Getting busier....

Well life just keeps coming in at a fast pace and life is to be lived! I have a few pictures to post of what I've been keeping busy with...see for yourself.

That was my birthday cake last October (see how often I download pictures!). Then there's this next picture....

No I didn't make the snow but that was what I saw on my way into work (I walk of course) and we had a load of snow - the first big proper snow since I've lived here. Just had to share that one with you. The other weekend I then made this...

This is my poppy seed bread - used a different recipe for the dough (basically the sweet dough from Dough by Richard Bertinet) but also used some of my new starter. I began a starter in March while I was off for a few days from work. I faithfully fed it and kept it warm and it rewarded me by leavening the bread. It was really quite tasty - the flavour imparted from the starter is like nothing else I swear!

Then there were these two pictures...

These two fine loaves are ones I made one - I just made in a regular loaf pan as I would usually do and the other I made in my artisan bread basket I got that's made out of wooden cane. I usually don't go for the foo-foo stuff but oh how the bread now looks like it came from a proper bakery! I have another basket that's oblong too, which I have used but didn't get a photo of unfortunately. I'm rather proud of the loaves!

The starter is still hanging and gets better each week when it comes out at the weekend. I feed it once or twice (depending on if I'm baking a lot or not) and back in the fridge it goes for the week without feeding. So far it's kept for about 8 weeks now. It seems to just get better and adds a depth of flavour to the dough. Tomorrow I'm making pizza....this has been the best thing for us. It's exactly now like any kind of dough you'd get in a restaurant and so pliable that it will be very difficult to live without a starter ever again. Wished I had begun it sooner...but hey better late than never.

Next post is about some vintage cookbooks....oh the things I find. I tell you...

Quotes

"To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer."
— Mahatma Gandhi

So much in that quote...do think about it.

Ooooo...too long yet again

Well again a long drought between posts but life is for living and that is what I have been doing. I've been busy with holidays, work, and Christmas! It's something that rolls around every year but as usual I'm forever trying to catch up and do things.

I haven't been baking much per se - nothing other than the usual for us and some friends especially at Christmas. I have this recipe I make for granola - too addictive for words really - well a friend at work calls it her 'crack cocaine' I'm inclined to agree. One taste and you will never enjoy the stuff that comes from a box. So this year most people got the good stuff....homemade ganola.

I recently made did a Sushi Demo day at the library for a Manga Day that we had. We had about 150 people who all came in costume and did a whole day of Japanese things. It was interesting and great to have people there who were interested in how to make their own Sushi. I must admit I at first was intimidated in making it and thought there was no way I could do it adequately. Honestly, I've only made it about 6 or 7 times before giving this demo! Honest! I'm hardly an experienced Japanese chef but I'm not willing to devote 10 years of my life to making the most artistic sushi either. If it is edible and looks OK then I'm happy with it. I try for the pictures in books but hey they are just a guide. Live in the moment and not for the picture!

That's it for the time being...off to live the life but just had to do the posting. I'll post without my sushi picture but will try to remember to bring one back home to post with this posting soon. Over and out...

Unusual quotes...

I saw this the other day and thought...how true it is. I won't elaborate any more but just show you the quote...

The best vitamin for making friends..... B1

Say what you mean and mean what you say...

People of integrity are true to their word. They don't need a legal contract to bind them to an agreement. They do what they say.

~Unknown...

Enough said.....

Just so neat...

Well I got this tin full of buttons from a friend at work which I wasn't expecting - the tin I mean. The buttons I'll do in another posting once I'm finished with my project but this one is about the tin. I just thought it was so cute and decided to share it with everyone else (whoever it is that reads this blog - if anyone other than me!).

A friend at work had a mum who was a seamstress and wanted her buttons to go to a good home where they would be used. Well in this house they will be (it's going to be my winter project - sewing!) but the tins that they came in - well what a bonus! This one is just so cute. The other tin was a WWII milk tin of which I have one but it was a later variety and in better condition. In any event, this one tine I got a few snaps for you to enjoy!

Feast of cake....

Well again it's been a long time since I last posted but as usual I'm a busy bee. I've been working like mad and when not at work just enjoying life and things like that. I look at other people's blogs and do wonder how they find the time - I'm busy with life and to post as well (sometimes every day!) would do me in.

In any event, it is J's birthday again and another Death by Chocolate cake was made. This time it was Deep Fudge Espresso Cake (to help me avoid the great big 'nut hunt' as I call it!). And boy is it full of espresso! It's a good thing I'm not sensitive to caffeine or else I would be in big trouble!

I had a bit of trouble with the icing - it somehow got bits of chocolate that either didn't incorporate well or hardened before I could mix it all in - I'm not sure which but in any event it sure was good! I'm a terrible piper but it isn't how it looks as J says - it is the thought and work that go into it that matter most....awwww...how sweet!

Enjoy your summer!