Sourdough Bread. . . . . will I, won't I?

Not certain I'll be making a lot of sourdough loaves in the future.

Yes, this first one turned out very well but what a lot of extra work and 

waiting time compared to the No-Knead easy bread (which is awesome).

My journey making the starter was hilarious, a week of feeding, waiting,

stirring. . . . . . and cleaning up when 'Irish" (the name I've given it) discovered 

bubbly freedom on two occasions and flowed out of the large jar and

over the kitchen counter. Actually after the first time I had enough sense to

stand it in a large bowl which helped collect the awesome yeasty mess.  

Quite amazing that just flour and water can be so full of life and, when

contained and divided in half, keeps on growing and bubbling as long

you feed daily to strengthen it. I used just the 1/4 cup required in the

bread recipe, then halved what remained and it's sitting in the refrigerator 

calmly sleeping now - until I bring it out, feed it again and get baking. . . . perhaps!

My bread baked evenly and the crust was so crispy when taken from the oven. 

There were a few larger holes compared to the No-Knead bread, and the crumb

 was a little dryer. Quite honestly I did not get a strong sourdough flavor. It toasts
up well but seems a bit harder and crunchier - great though with good butter
 and my favorite Scottish marmalade.

I'm almost certain I will try another loaf jut to see if I can improve it a bit - perhaps

 I was a bit heavy-handed with my kneading.  

Now that the long week plus of growing the starter is over, readying it again for

another loaf should just take a few hours. This recipe requires 8-10 hours

 overnight for the bulk rising though so altogether making a sourdough loaf is

 really a two day job. Compared to the quick No-Knead bread, I'm not sure I

want to commit to endless days in the kitchen!

Beautiful chilly but sunny Sunday morning here.

I baked southern buttermilk biscuits at 7:30 am, mostly for my 

neighbors who have a special visitor from Florida.

Later today I plan to make a pot of vegetarian black bean chili (really just

frijoles negros) for a fireside evening watching PBS.  

Jane Austen's final (and unfinished) novel Sanditon is lovely and filmed

 in countryside and seaside close to my heart in southern England. 

Just enough, romance, fortune hunters and heartbreakers, along
 with beaches, farmland and grand balls to keep everyone intrigued.

January days at home. . . . . . . .

I baked this loaf of 'no-knead bread' this week.

The recipe is known and enjoyed by many - so many versions of it are

 available on the Internet - I use Jenny Jones because she's so much fun to 

watch on her video. It turned out well and gave me that sense of enjoyment

 possible from a simple, basic, homey food made in one's own kitchen

 on a dreary day.

Yesterday I decided to also get going on my 'sourdough starter'

in hopes I can make a loaf of real sourdough bread soon.

The amaryllis tale continues here in the dining room.

The first four blooms on the initial stem are almost over, in fact two have been

nipped off, the remaining two now fading also. However, the second stem is now 

showing three new buds - a total of seven delightful flowers from one bulb.

Meanwhile the second bulb is in full bloom with four perfect flowers. . . . . . . I feel 

like I'm in a garden. 

Winter beauty.

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.

Pie in the sky!

The little mince pies of yesterday's post are long gone!

A bowl of Granny Smith apples were calling to be peeled, sliced

and baked into a pie. Let's face it, apple pie is good, and healthy if not 

drowned in sugar. I often find store bought, or restaurant, American pies 

and other desserts so overpowering from the sugar content, I do not enjoy

 them, especially when containing fruit which is nature's natural sweetener.

So, a couple of days ago I baked my favorite apple pie recipe - it was shared some
 years back by my delightful western North Carolina friend, Penny. 
There's a 'secret ingredient' in her recipe which makes it so delicious. 
I admit I did use ready-made piecrust this time - it was waiting in refrigerator 
begging to be used. It's very light and flaky, which is good. I used 6 large
 Granny Smith apples which made the pie quite high and just juicy
 enough - thankfully it didn't boil over, perhaps as I was able to seal
 the edge well! 

Penny and I go back many years and we have shared several wonderful 

get togethers - they are always a lot of fun. We're hoping to catch up again

some time this year.

You can visit Penny HERE at her blog - Enjoying The Simple Things.  

Have you been baking on these early new year winter days, or did you have

 enough of floury rolling pins, baking pans and hot ovens over the recent holidays?