happy birthday
My little blog is one today. And Lucy Buttercup is four today.
So to all my buddies, furry and not, cheers!
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rage bread
Nothing like a grainy, poorly lit, camera-phone photo to really sell your story. Honey, if you're there, DSLR, pretty pleeeaassee?
I really dig making my own bread.
Last year, the the famous no-knead stuff sort kick-started my yeasty confidence and I branched out from there. I found some great recipes here and here that I’ve made a zillion times, but I must try more…
To my giddy in-line-at-the-grocery-store delight, the February Martha Stewart Living has a basic white bread recipe, with four variations. Sold! Now, I realize this is the kind of thing that splits people into camps. But I love my Martha. She’s one of my heroes. She’s smart, and creative, and proud of her craftiness, and really smart. And rich. But I also fiercely hate her sometimes. I get it though, the stick in her ass is from Hermes. If I had one, I’d want it to be designer too. But mostly I love her. Except when things are too complicated or too expensive or too snooty. Or all of the above.
So in typical Me fashion, I went for the most complicated variation on this new white bread recipe. The Multigrain. No baby stepping. I went for it. And since I’ve been really trying to follow things exactly the first time around, I took my time and carefully measured and followed the directions to the letter.
So you can imagine how I blew my aorta when I got to the part where I had to measure 5 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of honey. Has she never measured honey? EVER? Its right up there with measuring peanut butter. Or marshmallow fluff. Or roof tar. By the level spoonful.
And then there was all the unnecessary math needed throughout the recipe. You know, when the total quantities are listed first, but the directions have you ration them out in micro measurements whilst riding a unicycle and calling your credit card’s customer service line in India. Oh lord. Martha, you’re on thin ice now.
I gotta confess. Even after all that foolishness and mayhem, that bread was GOOD. Really really good.
So for the preservation of my mental health, and for anyone who cares, I rewrote this so I can make it again without going all Hulk. Because my favorite thing to eat in the morning is a slice (or two) of good homemade bread with good butter. And then I’m a happy girl. So I now give you…
Multigrain Bread Which I Will Calmly Make Again
Start here:
- Soak 1/3 cup bulgur wheat in 1/2 cup warm water (set aside for 15 mins)
Meanwhile, mix together in your large mixing bowl:
- 2 cups warmish water
- (2) 1/4 oz. envelopes dry yeast
- scant 1/4 cup honey (duh!)
When yeast is dissolved and and foamy, stir in:
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 3 cups flour
- the bulgur you soaked earlier
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup ground flax
- 2 tablespoons coarse or kosher salt
- 5 or 6 teaspoons of vital wheat gluten (optional, I’m experimenting with this product lately, so I put it in everything)
I used my Kitchenaid with the dough hook for this, but you can certainly stir by hand. This is going to be super sticky. Its fine, because we’re not done yet. To this, gradually stir or knead in:
- 3 to 3 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour,or whole wheat if you want, or any combo of (whatever makes you happy*)
Knead with the mixer, or by hand. Try not to add too much flour. Stickier dough works better here. (Martha’s version was way crumbly when I made it, and almost unkneadable)
This is where you follow Martha’s instructions from here on out… Let it rise in a buttered bowl until double (about 1 hour). Then shape in to two loaves (rise another hour). And bake. I like 425º with a pan of water on the bottom rack of the oven. I think the published recipe says 450º. Whatevs. Just bake the thing.
I actually made this last night with my new re-write, and it rocks my socks off.
*Because that’s why we make homemade bread, right? Because we think it will make us happier.
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Tags: recipe, baking, multigrain, bread, martha stewart
UFOs
Chunky scarf. Half done. Started two winters ago.
Un Finished Objects.
Saturday I have a knitting date. I’m going to teach my cousin’s ten-year-old daughter how to knit. So I figured I had better get reacquainted with my knitting in advance. I confess… I haven’t touched it in about 6 months. My basket’s a little dusty.
Leg warmers. Ditto.
I’ve been looking at tips for teaching kids to knit, and I think I’ll start with casting on and the knit stitch. I’ve found tons of rhymes to help memorize the steps, and I think Allison will like that. She rocks the hand slap and jump rope songs. So I have every confidence this girl will be a knitter by sometime Saturday afternoon.
But can I teach her to finish a project? Not likely. I can’t even do that.
The lacy shrug I was supposed to wear to Katie and T.J.'s wedding. In September.
Another confession. When I want to start a new project and my needles are otherwise taken, I buy new needles.
Koolhaus hat for Miles.
A note about the Koolhaus hat. This bitch is hard. But since I really like Miles, I’ll do the mental gymnastics needed to make it happen. Eventually.
And for another kind of UFO...
Oh yeah, and the ledge around our bath tub needs grouted.
Yes, it really is leaning against the window.
And the tub probably needs to be installed.
Baby quilt's still a UFO.
And this baby quilt isn’t going to finish itself.
Just needs that last coat of paint.
And just how much longer will we live with painter’s tape anyway?
Future UFO.
But wait…what do we have here? Is this new yarn?
Yes indeedey. Cashmere yarn, dahhhling. Ebay score. Worsted. Persimmon. Cashmere.
New flame.
It wanted to come to work with me today. And I’m pretty sure it wants to spend Sunday with me as well. Snuggled up on the sofa. Watching E!.
So naive. Little does it know.
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Tags: knitting, projects, ufos, yarn
blizzard doodle
Hey, that’s not a blizzard scene!
Exactly.
This is…
Here’s to dreaming about sunshine and daffodils.
Only 53 more days.
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Tags: daffodil, doodle, illustration
busting ruts one dish at a time
I made some 2010 resolutions. Of which, one new recipe per week. Maybe I rushed into this one. Doodling and napping are way more fun. And achievable. So is kissing Husband. Does grilled cheese with different cheese count? “Recipe” is really just a suggestion, right?
The keeper list:
- Spinach and cheese strata (I’ve made it three times in three weeks)
- Nutella & banana paninis
- Mashed potatoes with spinach and feta
- Grilled Swiss cheese sandwich (where have I been?)
The “I’d rather gnaw someone else’s* old dirty flip flop than make again” list:
- Baked french toast (this recipe)
- Baked macaroni and cheese with spinach and sundried tomatoes (lesson: don’t fuck with the classics)
The meh list:
- Red lentil dal
The “Get my ass in the kitchen as soon as possible” list:
- Smoky black bean enchiladas, Vegetarian Classics
- Baked apple french toast, Vegetarian Classics
- Pecan praline cinnamon rolls (Iowa State Fair winner)
- Lemon-scented pull-apart coffeecake (Anger Burger Blog)
*Way grosser than my own.
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Tags: baking, cooking, recipes, resolutions, testing
tuesday doodle twofer
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Tags: doodle, gnome, illustration, mushroom, owl
its snowing splinters
Nice.
Since when do icicles have icicles?
This winter nonsense is starting to weird me out.
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Tags: ice, icicles, snow, winter
baby quilt progress
After speed sewing a few hours both yesterday and today, I can’t believe I’m almost done. This project was definitely not as intimidating as I initially thought. And I love how the design is shaping up.
Truthfully, it was a rough start. When I was studying my initial design, I realized I had staggered intersections all over the place. And there was no logical way to build blocks for rows. So I had to modify the design.
Which happened about five minutes before I started sewing. So what if I spent weeks of furrowing my brows, and twirling my hair twirling trying to decide on a pattern. And in five minutes, change it all. I said I can be flaky that way.
I figured it out though and got going. Off to a wavy start at first, but a little tape on the machine gave me a trusty guide. Then I sewed all the squares in batches, assembly line style.
Which seemed to take up the majority of my sewing time. Little squares make little blocks. Which become bigger blocks and rows, and you get it.
So what if my ankle hurts. And I’m still in yesterday’s pajamas. Pedal to the metal, baby. No pain, no gain. Can I get a HOOAH?
Meanwhile…
Miles made chili. ON HIS OWN. From scratch. This, friends, is my porn.
And Lucy chased some squirrels in her sleep.
And once I got this far, the rest was a piece of pie. Easy as cake. And before I knew it…
Almost done.
I hope I’ve made the Grandmas proud so far. But most of all, I really hope it will become Baby Richey’s blankie. I think that would send me over the moon more than anything. Poop stains and all.
For now, though, ibuprofen, a glass of vino, and Live From The Red Carpet. Its all about priorities, people.
Filed under: knit & sew | 1 Comment
Tags: baby quilt, quilting, sewing, zig zag
self portrait doodle
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Tags: cheese, doodle, illustration, mouse
wednesday doodle
Love birdies.
Of my 2010 resolutions, the resolution to doodle more is probably the least important one.
Yet most fun.
Filed under: the doodle project | 1 Comment
Tags: doodle, illustration
