(Updates coming soon about the latest adventures.)
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, October 8, 2010
Autumn Bread
Autumn is my favorite weather.
Autumn means falling leaves
and
sweaters
and
pumpkin pie (my most favorite pie in the world!)
and
delicious squash
and
new pencils
and
soup
and
homemade crusty artisan bread.
It is super easy. Once you mix everything up you can have delicious tasting bread very easily in just minutes a day (well, besides baking and rising time).
In a large bowl or non-airtight (very important!) container, mix without kneading (yes, you read that right- just stir it with a spoon):
3 c. lukewarm water (just a little warmer than body temperature)
1 1/2 tblsp. dry yeast
1 1/2 tblsp. kosher salt- if you don't use kosher salt, please don't use 1 1/2 tblsp, it will be much, much too salty
6 1/2 c. unbleached white flour (measured with the scoop and sweep method)
Cover and let rise at room temperature 2-5 hours.
Refrigerate with lid on at least 3 hours or longer before shaping. (Cold dough is easier to shape.)
When ready to bake:
1. Sprinkle pizza peel (click for image) very LIBERALLY with corn meal (or it won't slide off later)
2. Sprinkle surface of refrigerated dough with flour. Pull up a 1 pound (grapefruit size) piece of dough and cut off with a serrated knife.
3. Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom of all four sides. (Put the rest of the dough back in the refrigerator and use within 14 days.)
4. Place the shaped ball (or whatever shape you choose) of dough on the cornmeal covered pizza peel.
5. Let rise for 40 minutes and enjoy the smell of rising bread!
6. After about 25 minutes of rising, set the oven to 450 with a baking stone on the middle rack. Place an empty broiler tray for water on the shelf below or beside the baking stone.
7. Let rise for the rest of the time.
8. When rising time has elapsed, dust the top of the loaf liberally with flour. With serrated knife, slash 1/4 inch deep pattern into the dough.
9. Prepare a cup of warm tap water and have ready before putting the dough in the oven.
10. With a quick jerking motion, slide the loaf off the pizza peel and onto the baking stone.
11. Quickly pour the prepared water into the broiler pan and close the oven door.
12. Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is nicely browned and firm to the touch. Let cool before cutting.
If you want your bread to keep a crisp crust, store it in a paper bag after it has cooled (not plastic).
This recipe is super easy because the dough stores in your refrigerator for up to 14 days. Any time you want fresh bread you can just pull it right out and bake it.
Okay, now that I've shared the bread recipe will you share your soup recipes with me? Pretty please?
This way we can both have delicious soup and bread for chilly autumn nights.
Autumn means falling leaves
and
sweaters
and
pumpkin pie (my most favorite pie in the world!)
and
delicious squash
and
new pencils
and
soup
and
homemade crusty artisan bread.
It is super easy. Once you mix everything up you can have delicious tasting bread very easily in just minutes a day (well, besides baking and rising time).In a large bowl or non-airtight (very important!) container, mix without kneading (yes, you read that right- just stir it with a spoon):
3 c. lukewarm water (just a little warmer than body temperature)
1 1/2 tblsp. dry yeast
1 1/2 tblsp. kosher salt- if you don't use kosher salt, please don't use 1 1/2 tblsp, it will be much, much too salty
6 1/2 c. unbleached white flour (measured with the scoop and sweep method)
Cover and let rise at room temperature 2-5 hours.
Refrigerate with lid on at least 3 hours or longer before shaping. (Cold dough is easier to shape.)
When ready to bake:
1. Sprinkle pizza peel (click for image) very LIBERALLY with corn meal (or it won't slide off later)
2. Sprinkle surface of refrigerated dough with flour. Pull up a 1 pound (grapefruit size) piece of dough and cut off with a serrated knife.
3. Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom of all four sides. (Put the rest of the dough back in the refrigerator and use within 14 days.)
4. Place the shaped ball (or whatever shape you choose) of dough on the cornmeal covered pizza peel.
5. Let rise for 40 minutes and enjoy the smell of rising bread!
6. After about 25 minutes of rising, set the oven to 450 with a baking stone on the middle rack. Place an empty broiler tray for water on the shelf below or beside the baking stone.
7. Let rise for the rest of the time.
8. When rising time has elapsed, dust the top of the loaf liberally with flour. With serrated knife, slash 1/4 inch deep pattern into the dough.
9. Prepare a cup of warm tap water and have ready before putting the dough in the oven.
10. With a quick jerking motion, slide the loaf off the pizza peel and onto the baking stone.
11. Quickly pour the prepared water into the broiler pan and close the oven door.
12. Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is nicely browned and firm to the touch. Let cool before cutting.
If you want your bread to keep a crisp crust, store it in a paper bag after it has cooled (not plastic).
This recipe is super easy because the dough stores in your refrigerator for up to 14 days. Any time you want fresh bread you can just pull it right out and bake it.
Okay, now that I've shared the bread recipe will you share your soup recipes with me? Pretty please?
This way we can both have delicious soup and bread for chilly autumn nights.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Seasons change
Tomorrow is the first day of September and it hit me, that summer, with all its delicious fruit, greenness, flowers, and sun-soaked days, is almost over (in 23 days). With every sunset the change grows closer.
But, the change also brings a feeling of newness. A new season to embrace. A new sense of purpose. A (re)newed feeling of thankfulness.
There are more summer things I wished I blogged about, but it's almost too late now. I'm looking forward to autumn, with her sun dappled days and the falling of leaves and chilly autumn nights.
Summer is closing soon and there is not a single thing I can do about it, except enjoy the change.
What is your favorite part about the change of seasons?
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Rainy Day
Today was one of those days.
You know the kind I'm talking about?
The one where it's raining outside and all you want to do is curl up on a couch and read a good book or watch a good movie.
Or maybe take a walk or sing in the rain?
Since the rain (and cloudy days in general) tends to make me sleepy, I had to pull myself out of bed. Yeah, it was that kind of day.
I got a second shower because I forgot my umbrella and had to walk in the rain. I like it though. Rain is refreshing and cleansing. And it makes the earth smell good.
I woke up this morning thinking I had overslept because it was so dark outside. It literally looked like it was 9 pm.
This photo was taken in downtown Lexington at 2:30 pm!
You know the kind I'm talking about?
The one where it's raining outside and all you want to do is curl up on a couch and read a good book or watch a good movie.
Or maybe take a walk or sing in the rain?
Since the rain (and cloudy days in general) tends to make me sleepy, I had to pull myself out of bed. Yeah, it was that kind of day.
I got a second shower because I forgot my umbrella and had to walk in the rain. I like it though. Rain is refreshing and cleansing. And it makes the earth smell good.
I woke up this morning thinking I had overslept because it was so dark outside. It literally looked like it was 9 pm.
This photo was taken in downtown Lexington at 2:30 pm!
(Photo taken by Caren Beatty)
See what I mean about it looking like 9 pm? Pretty dark, huh?
Also, I think walking in the rain would be much more fun (I was about to say -write - funner, but that's not a word) with these Wellingtons:
Don't you think so? They can be found here. They cost £29.99! They're British after all.
As a child, my family would sit on our big porch swing during thunderstorms and watch the rain and thunder and lightning. I miss those days. I loved the mist of cool rain on my face as I saw the lightening crash down and the boom of thunder rumble in my chest.
What do you like doing on rainy days?
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