Holiday prep has been fun. Just the fact of being able to search out Christmas gifts for loved ones is a blessing not taken lightly. Ever frugal, this quest has held plenty of intrigue, mystery and excitement. Except for that, though, one would never suspect we were getting ready for the holidays with mucho-gusto. Continue reading
Tag: food (Page 3 of 3)
Observe the fine crumb of this loaf. The inviting chew of its crust. Such a gorgeously perfect specimen of my ‘true sourdough’ … or is it?
All is not as it seems … my ‘true sourdough’ bread
The aroma emitted during its time of baking signal salivary glands to sweat in anticipation of a heavenly tasting loaf … or is it?
Finally ready for slicing, the crunch of the knife sounds divine. The slithering of slathered butter slides into warm nooks and crannies of perfectly baked bread … or is it?
Raising the staff-of-life slice to consume, first bite is a bit salty.
Could it be a ‘salt pocket’ … some vestige of incomplete integration of all dry ingredients before adding to wet ingredients? Continue reading
A ‘good morning’ surprise
Here’s what greeted hubby and I when we stepped out through the front door to go to work this morning.
Well actually, what first caught my eye was this potted mum placed strategically next to my planter of waning herbs.
Notice the concealed grocery bag filled with jugs of water? That’s the kind of day we had yesterday…
Let me explain.
Getting ready for company is fun for me. It’s part of my heritage. Not that I don’t get stressed, but I truly enjoy prepping for ‘parties.’ Yesterday morning began the final leg into that realm. Already having fielded a week of impromptu clearing out of the laundry closet space that we’d been using as extra storage in our little rental house in readiness for its intended use, I was ready to focus on the task at hand. That being: the routine of last minute fixes and major cooking for a greatly anticipated time of dining and gabbing with our guests for that evening.
Things went along like clockwork:
- Get dough ready for rising-check
- Wash salad greens and place in crisper-check
- Put leaf in table-check
- Tidy up living room and hide extra storage stuff from emptied laundry closet-check
- Take shower before lunch-check
- Start sauce to simmer-check
It wasn’t until close to the end of the prep that I noticed something strange. Continue reading
It’s been said that there are two types of people in this world: those that love cilantro and those that hate it. This division of stances on the merits of cilantro has in fact been debated for centuries. The 16th century herbalist John Gerard described it as a ‘very stinking herbe.’ While the Chinese continue to refer to it as the ‘fragrant plant.’
I think the title of this blog post shows which side of the debate I stand on…however I will concede that those who ‘hate’ cilantro might have a biological basis for disliking its taste. Continue reading
Enjoy a virtual treat and a colorful quote in celebration of my First Blogiversary!
“who knows if the moon’s a balloon, coming out of a keen city in the sky–filled with pretty people?” ee cummings
I love to cook and bake. Since I have featured my homemade sourdough breads in two previous articles (click on recipe name for article or here & here), I thought it appropriate to share my original recipes. Also included is a muffin/quick bread recipe that I adjusted to help use up excess starter. (Which is great with a cuppa joe!)
The following recipes assume one has sourdough starter on hand (Mother). If not, there are numerous ways of obtaining some, including starting one’s own via bread cookbook recipes. However, sourdough starter is kind-of the ‘zucchini’ of the baking world. When one begins baking with homemade starter, it usually overtakes the kitchen! Hence the infamous ‘Friendship’ breads make their rounds among neighbors periodically with an accompanying ziplock baggie containing 1 – 2 cups of starter.
Are you ready to have some fun? Continue reading
One loaf
out of four.
(baked to imperfection)
My ‘easy’ sourdough bread
One loaf
chosen.
(the one most round; least browned)
Bridging our door
to theirs.
(some 30 steps away)
Three of five
arrive next morning.
(from their door to ours)
Hand-delivering
note of thanks.
(smiling faces all around)
One loaf
out of four.
(baked warmth shared)
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” -Victor Hugo
My homemade cannoli
What better way to ease into another set of 2013 Reflections than with luscious references to food?
My homemade sourdough bread
This past year, I resumed my life as a ‘good cooker.’ This family badge of honor, proudly reactivated now that I have a kitchen at my disposal, has provided nourishment to both body and soul.
~ 4/13 The unfolding of my ‘horse gentler’ skills learned during our time of horse rescue being placed within a new context of use. While making a final pilgrimage to visit Terry’s Mother in Dallas (just a week before she passed away) our ‘nephew’ Jeremy helped with a fundraiser for the ‘Horses for Heroes’ project in nearby Rocky Top Ranch. Himself a Wounded Warrior, he opened my eyes to this realm of horse therapy for returning veterans and their families.
Shortly thereafter, to my delight, I discovered a local established horse therapy group beginning to implement a Wounded Warriors component into their program offerings. I immediately contacted them and not only signed on as an active volunteer, but got in on the ground floor as part of the initial group starting the WW program. In addition, I work regularly with the other students. While my primary role is in enabling the horse(s) to be their very best while in use during therapy, I enjoy the blessings of working with the various students and their families, other volunteers sharing my passion, the therapists and owners of the stable…
Gracie on Freckles, First Annual BTR Horse Show (I’m wearing orange)
We all worked hard to put on the First Annual Bethlehem Therapy Horse Show this past November.
Matt’s victory salute after his horse show debut
Really, really cool.
~ The many loved ones who passed on this year. Continue reading