Christmas

 Wishing everyone the Merriest of Christmases on this frosty morning.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by………..*s*

Bread

I have been baking bread foremost sixty years, but I have never been happy with my decorative scoring.  I made this loaf trying to follow several ideas I have gathered.

Let it knead long enough to 'window pane'. 

Paid attention to how I formed the loaf, being sure to make it tight and smooth and gave it a long warm rise.   

Dusted flour over the surface before I scored it and used a sharp ceramic knife for the cuts as I don't have a lame. 

Started it at 425ºF with hot water in the bottom of the oven. Turned it down to 375ºF after about twenty minutes.  Baked for another thirty minutes or so. I took it out of the pan and turned it over to get the bottom nice and brown for the last five or six minutes.  This made the flour get a bit darker than I liked.  Next loaf I'll either make a cap or just turn it in the pan.  I baked this one in a cast iron frying pan.

 

I bake all our bread. About a year ago I bought a Bosch heavy duty mixer.  I have the small size which is perfect for our little family.  It's been my wrist saver!

 Proge says he has a personal baker.

We have had flu shots and Covid boosters; have you?

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by.................*s*

Christmas Dragons

 The Christmas Dragons arrived last night.  Ordinarily they don't show up until the middle of December.  I think they were hoping to avoid storms and such. 

Rain and wind today, so glad it isn't snow.  I can't imagine flying through a blizzard!

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by.............*s*

Cranberries.......anyone????

 Bought two bags of cranberries at the market Monday; then found more in the freezer.  Which asks the question, what do I do with three pounds plus of cranberries?  Was not up for plain cranberry sauce, so I Googled a look around for Cranberry Chutney.   Oh my!  Ask and ye shall receive.  Finally decided to look closely at David Lebovitz's recipe, which of course I altered.

I took all the cranberries fresh and frozen, probably about forty ounces, and threw them in a large soup pot.  Added about a cup or so of date paste, juice and zest of a large orange, a grated Granny Smith apple, chopped up dried pineapple, cherries and a fig. I added about a cup of apple cider vinegar, and monk fruit sugar.  Let it cook until the berries began popping them added cinnamon, five spice, ginger, two tablespoons of my home made vanilla, a pinch of salt, and a pinch or two f chili peppers.  I let it simmer until it was nice and thick.  I also added a bit more vinegar.  Filled jars to go in the freezer and kept some for use.

It's quite tasty, but I think it would be better with f some lemon or lime juice, raisins, pinch or two of clove, and perhaps some green tomatoes  Now I wish we hadn't eaten them all.

We'll see grasshopper.........we'll see.........

The birdie is a male house finch of a pair visiting the feeders this morning.  Not a great photo as I took it with my iPad through my glass slider.  It's so nice to see at least this one.  We used to have them in the dozens.  Not sure what happened to them and the gold finches, but nice to know there are a few about. 

I wish every one a very Happy Thanksgiving. Celebrate in good health!

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by................*s*

Happiness

Wednesday morning I ordered tea from Upton Teas.  By 2:00 PM yesterday I was enjoying a cup of my favorite Finest Russian Caravan,  This morning I am drinking Mincing Lane, a relatively new morning blend which I enjoy at any time of day.

Being in Massachusetts they are not that far from me here in RI, but it still lovely to have such prompt service when I have been reduced to tea bags!

Realized last night that I never brought in the bamboo that sits in the top of the pond filter.  I'll bring it in this morning and see if I can save it.  It's not too much of a problem as I have three pots of cuttings.  It is not in my nature to toss a cutting or shoot!

Toes crossed everyone has a great week end.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by...............*s*

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by………….*s*

First Pot Friday

 This is the very first pot I ever made, way back in 1965.  Only potted for about six months before life got in the way.  Twenty years later I did a beginner class because the professor I had intended to return to uni to work with was on sabbatical. (Knew I had to do something as Proge was going away for high school.)

The eeriest thing was that as soon as I put my hands n clay my body remembered how to center and pull up.  A lot of really bad pots followed!  Within two weeks I was wondering why I ever stopped,

Through all the ups and downs of my life, I always kept this first pot.  Guess it was trying to tell me something.

As always, stay safe, and thanks for stopping by………….*s*

P.S.  Blogger is still giving me grief about replying to comments.  Please know that I read and enjoy them all……………*s*