The Sinister Scribe

I think I’ve finally realized the key ingredient for great bread… patience. Lots of. freaking. patience.

Take these beauties for example. If you count developing the “poolish,” it takes 17 hours of fermenting/proofing! But oh baby! is it ever worth it. Yeah, I know… I shouldn’t be eating bread. At least this recipe doesn’t make me itch as bad and my mouth doesn’t hurt at all… unless I eat the whole loaf… which is REALLY easy to do. *sigh* And it makes a great pizza crust!

One other thing… if you have a really crappy oven (like mine), cooking the loaves in a heavy lidded pot (like cast iron) while in the oven makes them turn out like a hearth bread. Oh so cracklingly crunchy on the outside. Soft and sproingy on the inside. As if I didn’t love my cast iron cook pot enough already.

Here’s how I’ve been doing it…

Day 1: Make poolish

• 1/4 tsp yeast
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups water

Mix well. Cover and let sit for 4 hours. Then pop in the fridge overnight. OR… take out one cup to make bread with today and store the rest in the fridge to make more bread tomorrow. (and the next day)

Day 2: Make bread

Take  a cup of poolish from fridge an hour before you want to use it.  Into the mixer it goes with 1 1/4 cups warm water, 3/4 tsp yeast and your flour. How much? Depends upon what flour, I’m finding. Usually around 3 or so cups. 1/4 cup of that is wheat, the rest is unbleached white. I add a little oil (tablespoon or so) at the end of the kneading (I use a kitchenaid mixer).

Cover and let rise for 2 hours. I just cover the kitchenaid bowl with a plate.

Punch down. Knead for a minute. And repeat the above line.

Carefully turn out the dough. Don’t really want to deflate it this time. I cut it into 2 pieces and form each into a round loaf by tucking the edges under unill the top is tight. Put them on a well floured cotton towel and cover.

Let rest for an hour. 30 minutes into that time. Preheat the oven WITH your heavy lidded pot in it.

Then, carefully turn the rounds over into the pot(s). Add slashes to their tops if you are so inclined. I bake mine at 425 for 15 minutes with the lid on. Then I take the lid off and bake for another 10 minutes or so.

Amazingly they pop right out of the pans. No oiling needed!

Day 3: repeat day 2

Day 4: do it all again ‘coz you still don’t have any bread in the pantry.

I could make batch after batch of this and never have bread sitting around. I swear it vaporizes. ;)  My son, bless his heart, goes on and on to anyone who will listen about how good this bread is.

Today’s prompt from Brave Writer’s Blog…

I’d like to take a trip to an area where dragons are, and that only especially permitted peoples could enter; having in mind that it’s the area 51 of somewhere like a desolated place of Japan. The plane would be of the latest tech and would only be powered by solar energy, and each person would get their own iPhone, (the people in charge would pay for the cell billJ). When you arrive, you enter through the high-security perimeter of the area, then you’ll be able to roam free through the 200 acre area that is not restricted. Whoever goes in gets a dragon companion of their own choosing, so the person does not get lonely or lost and protection so other dragons do not harm you. When the time comes to leave, the dragon that accompanied you gets a genial shot that minimizes the size of the dragon by the time you reach the plane. You wouldn’t eat any of the pets that you had (it can feed itself, it only eats solar or lunar light) and they are very easy to raise. With the right care, the dragon will live as long as you do.

Bleh. Still feeling a bit down from the flu. My voice keeps trying to take a vacation and I’m rather crampy. It really isn’t fair, but whatchyagonnado?

Hmmm… how about this… the kids and I crawl into our sleeping bags, snuggle up on the couch, and watch a National Geographic dvd. *sigh*

Before you think we got nothing done now… this morning we did:

1. vocabulary and reading: Black Beauty
2. science: human body
3. grammar: parts of speech
4. art: drawing & puppetry
5. pe: tae kwon do

Hard to believe the third quarter of this year is nearly over! Sam’s done really well and only has a couple more tests left… science and grammar if I remember correctly. (that’s why I write these things down in mah binder)

Off to finish dinner (home-made chicken soup and no-knead bread), sew on TKD patches, fold laundry, etc, etc.

It is one of the reminder’s I get from Bravewriter. And I feel a little guilty that I get through the day and have not taken the time to “jot down” any of my kid’s witty sayings.

Yesterday it finally clicked and I have this witty saying from a very precocious 4yo. After hearing she was a good artist she replied:

Soon I’ll be able to live at museums because museums have artists.

LOL! As soon as she said it I asked, “Ooh! What a wonderful saying. Can I write that down?” She looked at me with a curious expression but said “okay.”

As I wrote it out, I said each word slowly and she watched the whole process with much interest. Ooh! I thought. This is working! Afterwards, I put it on the fridge and stood back to admire it. What connections she’s making there, I can’t be sure. But I know there’s something going on (constantly) in that growing brain of hers.

Next thing I hear is, “Mommy, can you show me how to write that down too?”

{insert very big, very proud mommy grin here}

We tried to celebrate on Saturday, but I was sick. Sunday wasn’t much better since some yayhoo decided to make Easter Sunday the same as my birthday this year.

Despite that (and all of us being in some stage of getting/getting over the flu) I can’t say it was a total loss. And here’s why:

1. Bob got me an iPod shuffle. Woot!
2. I’m getting new running shoes (thanks Mom!)
3. I’m getting some great tea (thanks Sis and BIL)
4. I got a card from Dayle and Ken (thanks!)
5. I got a card from my aunt
6. I’m in better shape than I was last year
7. I can run 4 miles without stopping
8. I’m living where I want
9. I’m doing what I want
10. I made oatmeal/pecan/cranberry cookies

Not too shabby!

‘Course I’ve been informed that I can not buy ANYTHING during the months of March or December. Because, you see, that iPod… well, it was on sale. So, I bought one. So did Bob. For. Me. So now Bob and I each have one.

It wouldn’t be so bad if I hadn’t done something like this for the past…. oh…  3 years. Or else I find out what it is before I get it. Just take away my wallet and blind-fold me I guess. LOL!

Found this talented duo, Rodrigo y Gabriela, through the”Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child” podcast. Mind you, I’m not a flamenco fan by any means. (unless listening to Andres Segovia as a kid counts.) But this pair could make me one.

The link on their names above takes you to a Youtube video of their live performance of “Diablo Rojo.” I think I like it better than the studio version I got from iTunes.

Enjoy!

Yesterday we spent all afternoon at this place called “Going Bonkers.” Not as obnoxious as Chuckie’s but similar idea. The climbing structures and tunnels are small enough for Jess but still big enough for Sam. I spent a lot of time just trying to visually find them in that “jungle.”

The alignment of planets/stars/etc conspired to make it an incredible convergence of homeschoolers too! Sam got to play with all of his buddies and meet a few new ones. The moms got to talk and share stories too. Woot! We were all completely wiped out when we left. I think we were there for nearly 4 hours.

Then we met Bob at the park. The kids played some more while I jogged the loop twice (3.5 miles). I didn’t time it, just ran. It was just barely on the cold side so it was nice while I was running. The sunset was gorgeous and the birds were singing. Yup. Nice.

This weekend is my birthday. Da big four-oh! I think I’m going to get a new pair of running shoes and pick out a 5K to run. Hopefully Bob can help me ‘coz when I read about all those runs I just get overwhelmed.

Gotta go. Time to get going on lessons. We’re reviewing and (possibly) testing this week. Next week some friends may be with us during the day so their mom can do jury duty. So we’re trying to clear out next week’s assignments (mostly tests) too.

I’m late getting this up (the blog-a-thon is over) but it is the first flower I’ve seen in our yard. I thought I’d do it anyway.

Don’t know what it is other than tiny. I believe it is Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica). Matching photos found here. If you can’t find a “wildflower” ID online, search for “weed.” Can’t wait to add it to my nature journal.

The weather has been gorgeous the last few days. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow.

Did you know this friday is Pi Day? Did you know that my birthday listed in digits (yyyymmdd) occurs at position 17,267,250 counting from the first digit after the decimal point. (The 3. is not counted.)

I am completely amazed by both statements above. Never crossed my mind until today. Don’t believe me. Go here and here to read more. Wanna find your birthday (or phone number or…) in Pi? C’mon ya know ya wanna. Click here.

I’m going to bed. I’ve been up too late planning lessons. But I did run 2.5 miles today. Outside. Will blog more about it later if I get a chance. Plumber is coming tomorrow. Upstairs bathrooms have backed up into the toyroom down below… again. I think Bob enjoyed punching holes in the drywall today. 

Okay, here goes. I’m going to try to keep track of when I run and how I feel. Coach recommends that I be able to run 4 miles comfortable before signing up for my first 5k.

on the treadmill… 3.5 miles 13.20 pace.

Went a little faster than usual. Half a mile into it I started feeling pretty good so I tried lengthening my stride. Felt good until 2 miles went by then things started to hurt. Not bad. Just kinds stiff and a little uncomfortable. Tried shortening my stride a bit and that seemed to help.

Somewhere arount 2 1/2 miles I zoned out until I had half a mile left. No idea where I went (or how I kept from falling over). LOL! Went a little faster at the end and felt like I finished with a little energy to spare. Through the whole thing my breathing felt just fine. Weird.

I’ve been having trouble with painful shins so I warmed them up before I ran. They don’t hurt so bad right now so maybe that will do the trick.

That’s all. Bob and I have a date tonight. Woot!