard paint, it wasn't particularly obvious, and it didn't take away from the finished product.

I would do more lighter coats next time, but to my surprise, the paint dried fairly flat, so the ridges seen in the wet paint were greatly minimized when dry.  If I was going for perfection, I would have used spray chalkboard paint, but it wasn't available at the Walmart we went to, and we didn't feel like scouring the Las Vegas craft stores for it, so we went with the 'brush on' variety.

That was as far as I got while on our trip.  I returned home with the painted trays, then put some thought to how I would hang them. Initially I was concerned about how I would attach ribbon to metal trays, but then I remembered something I'd seen before: 'dress magnets'.

Stay tuned for part two: hanging the trays, and finishing them off with some pretty ribbon!

Cost information:  the trays were 99 cents each, and the chalkboard paint (enough to do at least 6) was $1.97.  Total cost per tray about $1.33...not too bad!

Thanksgiving

We made a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas, to visit my sister, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It was a long visit, as Cliff had a lot of time off (must use up that vacation!), and we didn't have a lot planned.  As it turned out, it was a trip more about relaxation than activity, and it was nice.

We swam a lot.  Well, Kindle and I did.  Clearly, my childhood love of swimming is still alive and well.  I swam every day, and as a result, I slept restfully, and my back didn't bother me.  If anything would motivate me to move to a warmer climate, where I can swim every day, those two things have the power to do it!

The swimming was excellent for Kindle, as well.  Ever since her back injury, I have been walking a thin line, trying to manage her activity so she does not suffer further deterioration, but stays physically fit, and in good condition.  Swimming may be the absolute perfect exercise for her, and she *loves* it.

Jumping into the pool was the hurdle I wanted her to overcome from our prior trip, and she surely did.  I was so proud of her.

Such a sweet girl.  I love her so...

We found some time to go see the fountains at the Bellagio while there, and it was so beautiful.  One of my favorite things to do there, so far.  I will have to do it again next time we go.

The hotel, itself, is very pretty, set back off the boulevard, which is nice.  Reminds me of how things were many years ago.

They played one of my most favorite songs for one of the performances, "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.  It is very moving, especially in light of our recent loss of Ty.  It was the perfect song.  It brought me to tears, twice.

The show takes place in the 9 acre lake, on the Bellagio property that runs along Las Vegas Blvd., and it's free.  A must, really.  The show takes place every 30 minutes from 3pm - 7pm, and every 15 minutes after 7pm.

We also did not pass up a chance to drop in on our favorite burger place - Bachi!

Of course, turkey was on the menu, and we made a beautiful one, stuffed with a citrus and herb blend, and basted with a cranberry and balsamic glaze that not only added a robust flavor, but was beautiful on the turkey, as well.

On the BBQ, before we started basting with the glaze.

And after the glaze.

 

A couple of pies later, and some of our favorite sides, Thanksgiving dinner was complete.

While visiting, Cliff helped Jamie with some painting, hanging of a fixture, and did some trim work for her in the kitchen, which we had been unable to complete on the prior trip, so her kitchen is now complete.

Jamie and I also did a chalkboard project.  That will be on the blog, in a separate entry.  Stay tuned for that one.

All in all, such a fun time.  Miss Jamie already...until next time, Sissy.  See you soon.