Tag Archives: bread

The Day Before the Baby Comes

1 Jul

Or something along those lines.

I woke up this morning at 5:30, feeling full of energy. The weather was clear and cool – 65°F – and we only had a half a loaf of white bread left from what I’d made while The Squire was in the hospital.  I dragged out the machine and got a batch of onion-dill underway before the day got too hot.

Normally, fixing breakfast is The Squire’s job, but this morning I had grits and chicken-maple sausage ready to go; all I had to do was hit the toaster and fry the eggs. I don’t know which of us was the most surprised!

I’ve always made most of our bread, and when I was still working it was a good way to pound out frustration. I’d come home and beat people up – one for you, and one for your ugly brother – boom, boom, bang! Not too long before I “retired” I’d sent The Squire to work with a different kind of bread every day for a month – twenty days. The girls in my carpool refused to take any more loaves because their husbands wanted to know why they didn’t make bread, too. The folks in The Squire’s office didn’t complain.

Anyway, this is the recipe I used today. You can make it in your machine, or do it by hand.

Onion and Dill Bread

1 package yeast, or 2-1/2 teaspoons if you buy it in bulk

3-1/3 cups flour (I use 1 cup whole wheat, and 2-1/3 all-purpose, but it’s up to you)

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

Mix together and warm:

3/4 cup cottage cheese

3/4 cup sour cream or full-fat plain yogurt

3 tablespoons minced dried onion

2 tablespoons dried dill weed

1-1/2 tablespoons butter

I also add 1 heaping tablespoon vital gluten. Bob’s Red Mill is a good choice.

This makes 2-1/2 pounds; I make 2 8×4 loaves. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. I insert a meat thermometer when I think the bread is almost done and removed the loaves from the oven 190°F.

This makes marvelous sandwiches!

 

Stay Tuned

5 Jan

We went down for the weekly bread pickup last night, and I braved the frigid temps to dash into Target for a few things. I grabbed a cart and headed to the Customer Service area to ask about an item I’d ordered.

While I was waiting, a young fellow strolled past in his housecoat.  He had that carefully nonchalant expression that practically shouted “I’m sooo cool”.  Every head in the vicinity turned to follow his progress. The clerk sort of shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve been seeing pajama bottoms all day, but that’s a new one. I wonder what they’ll come up with next?”

“Come spring” I suggested, “maybe they’ll be dashing around in their BVDs. Or streaking.”

 

 

It Is Finished

30 Nov

On November 8th, I wrote that a long-time food pantry in Harford County was being hassled by government inspectors.  We have now been shut down – just in time for the holidays.

The week after that inspector had come by, we were told to go ahead. If you go into a store to purchase bagels, they are usually in a big bin, with a pair of tongs. They do not have a list of ingredients. If you stop at a deli for a sandwich, you have no idea what’s in the bread. Or the lunchmeat or mayo, for that matter.  Panera HQ couldn’t even give us the information we wanted! How’s that strike you?

Yesterday morning, a different inspector came by and told us that under no circumstances were we to continue giving food to the needy. They needed to purchase it just as everybody else does. Well, he didn’t say that, but this was federal, and you know how they feel about poor people.  Can we just do one more session, so folks will have food for Christmas? No, absolutely not.

And we have folded our tents, and will silently slip away. Silently, except for a whole lot of muttering and cursing under our breath.