August Interlude

August 2022 is on it's last days.

It's been a busy and fulfilling month with visitors,

My friend Jan and our Kentucky friend Debi at a local Lavender Farm

It was a joyful and emotional reunion with our dear friends from Kentucky.

They missed the last 2 years of coming every year for the past almost 4 decades!

Oh how I've missed them and how different our visit was without our beloved farmer.

Honora from "Pondside"

Still pinching myself for having this face to face visit with Honora

from Victoria, B.C.

I met her virtually because of her wonderful blog and instagram posts!

We had such a lovely morning, one that I will never forget.

Thanks for coming and spending some of your time with me.

much needed rain showers with rainbows,

"grand" times,

my joy ...

Sour dough stretching with Noa

Baking "miriam bread" with Sully

"Moonlight Madness" community evening in Milverton

Sister time to finish a quilt for

her granddaughter!

2 hour commutes can't stop us!

There were many walks, art in the park, live theatre, 

green lawns, flowers, hot tub soaks,

and some much needed down time ... 

Art in the park - I know, I know - the trees are beginning to whisper autumn!

Admittedly there were sad days,

 bad news days,

lonely days,

frustrating computer woes,

 but ... all in all August 2022 was mostly good!

God is so Good Always!

Till next time ... ALWAYS stop to count your blessings!

To Sourdough or Not to Sourdough

That is the Question!!!

When my girl mentioned that she would like to change

the way she eats bread

and

that sourdough bread would be better for her,

I took it as a challenge!

I have been making "Tuesday" white bread almost weekly.

This started when my Tuesdays with Noa days began!

We baked bread each week.

When I began to explore the method of developing sourdough starter

I almost gave up - there is just SO much information and

SO many youtube videos to navigate through!

OK - starter is simply flour and water, left to ferment for about 7 days

till it gets bubbly and yeasty.

My first attempt - after 7 days it had done absolutely nothing and

never started bubbling!!!

I threw it out (a quart jar full) and doubted my ability to make this.

Finally, after more reading, I found a starter recipe that used

a wee bit of instant yeast to get it going - it worked - too well!!!

Thankfully, I was able to salvage enough of this starter

which has become the "mother" starter so far.

I named her Levina!

The farmer felt like someone had moved in with us ...

This mixture needs tending. 

Daily or weekly feeding.

Lots of clean jars.

A baking schedule.

eek!

There was one particular youtube video that helped give me

some confidence. 

1st attempt:

I used all purpose flour and the bread turned out pretty good.

January 11, 2020

I don't have all the equipment

recommended but I used

my craft exacto knife to slash

the bread.

(You would be surprised at how many

videos I watched in order to know how 

to do this).

2nd attempt:

I mixed some dark rye flour into some of the starter to get a new 

variety going - still haven't found a good name for this one.

Perhaps I'll name it Grapes (for sour grapes).

I also, stocked up with some bread flour which is supposed to be better.

It seemed to take forever to rise and the dough had sort of dried and formed a skin.

I baked it anyway and gave it to my daughter to try.

She said it was good and no lumps in the loaf which I was afraid had happened.

It sure did look pretty though ...

January 12, 2020

3rd attempt:

Disaster - I made the Rye version but forgot to add salt.

Then I forgot to preheat the dutch oven.

And, forgot to slash the top.

Needless to say, it did not taste very good nor did it look good!

We used it for french toast and left some outside for the birds.

Today, I made another Rye variety loaf and I think it's a success.

January 25, 2020

Unfortunately, my daughter has declared no bread at all for the time being.

This means less bread baking and lots of "feedings" to keep these starters alive.

I think I'm too impatient, quick bread this is not!

**Taste note update - strong sour flavour but nice "crumb".  Not sure I like the rye bread one.

In the meantime, in the beginning of this new decade, I've been

keeping busy with a bit of quilting.

I truly am in my happy place when in my messy sewing corner!

One Bear Claw Quilt done, another started (blue and white), and a mystery quilt on the go.

How has your January/New Year been going?

It's been a strange Winter so far in 2020 ... mostly quite mild.

However, we did have a cold snap last week with some beautiful lacy frost.

Till next time ..... recouping from a lingering cold, sewing to my hearts content, and contemplating whether to pursue sourdough or not to.

September's Beet Goes On

September has been such a busy month - every week has been full of events.

There was a root canal - ouch, big girl bed, a week of camping, a weekend of camping,

a cousin's wedding, a mid-week dinner party, etc. etc.

We are truly blessed!

The Fall garden has exploded.

This week we pulled the vines and best crop of weeds ever

to find at least a bushel of candy cane beets, spaghetti squash,

the last dig of potatoes and last picking of tomatoes!

Still more weeding and tilling to do.

I'm not at all sure what to do with all the beets, especially since

I discovered that the farmer really doesn't even like beets!

I've been experimenting with some recipes for this abundant vegetable

but need to give away as many as I can as they can not be stored too long.

Beware your porch stoop my friends, neighbours and family!

Lunch today was stir fried spiralized beets

My newest kitchen gadget ...

The Cuisinart Spiralizer

BTW, I am not paid for this post by Cuisinart. In fact,

I picked up this sweet little slicer at a local liquidation store for a mere $8 - shhhh

I used 
1 candy cane beet - peeled and spiralized

1 yellow beet -peeled and spiralized

a small chunk of cabbage - shredded

1 clove garlic - crushed

a few slices of red onion - sliced

1/2 carrot - peeled and spiralized

Any combination of veggies would work.

Zucchini would be great!

Stir fry the vegetables in 1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil for approx. 10 minutes.

Seasoning - salt and pepper to taste,

1/4 tsp. curry, 1/4 tsp. chili powder.

I added some sliced (left-over) steak to the mix and it was delicious.

It was more than I could eat but very tasty.
I think the secret ingredient is using

coconut oil - it gives such a nice flavour to the stir fry.

September 2018

Crib to bed for big girl. Cradle to crib for growing baby.  Nammie's big girl bed with pool noodle "rail".
They are growing too fast!

Labour Day Weekend camping on Lake Huron. Visitors from home and watching the Monarch Butterflies head South!

An exciting win (red asym Eternelle sweater) from Shepherd's Fashions in Ottawa -one of my favourite stores!
Want to visit there some day. In the meantime, mail order works well too.

Meanwhile back at the ranch farm, we bake bread and enjoy the simple things in life!

She shaped the loaf all by herself!

September has one more week and we will be busy every day - whew, I'm ready for

a less busy month in October - or is it???

Till next time ..... make these last few days of Summer 2018 count!

Rocks and Loaves

On the weekend our curling club held it's annual

Valentine Bonspiel.

The roads were horrid but that didn't stop us ...

It was a fun day and the food, as always, was delicious and

beautifully presented by some of the club member's spouses and families.

This is a day we all look forward to each winter.

Today the weather has turned to icy rain - ugh!

So what's a gal to do on a rainy, icy February day?

Perfect timing to bake some bread ... right!?

Two loaves of our forever favourite "Miriam Bread"

(I looked back in my blog recipes and couldn't believe

that I had never posted this delicious bread)

My cousin Miriam makes this bread recipe all the time

and generously shares it with our church family and friends

at potlucks, family reunions, and such.

She even bakes many, many loaves to distribute to her neighbours

and friends on Hallowe'en along with the children's treats!

Can I say, she is almost famous for this yummy bread.

And why not make a savoury kringle bread as well!

You will see a past post on this bread if you click the above link.

This time I changed up the filling a tad (since I didn't have any fresh herbs on hand to use this time).

2 Tbsp. Ground Flax Seed

1 Tbsp. Poppy Seeds

1 large garlic clove - minced

1 Tbsp. chopped sun dried tomatoes

1 Tbsp. parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Before baking I sprinkled the dough with some coarse salt and sesame seeds.

Some baking to warm the hearth and home.

Now I might bake a carrot cake - just because I've been craving it.

Till next time ... stay safe where you are - so many storms passing through these past few days!

West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls

West Virginia Pepperoni Rolls.

Something I've been wanting to try for some time.

I first read about these yummy looking rolls on an interesting

website called Chickens In The Road by Suzanne McMinn

.

Suzanne is a homesteader deep in the rural West Virginia countryside,

milking her own cows, raising goats, horses, etc.,

and of course free ranging chickens!

I so enjoy reading about her farm activities and am always

impressed with her daily farm photos and her delicious recipes.

The first batch I made just didn't quite turn out like they should.

I rolled them incorrectly and let them rise a bit too long, thus causing

large gaps and bubbles in the dough.

I know what she means by practicing to perfect these rolls.

I love that she puts chopped pepperoni, some cheese, and garlic right into the dough

as well as for a filling!

I'm sure that I will be making these again and again.

They taste delicious dipped into pizza sauce.

Christmas 2016 has come and gone - it was wonderful!

The jig saw puzzle has been completed,

most of the decorations have been tucked away,

and lovely memories were made.

Flashback to 1957 when these pictures were taken of my family (siblings)

There was a Christmas Tree behind my tall brother!
Check out the bold oil cloth flooring and fern wall paper - Cool!

I was 5 (almost 6) years old and am third youngest (wearing plaid jumper)
My sister Marilyn and I were holding our baby sister Evelyn!
The china cabinet now lives in my dining room.

I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters.

We have a very large family and many, many wonderful nieces and nephews

who now too are busy raising their beautiful families. 

Another birthday has come and gone - not sure what I think of this one - eek!

The best part was that my daughter and granddaughter took the time to

treat me to breakfast at the "famous" local Anna Mae's Restaurant!

Grammie turns 65!!!

My dear farmer drove a distance during a horrid snow storm the next day

to fetch my gift - a set of golf clubs!

I guess there is hope that at 65 years young, I might take up this

sport of leisure? Time will tell.

Right now we are under a beautiful blanket of white stuff again 

with temperatures to set your teeth a chattering.

It is ever so pretty and especially when we spotted our Amish

neighbours heading to the skating pond with the horses and sleigh.

Snapped this with my iPhone through the windshield - lucky snap!

Oh, how I long for Spring - and maybe even some golfing!

In the meantime, I'll fire up the sauna and count the days till

we head south for some vitamin "sea"!

Till next time ...... Happy New Year to all! May 2017 be extra wonderful and blessed!

Bread Dip and Meditations!

Wrapping a few of my favourite things!

Slowly but surely I'm getting my Christmas shopping

and wrapping done.

I pretty much bought out the stock at MennoMedia in the Kitchener store.

 What a joy it will be to gift this beautiful book!

BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY

Written by some of my favourite people - The Mennonite Girls Can Cook.

All the "royalties will be given to orphans and widows who face each day in need"

One of my favourite verses is on Week 11, Day 2

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11"

I can't wait to dig deep into this meditations book.

What a wonderful way to have a daily devotional with recipes as well!

Thank you Lovella, Anneliese, Kathy, Ellen, Marg, Bev, Betty, Judy, Charlotte and Betty

for inspiring me every day with your books and with your amazing daily blog posts!

I will be adding a small package of Bread Dip Spices:

1 Tbsp. Crushed Red Pepper

1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

1 Tbsp. Dried Oregano

1 Tbsp. Dried Rosemary

1 Tbsp. Dried Basil

1 Tbsp. Dried Parsley

1 1/2 Tbsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. sea salt

Mix all the spices and store in an airtight container.

Place 1 tsp. of the mixture in a small bowl or platter and add

1/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Add a squirt or two of fresh lemon juice and grated Parmesan Cheese - optional

Enjoy as a dip for your favourite crusty bread.

Till next time - how is your shopping and wrapping coming along?

Rainy Day Twisted Cheese and Herb Bread

It's been so hot and humid these last few days

and today the skies darkened and the rains came down.

A perfect day to bake some bread.

Well, actually I was boiling some potatoes to make a potato salad

and was left with a nice cup of potato water ....

why not bake some potato bread I say??

I found this recipe on line and adapted it a wee bit:

Twisted Cheese and Herb Bread

5 1/2 - 6 1/2 Cups of Unbleached Bread Flour

2 tsp. salt

3 Tbsp. white sugar

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Cup potato water - luke warm

1 Cup buttermilk - luke warm

1 1/2 Tbsp. instant yeast

1/4 Cup melted butter

Filling:

4 Cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 Cup minced herbs (I used parsley and chives that are growing in my herb bed in abundance)

Method:

In stand mixer or mixing bowl, combine the flour (keeping one cup aside) with the salt and sugar.

In another bowl or large measuring cup, combine the potato water and butter milk. Whisk in the yeast. Add this and the melted butter to the dry ingredients and mix with the dough hook or by hand till combined - let rest for 5 minutes (oops, I forgot this step).

After the 5 minute rest, add in the remaining flour a bit at a time, until you get a soft smooth and tacky but not sticky dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for several minutes.

Form the dough into a nice smooth ball and place into a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise till double in bulk (1-2 hours).

Divide the dough in half and form into two balls. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to a rectangle of approx. 10 inches by 16 inches.

Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese and half of the chopped herbs onto the rolled out dough. 

Begin rolling it like a jelly roll from the short side.

Pinch the seam together.

With a sharp floured knife cut the loaf in half length wise keeping cut side facing up.

Pinch together the top ends of the loaf and turn the right strip up and over the left strip. Straighten it up and do this again till you reach the bottom.

Now pinch the bottom ends together too.

Carefully move the twisted loaf into a greased loaf pan.

Repeat with the second ball of dough. Cover the pans with a tea towel or waxed paper and let them rise again till they are 1 inch higher than the pan (approx. 35-40 minutes).

Bake at 350F for 40-50 minutes, rotating the loaves and covering with foil if getting too browned at the half way point (after approx. 25 min.).

Let them stand in the pans for a few minutes before removing and run a thin knife around the edges if the cheese has caused it to stick to the pan.

Voila - twisted cheese and herb bread made on a dreary rainy afternoon ...

Taste notes - this bread turned out soft and delicious. I like the texture of bread when using potato water!

Till next time ....... tomorrow is tackle the overgrown and weedy garden day (unless it rains again).

                                       What are you up to this first week of September?