Bread Heights

Bread Heights is where you will be residing when you follow this simple recipe and make your own bread. Crunchy, crackly, chewy, sweet-tasting, B R E A D. Rustic, round, simple. Yummy with a capital Y. Soul satisfying.

Your arguments: Bread is difficult. Bread is too time consuming. I don't have a dough mixer. I don't have the arm strength to knead it suffiiently. I don't have a good recipe. I have never baked bread.

My answer: This bread is easy. This bread takes very little of your time. You don't need any fancy equipment. You don't have to knead this dough! For a complete tutorial BY A 4-YEAR-OLD and the history of this recipe, go to Steamy Kitchen.com. I had seen this bread floating around Blogdom for a while, but I was a skeptic. Now I have made two loaves, and this week am making 4 more.

This bread requires 3 cups of flour, 1 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp yeast, and 1 1/2 C water. That is all. Nothing else! Your labor is required for five minutes of initial mixing. The dough sits for 12 to 20 hours by itself in time out. Your labor is required for five minutes of folding the edges and placing in bowl on floured towel. The dough sits for 2 hours to nap and rise. Your labor is required for preheating the oven, placing in baking receptacle, placing in oven. Bakes for 30 minutes with lid on (25 minutes in my oven) and 15-20 minutes with lid off. (11 minutes in my oven.) Your labor is required to remove from oven. Easy peasy. My first two loaves were made with organic, unbleached bread flour. I baked mine in a cast iron dutch oven. The loaf yield is 1.5 lbs. We ate the first loaf in about 2.5 hours. Mr. Nature used some of the second loaf to make french toast. It was thick and hearty, and we ate it with pure maple syrup. Another Yummy with a capital Y.

This week, I am making one loaf with organic unbleached bread flour, one with organic whole wheat bread flour, one with organic rye flour, and one with organic spelt flour. Even the gluten intolerant can make bread if using Rye, Amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, or rice flour.

Visit the tutorial link, watch the four-year-old make it, then try it yourself. I will never spend $4.00 or more on a store or bakery loaf of bread EVER AGAIN. This bread is better, fresher, and so satisfying. Cost about $1.00 to $1.50/loaf - - maybe $2.00 if you count the electricity involved.

Enjoy your trip to Bread Heights!

For lack of a Monday post

Almost Silent Sunday was followed by a truly Silent Monday. Sorry. Mondays are discouraging to me lately with the ever-present lack of income prospects knocking at my door. I am amazed that after 2.5 months, I have been unable to procure new employment. I think the state in which I live has reached 13% unemployment right now. I am also feeling betrayed by the "system." I was told when growing up that if one stayed well-rounded and got a college education, that one would always be able to procure a good income and take care of one's family. I am finding that not so.

Amilia learned about "April Fool's Day" today (Monday). For the rest of the evening and on up through bedtime, she was making up all kinds of April Fool's statements. It ended in a fit of tears when I put her to bed, told her that it was not for another two days, and it was time for no more words. Who is the sandman? Does he really put sand in your eyes? Does he come every day? If so, then why am I still awake? Why can't I see him? Why hasn't he gotten here yet? Is he a faerie? Does he wear green? FINALLY, the slow, quiet, rhythmic breathing of one who has reached slumber. The sandman, indeed, had arrived.

Almost Silent Sunday

I am sometimes disappointed when confronted with blogs employing Silent Sunday, but I really think it is a good practice to take it easier at least one day a week. Helps avoid Blogger Burnout.

I hope some birds move in soon...

Juice for health and taste

I don't know how many of you will raise your hands when asked if you like vegetables, but I think it would be impossible for you to say you disliked this juice (unless you are allergic to one of the ingredients). If you have been following me for very long, you might have read that I am not a Kitchen Diva or Domestic Goddess in any realm of reality. Luckily, Mr. Nature loves quality food, and enjoys preparing it for his family. The other day, he made some really good juice.
The juice shown in this photo is made with our Jack LaLanne Power Juicer. I really like it, but OH HOW I LONG FOR A VITAMIX! To make this juice, you need:

• 3 apples


• 2 stalks of celery


• 2 large leaves of kale


• 1/4 beet

to yield 12 ounces. This gives us a 6oz. serving each, or a 4oz. serving each if Amilia shares. Of course, just add more ingredients for larger yield! The beet gives it this color, and makes it look like you are drinking a wee dram of Guinness.

We would like to juice daily, but we are not yet in that sort of routine. We do, however, enjoy fresh juice made at home as often as possible. I also really like to just eat fresh beet slices as a snack. They are sweet and slightly mineral tasting (okay dirt-tasting, but I ate dirt as a kid, so it's like a memory of childhood for me) and crunchy like a carrot. The dirt thing should not put you off until AFTER you have tried them. And only then if you honestly think it overrides the sweet flavor and health benefit. They are SOOOOOO good for you. The caveat when partaking of beets is that you must remember the next day that you have eaten them. Otherwise, you will be alarmed at elimination time. Sorry, but you had to know!

Today we had freshly squeezed orangeandgrapefruit juice for breakfast.

Not much beats the depthofyourbeing satisfaction derived from making and drinking fresh juice.

Ladies and Gentlement, start your juicers!

....Part 2

Yesterday, there was more planting than I could safely fit into one post. So, here is the rest of the story. I have planted some shelling peas directly outdoors in a planter box on the front deck. As I mentioned in an earlier post, they have yet to poke through the surface. But I also started some indoors in a wet paper towel sealed in a ziplock. (I know, I hate plastic and ziplock, but it is awfully good at holding moisture and warmth for seedlings!)

I had them in the window box over the kitchen sink for about 10 days, and had almost forgotten them. Mr. Nature asked me what the scary looking baggie was doing in the window box. OH YES! Those are my peas! So, I unwrapped them, and this is what I found:

10 beautiful little sprouts!

I planted them in those pots on the deck I had cleared out and shown you in a post last week...

The peas are planted in the back and will climb the trellis. In front, I have placed some lettuces and coriander (cilantro). I can't wait for that yummy salad!

In additon, I know I said it would not be until next week, but Chick, Chick, and Chick went on their first adventure today. They spent about three hours outside in a cage in the warmth of the sun under the apple tree. They had a wonderful time, and are under the warming lamp in the greenhouse tonight. I hope they stay warm enough! I made them a nesting box in the cage where they all are cuddling together.

Last but not least, upcoming posts:

1. We began a worm bin today with 100 red wigglers and earthworms.
2. I made the yummiest loaf of bread today that I have ever eaten!
3. The freshest and tastiest juice is the juice you make yourself...

Another day of sowing! (Part 1)

Today, we had a little peek of spring again with temperatures around 60. The sun alternated with clouds, but the greenhouse got up to 82 degrees! Some of the started plants that have been hardened off did not like the heat, so we put them in the ground today. We planted sugar snap peas in bed #1 between the sad overwintered broccoli and cauliflower.

The early cabbage went on the other side of the cauliflower. My companion planting guide says the nitrogen-fixing trait of the pea plant is good for cabbage varieties and may assist the growth of broccoli. I have also read that cabbage and broccoli near peas helps prevent root rot/mold in the peas. We'll see. I have never grown brassicas (cabbage/cauliflower/broccoli) before at all, much less attempted companion planting for these.

After my overwinter experiment, there are only a couple of sad little broccoli plants:
Here are the new sugar snap peas:
The remaining sad cauliflower:
The new early cabbage planted today:I am fully expecting the cauliflower and broccoli to perk up and grow big and strong like the rest! I am planning to add some interplanted nasturtium (sacrificial to attract aphids) and dill (to attract beneficial insects), and possibly some fennel and peppermint (to repel insects).

Share with me what you have planted today!

Chick, Chick, and Chick bid you hello

Now at 14 days, they are looking less fuzzy and more gangly and tufty. Their feet are much bigger, as are the wings, and I can no longer contain them in one hand alone:

Their next stop is the wire cage that will house them in the garage or greenhouse after they are too big for the laundry room, but before they are big enough for the coop. Tomorrow? But it has been too cold for them just yet in garage and greenhouse, even with the warming lamp. They are almost ready to fly this "coop"--and are awfully messy to keep much longer in their current quarters.

They still don't like me much, and are awfully jumpy!

Perhaps they get less skittish eventually?

Next update next week...

Frozen Confections

Cherry Frozen Yogurt

Tonight, Mr. Nature made us one of our favorite desserts. Usually, we make about the same recipe in the summer with bluebeberries for Amilia. For her, we put sticks in to make popsicles.

This is a dessert you can eat without guilt, and with an assurance that you are still eating for health!

2 cups nonfat or whole milk UNFLAVORED plain yogurt

3/4 cup frozen cherries (or other fresh or frozen fruit) NOTE: do not substitute any canned or prepared fruits because you will lose the simplicity and nutritional value!

1 TBSP RAW honey (not the processed, filtered kind!) Raw honey gives actual food value that processed honey is lacking. If you do not have raw honey, the next best substitute is processed honey.

Blend in food processor, blender wand, Magic Bullet, Bella Cucina Rocket, or similar blender until smooth. If using cherries or blueberries, you will still see bits of fruit skin, and this is okay. If using berries, you will of course have seeds still visible.

Place in freezing dish, such as freezer-safe Corning ware or stainless steel cylindrical container until frozen.

Scoop into dessert dish and ENJOY!

Dear Winter,

The buds on my new peach tree are very delicate. They really cannot withstand your prolonged assault with the wind and freezing cold. I believe you have committed fraud by proceeding in a manner which led them to believe that you had retreated, thus coercing them into putting out said buds, only to reassert yourself in such a callous manner.

In addition, the seedlings in the greenhouse are relying on the sun's warmth to shine on said greenhouse so that it may be converted to energy that they can use to grow. You are robbing them of this warmth by leaving your clouds strewn about the sky in this haphazard manner.

The flowers in the yard are suffering under your pelting hail and driving wind. The cushions for our outdoor furniture are collecting your moisture and have had to be relocated indoors again before they produce mold. The baby chicks rely on the promise that was given them at birth so they may soon be safely relocated outdoors to their own coop. The lettuce sown outdoors has been unable to emerge from the soil due to your opressive temperatures.

The calendar says that it is no longer your turn. It is monumentally unfair for you to bully spring in such a manner when you seasons are all supposed to work together and play nicely. I realize that you have been having grand fun these last few months, and it is never fun to be put to bed, but to bed you must go. Now.

Until next time, sleep well.

Sinclair

A Tale of the Belated Duel at Dawn

Winter arrived this morning and challenged spring to a duel. Spring, having just awakened from a coma, was not feeling completely up to the task. Winter chose swords. Winter attacked with its finely honed sword of snow...

Spring fought back with its sword of Blue Sky

Winter parried with sleet

Spring broke out the sun shield

Winter rallied with some wind and freezing temperatures, but spring held strong with blossoms

I thought my report would read that spring dealt the final blow, but new information flooded in just after sunset when winter made a last attack with the hail sword. Information regarding the final outcome and who will strike the fatal blow is not yet available.

You can be sure that we will be standing by to report the

up-to-date information as soon as it breaks. Stay tuned.

Saturday Sensibilities

On a relatively chilly Saturday afternoon on the second day of spring when the sky looks like this: I am cozy indoors under my favorite lap throw working on this:

And listening to the "Coffee House" station on Sirius satelite radio. If not for satelite, we would only receive ONE FUZZY station. I totally dig the coffee house station!

And reading the newest arrival of Cookie magazine. I took it as a trial. While I find that it is not really the magazine for my lifestyle, I do enjoy the visually pleasing pages and some of the recipes. And today I have to email Courtney at CJane Enjoy It about page 44 and the Chupacabra pin.

*UPDATE: THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH HAS BEEN REVISED.

The chupacabra pin is from Pearson Maron at Etsy. It is correctly credited in the magazine, but I misread the credits when I was first reading. Blame it on my cold Saturday brain. The price stated in the magazine is the correct price at $9. Go take a look at Pearson Maron. It is an awfully cute pin!

As I finish this post, Mr. Nature and Amilia are taking a trip down memory lane with the photo album of our trip to Denmark and Sweden. They sky has opened up and begun to bleed, providing the drizzle topping for our deliciously nostalgic mood.

Saturday sentiments to you all.

Spring In!

I hope you all had a wonderful first day of spring. It was lovely and sunny here, and I will share with you my first tiny flower bouquet. These were casualties of the riding mower...

Winter's Death Rattle

Well, there wasn't really much rattling. Winter really didn't give much of a last fight today. The weather was warm and sunny with some looming clouds in late evening. I finished clearing the front deck today. Remember these?

Now they look like this:

They will soon hold climbing beans or peas and some lettuces. The arbor above the deck is now clear of dead plant matter.

I would love to plant some wisteria to bring back the overhead beautification, but we have not yet settled on that plan. I'll keep you posted. I know, you are waiting with baited breath!

The fun find of the day was a bird nest that had been hidden in all that dead tangle. I saved it and placed it on one of the eaves in a small decorative bird house. I permanently hinged the door open so any bird who wants to use the nest may feel welcome. I doubt we will have any takers because it is probably now more visible to predators.

The onions and carrots are happily growing away in the garden patch. They overwintered there as an experiment, and I am happy they have fared so well. They were mulched with fallen leaves to protect them, but they were also covered every night with old sheets and uncovered every day that was above freezing or had a hint of peeking sun. I have never tried carrots, so I am excited that they are still hanging in there!

The twigs and branches make it harder to see the onion tops, but they are there to keep the cats and other critters out of the garden patch. They really do a pretty good job, and I don't have to spray any chemicals or other nasties to fend off unwanted guests.

Now, lights out on winter...

The Greenhouse has been Greened!

I mentioned before that there were two windchimes in the greenhouse. This crazy parrot is one of them, lording over the place with his colors. He is a friendly sort, and I think he enjoyed the activities of the day. There was some dividing of the many aloe vera plants. I really just made a dent today. I have so many now that I may have to start sharing! Aloe vera is a wonderful plant to grow, but now that I have brought them to Oregon, I have to make certain they are carefully overwintered in the garage so they don't freeze. They are very prolific, and are handy in the event of burns, scrapes, sunburn, insect bites, or just to make a luscious facial mask.
In addition to dividing the aloe vera, I repotted the olive tree into a larger pot. This olive tree has quite a story to tell. It was a large, healthy, fruit bearing tree, aged at least 15 years. It watched over the seasons and the growth of grandchildren in front of my mom's condo. The owners of the complex decided they did not want messy olive bearing trees, so sent the tree bandits one fine day and CUT THE WHOLE TREE DOWN without advance warning. Poor tree!

However, these bandits did not dig up the root(s), so a little sprout began to grow back. Mr. Nature and I couldn't bear the plight of this tree, so we dug up all the root system we could hulk out of the ground. We had enough for 4 potted trees. Three of them did not make it, but this one has lived and grown for almost 2 years now. It is about 4x the size it was when first potted.

Freebie software CD Bluebird watched the excavations from her window perch while chirping to the chimes next to her.
More seeds were placed in seedling soil mix and tucked in tightly to germinate.

And the chicks are losing some of their downy wing feathers in favor of more adult looking attire.

Chick, Chick, and Chick bid you Good Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Apparently, I took yesterday off from blogging. We had cold and rain here for the last few days, so there was no working the gardens and greenhouse. There has been, as always lately, sending out of resumes and conducting employment searches. I am trying to remain optimistic.

I hope you all had a lovely St. Patrick's Day today. We have Irish ancestry, and we joined in on the celebratory eating. We had the yummiest soda bread on the planet (the dark kind with raisins), as well as cabbage and potatoes (and, I must confess, a little corned beef and wild caught salmon). I will spare you the history of St. Patrick's Day, but corned beef is not really an Irish dish. The tradition of corned beef originated in America. A more traditional Irish dish would be ham and cabbage. However, even when we slip off the vegetarian wagon, we do not eat pork. Amilia was none too happy to see meat on the menu, but she certainly dispatched her share of soda bread!

In addition to searching for employment, I have been doing some needful things around the homestead.

• Tending the baby chicks
• Darned two pair of socks
• Made cloth produce bags for grocery shopping so I don't have to use the plastic
• Mended the canvas laundry hamper that carries clean laundry to the clothesline
• Made more snack pouches
• Mended a hole in the lining of a spring purse tote
• Made more upcycled notebooks

I used packaging in various ways, and on one I attached a piece of scrap fabric on which I had practiced different stitches. They are fun to make, and I feel good about repurposing what would otherwise have ended up in the trash. The Starbucks one is made from what used to be a coffee cozy. I usually take my own cloth coffee cozy, and rarely drink Starbucks coffee, but on occasion it does occur...

Dissected a wool sweater that I had previously picked up at the thrift store. I would have shown you the ball of yarn, but my Amilia kitten batted it around the house and it has been temporarily misplaced.
In short, I have been a busy bee,

and was just too tired yesterday to

keep you in the loop.

Hope you are all healthy and happy!

Smooth Away Product Review

I have seen a few blog reviews of this product called Smooth Away, and I was intrigued because it would be great to use a product with NO chemicals. When I was approached to try the product and then blog about it, it gave me a good (and free) opportunity to give it a try. I received it a few days ago, and have completed three practice sessions. I am still not finished with the total hair removal area. However, the parts that are finished are very smooth!

The product arrives in a small cardboard box. Inside, there is a plastic holder shaped much like a checkbook holder except larger. The large and small "paddle" applicators are on one side, and the "removal pads" (sandpaper) are on the other side. The remover pads, according to the Smooth Away site, is a pad covered with superfine crystals. It is like the finest grain nail buffer sandpaper you could imagine. They are sticky on the back side so they will adhere to the plastic paddle holder.

I used a large one on leg #1on the first day, and I was reminded of WAX ON, WAX OFF, WAX ON, WAX OFF from Karate Kid. The directions tell you NOT to move in a side-to-side or up-and-down motion, but to circle 3x clockwise, and then 3x counter clockwise. DO NOT press too hard. Well, I found that I had to do this 3x3 thing MANY times to get the whole area clear. I had to make certain to move around and not do too many times in one spot over and over because skin abrasion could occur. I found that it also leaves little hairs all over, the same as when you get a haircut, so I had to wash the leg afterward. I worked a little more on the same leg today, but I have yet to begin leg #2. I have spent about 30 minutes total on one leg. It is not a quick process.

I tried the little paddle and a little piece of sandpaper on my face (the model is shown using it on her upper lip to remove those fine little hairs). Well, the fine little hairs are gone, but I had redness and itchiness on my lip for about 3 hours after. It says to use a cotton ball with milk on it to relieve redness. You should still plan to do this in the evening when you will be in the house all night so you can wait out the redness. It is certainly better than using a chemical depilatory cream. On the lip, it was a very quick process.

The kit came also with a 4 oz. tube of "Hair Inhibitor Moisturizer" that is supposed to slow hair regrowth. I have not even removed the plastic wrap from this tube because I do not intend to put any of it on my skin. Ingredients are: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyeride, Glycerin, Sorbitan Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Cetyl Alcohol, Dihydromyricetin, Urea, Lactic Acid, PEG-12, Glyceryl Distearate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Fragrance, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben.

I do not think that this product will replace shaving for me, but I do like the way it makes my legs feel after use. It exfoliates dead skin cells at the same time it is wiping away hair, so my legs actually feel smoother than they ever have from shaving. That is a plus! The drawback is that you have to have a lot of time to use it, and you have to work in sections so you don't abrade the skin. I am glad I tried it, and might consider refill sandpaper if the price is right. I think $14.99 is a bit high for the initial cost of one kit, but they are offering two for that price right now on the website.

I think this one is only going to be popular with super patient individuals. And I stand by my refusal to ever try the Hair Inhibitor Moisturizer. I know, Smooth Away will not be knocking down my door to become their next spokesmodel. But I would have to turn them down anyway because I could not advocate the moisturizer.

I think I could give the applicator pads a B- or a C+; I'm on the fence.

Snaps for the Sisterhood Award

Thank you to Splendid Little Stars for sending me more bloggy goodness!

Greening The Green House, Part 2

I had not contemplated the possibility that the greenhouse project would go beyond a Part 2, but it appears that such is exactly the case! I might have to change it to "Greening the Green House, a Continuing Saga," dundundun (heavily played on ominous sounding piano)...

But, the faucet and pipes are all fixed and in working order! That is cause for celebration all by itself. See?
Now, do you see the green hose coming off the new red faucet part of the apparatus? And the rest of said green hose coiled up on the table? Well, McGyver made that. It attaches to the white hose that is the kind which attaches to your kitchen sink and has a little sprayer on the end. See me using the white hose with the little sprayer? My plants LOVE that little sprayer, and I must stay, I also am fan.

So, apparently, McGyver was the former occupant who planted the greenhouse and plumbed the faucet. Awesome! I never watched his show (sorry McGyver) because I was too young to locate its entertainment value, but my dad watched and always said that McGyver was a VERY handy guy! Thank you McGyver. My plants thank you as well.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Being outdoors and working the grounds (and, okay, playing) is a FULL CONTACT SPORT!

A little ointment on a BIG gauze pad was attached, and the patient was on her way to recovery.

Hedges were trimmed.

And trimmings hauled away.

Mr. Nature began the weeding of his garlic bed.

Flowers were spotted.A lager was consumed.

All in a day's work!