Baking and books . . . .

When I can make time - perhaps on a cold, preferably snowy, winter day, 

if we ever get one - I hope to make a sourdough starter and then 

learn how to bake a crusty, fragrant boule of sourdough bread.

This is the book I'll use because Emilie Raffa is my kind of gal when

 it comes to the kitchen and cooking. 

It's subtitled as "A Beginner's Guide to Delicious Handcrafted Bread with

 Minimal Kneading."

Instructions are clear, design and photography beautiful, printing and book

 quality excellent for a soft cover publication.

I discovered Emilie when I picked up "The Clever Cookbook" as gift for 

my granddaughter who now has a kitchen of her own. I admit I almost kept

 that book for myself as it's so fabulous.

I gifted myself with several new books at Christmas. I keep a Wish List on Amazon, 

just for books and music perhaps not available in our local independent book shop.

This year I also had to order my annual wall calendar for the kitchen online - the one 

I've bought for years - Swedish artist Carl Larsson (1853-1919) whose paintings of his 

house and family are amazing.

Being the age we are, purchases made online are minimal really. Getting out and

walking, looking, sometimes buying, and shopping in bricks and mortar stores seems 

to be exercise for us. . . . . . go ahead youngsters, you can laugh!

 My neighbor told me yesterday, during a discussion focusing on several major

 shops closing - or cutting back on store numbers as Pier 1 and Macy's have

 announced this week - that his young adult daughters purchase almost everything 

online.  Highlights of my younger days were meeting my girlfriends to 'go shopping',

 have a coffee or lunch, talk face to face. . . . . all made for a jolly good time and 

bring me so many great memories.

I still meet my friends now and then for a coffee or lunch outing, however 

must admit spending hours trawling malls and shops are infrequent. 

That part is usually done with Bob for items we really need. . . . such as food 

and a good bottle of wine!

Until that snowy day arrives I often seem to be spending time here, 

not only knitting whilst watching a movie of an evening, but grabbing an

 hour to catch up on magazines, read a chapter of my current book, or enjoy

 turning the pages of a cookbook. The latter often inspiring me to

unwind myself from the cozy throw, start moving, and get back into the

 kitchen, one of my favorite places to be.

Have you baked sourdough bread?

Did you get any great new cook books for Christmas?

Do you have snow, and are you enjoying snuggling in your

favorite comfy spot at home?

Any new yummy recipes to share for a cold January day?

Thanks so much for the really nice comments on my last post.

You are such great friends.