SylviaH's blog

I haven't used my Bell LaCloche in quite sometime.  It is one my favorite pieces of baking equipment and one I don't feel I wasted my money on...which I have plenty of those.  

I had a single large boule of a 'Basic 100% sourdough'. The formula I used with some minor changes is from 'Northwest Sourdough's' bread site.

I pre-heated my  regular oven and BLC.  It baked up one lovely, crackly tasty loaf as always and didn't take as long as heating up and baking on my oven stones.

I have been very interested in baking with an organic sprouted wheat flour.  

I've read so many good things about it's health benefits and it's exceptionally delicious flavor.  

I ordered a few small bags of Arrohead Mills Organic Sprouted Wheat Flour.  The price is a bit dear for these little bags of flour.  I'm so happy with the flour.  I can't wait to make a carrot cake.  Free shipping from Amazon.com and the flour had excellent reveiws.  

Oh, Strawberries!  They are abound now and will be gone soon.

I was thrilled that a local 3 generation family owned farm with organic, pesticide free,  picked daily, fruits and veggies, have opened a second stand down the road from me.  They have another stand near by but this one is super convenient for me.  Now I have three to pick from all within less than 15 minutes drive and, that's not counting the 2 farmer's market's.  

I can't be a party pooper, so here's enjoyed for dinner today in celebration of CDM!

I don't think chocolate chip cookies are really a Mexican cookie, but we like them occassionally.

I brined a lovely organic chicken overnight.  It was cooked in my rotisserie to perfection..so delicious, moist and tender.  If you've never brined your poultry.  Do give it a try.  You'll be very pleased at the difference.

Today for our 3 pm dinner of Pork Kabob's, excuse me, that's Pork Kabab's with a Cucumber, Yogurt Sauce.  Inspired by a Saveur magazine recipe.   I wanted a nice easy Naan/Pita bread on the thickish side to enjoy with the PK's.  This was a first for me making a Naan and, I quickly settled on a recipe I found surfing around.  I changed the whole wheat flour addition to an organic white whole wheat, I had been wanting to use up.  I added quite a bit more AP flour.    

I have always been a fan of Cyril Hitz's Focaccia.  It makes a full half sheet pan of a nice, thick focaccia.  

I like it sliced diagonally to use for sandwiches, one of the reason's I chose to bake it today.  

I also roasted a leg of lamb for tonights dinner and tomorrow's sandwiches. 

Everything was cooked in my wfo, except the cherrry pie.  I baked it in my just cleaned ovens.  No mess, I always use a pizza pan for a liner for those bubbly cherry pies.

I made the Pain Au Levain 'sourdough' pg. 158 from the book 'Jeffery Hamelman Bread'.

What a lovely delicious bread that has been enjoyed by many who have baked it.

When preparing my wfo for this bake, timing was very important because, I also make dinner in it before doing my baking.  

I call our dinner on Mike's work days 'time orders'.  

When he arrives home from a cycling exercise ride.  He has just enough time for showering and eating before, leaving the house.

So dinner is on table usually about 4:15.

The other day Pips posted a link to a video of Eric Kayser making his baguettes.  Thank you, Pips.  I very much enjoyed watching the video.

 I have made E.K. baguette monge, tweaking the formula given by our 'french connection' Janedo.  The hydration was changed and, some white whole wheat flour was used and it made some very nice baguettes.  

This is an Irish bread very similar to an Irish Soda bread, except an authentic Irish Soda bread only has flour, buttermilk, salt and baking soda in it's ingredients.  

Since I have 'Sylvia's Irish Soda Bread' recipe on my blog.  I wanted to add the Irish Buttermilk Bannock as well.  Here it is a very traditional type bannock, which includes raisins or currants and eggs.  Quick, easy and tasty to whip up to enjoy at teatime or anytime.

Irish Buttermilk Bannock

Pre-heat Oven 350F

Maggie Glezer - Tomcat's Semolina Filone 

I baked with family and friends for the holidays

German Christmas Biscuits/Cookies