Bread and Knitting

Work has been a little crazy so it has been a while since I last posted.  I have been playing around with sourdough starter and bread the last couple of weeks.  I used this book that I mentioned in my last post.

My first attempt was dense through my starter was fantastic.  I tweaked a recipe in the book and added a little my water than what was called for.  This was probably the best loaf I have made.

Baked in a covered cast iron dutch oven.  Beautiful.  The inside looks a little dense but it is actually very light.  I omitted the wheat the recipe called for and used a combination of all purpose and bread flour. Want to see the inside?

I have to say this is my best sourdough. This bread is a two day process without making the starter.

Keeping winter in mind, I knitted a pair of fingerless mitts for the pharmacy drive through.

Not too bad for a novice knitter.  This was a free pattern from tons Patons.

In July we became grandparents, so we will be traveling soon to meet our first granddaughter little Pj.

More Cookbooks?

So a while back I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore cookbooks.  Some how this came in the mail:

Yep, I see this in my future:

Then a friend bought me this!

And look at this!

I found it funny that they are called Breaking Bread and Breaking Breads.  This is why I can never be on a Paleo diet.   So instead of kicking myself for having new cookbooks, I decided I was celebrating the fact that 14,000 year old toast was found.

Growing Great Garlic

I received this the other day, other people curl up with an epic novel:

I have never tried to grow garlic before though it is something I have always wanted to do.  I hope to take this on in the winter. 

It had me at the Preface:

I Saw The Sign

As you can see Seamus Cuddy (yes I named my statue), is a little wet but has had plenty of small snails to keep him company.  We have had quite a bit of rain which started last Wednesday and has kept up ever since.  I am not really complaining, everything is green and fluffy and I am sure I will wish for rain when the sun comes burning through.

Last week I noticed that a used bookstore opened up in town.   My daughter had a friend visit over the weekend and it turned out that her grandmother owned the bookstore and her mother works there. Since I had to drop her off there I took that as the stars were in alignment.  I walked away with a handful of books and you will be surprised to know only one cookbook.  I see more trips there in the future.  

A Word of Breads by Dolores Casella 1966.  Oh my gosh!  Bread recipes galore.  I was in bread heaven.  I flipped through and made her Onion Rye Bread p.80-81.  Very good!  I made DH a sandwich with it when he arrived from Missouri last night and he asked for another one made from it for lunch today.   With 294 pages of bread recipes it will take me a while to bake through this book but it tastes like a winner already.  I paid $3 for my copy but I think on Amazon used I have seen them for $.29.  

Settled for Thrifting and Please Send Rain

Not too long ago my husband was talking about a typewriter (which hopefully still resides at my Mil's house) that types in script.  This automatically induced a huge fit of nostalgia and I decided I wanted a regular manual typewriter, pica preferably but would gladly scoop up an elite font (bringing back any memories yet?).    As I browsed the Internet and drooled over 1930's and above typewriters my son glanced over my shoulder and asked "What the heck do you do with that?".    Off I went to look local.  I  hit the Goodwill stores and other thrift stores.  Nada.  I thought someone has to have one that still works for a not insane price somewhere.  So I hit free cycle, craigslist and the multitudes of local swap, barter and trade boards on the Internet....zilch.  A couple of calls to over priced antique stores didn't turn up anything either but I was offered a couple of electric models.  All the while I am kicking myself for not hanging on to the typewriters that have been in my family.  The hunt is still on!
While looking at books I don't need I picked up a few.  Here are a couple:

The Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen.  I don't know how I didn't already have this one and Sarah Ban Breathnach's Mrs. Sharp's Traditions, Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations of Comfort & Joy.  Both look promising. 

We have a new resident that lives out back, he comes and goes as he likes, I really do hope it is a he.  He also does not like to have his picture taken and hangs out in the darkest areas of the yard when I am around, so I just aimed,  clicked and I finally caught him, he blends, can you make him out?

Maybe this one is easier:

Now you can see why I hope it is a he. 

Oh yeah, please send rain!