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Today, Friday, is Valentine's Day. I baked a Blueberry Coffee Cake with streusel topping in a red heart-shaped pan that I bought some years ago from King Arthur. I used a doubled recipe from Recipes from the Old Mill (p. 143) that we like. I used three cups of blueberries that we picked in the summer of 2023 that had gotten lost amid the 2024 berries in the freezer. I followed the recipe, other than cutting the salt a bit and adding 2 Tbs. each o milk powder and flax meal. I also used buttermilk. For the topping, I replaced 4 Tbs. melted butter with 1 Tbs plus 3 Tbs. avocado oil, and I used ½ cup pecan meal in place of the 2/3 cup nuts. This pecan meal is of a finer consistency than what King Arthur used to sell, so next time, I would cut it to ¼ cup. My husband was very pleased with this edible valentine.
My other baking project was making the dough for my February 2025 challenge recipe. See the details there!
I've chosen Peter Reinhart's Artisan Bread Every Day as my cookbook. The recipe is "Everyday 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread" (83--85). I will follow it without making any changes, but I will use the honey rather than the sugar option.
Joan--We only had 2 inches of snow overnight, which is not bad. We've been dealing with ice the past couple of days, and with temperatures dropping--this evening it is 12 F at 8:23 p.m., it will be even more of an issue.
For dinner tonight, I made black-eyed peas with sauteed yellow bell pepper, celery, and kale, with ham from the freezer and brown rice cooked in the rice cooker. I season with 1/4 tsp. thyme and some freshly ground black pepper.
That's a great idea, Chocomouse. I'm going to set up a thread where we can post what cookbook and recipe we pick and then write about it. February 21 works for me, but maybe we could call it the February 2025 Cookbook Challenge.
Len, having foresight has already completed his February recipe!
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As it turns out, a survey of my cookbooks reveals that I do not own BBA. Instead, I have Whole Grain Bread, Artisan Breads Every Day, and Bread Revolution. I've tried exactly one recipe from the three: Crispy Rye and Seed Crackers from ABED and was not impressed with the so-so taste. I regretted buying Bread Revolution, sight unseen, as it mostly called for sprouted flours, which would be hard for me to obtain. I have a hazy memory of trying a graham cracker recipe and being disappointed, although I'm not sure from what book. I also have two pizza books by Reinhart that I have never used.
I have Jeffrey Hamelman's Bread and have not baked from it
Sigh. I recall that we were going to challenge ourselves to try recipes out of the cookbooks on our shelves. I should start doing so.
I like the ceramic skillets (Green Pan) that I bought at either TJ Maxx or the Home Store for eggs. They work well for other foods, too.
It's good to hear that you are feeling better, Mike, but don't overdo it, as some people boomerang back for a time after feeling better. I hope that your taste buds will recover.
We finished the pecan-crusted pork chops (warm up well in the microwave) and the pasta with spinach and Greek cheese tonight, so I will be cooking tomorrow. We have gotten some snow, perhaps going on two inches and may get more tonight and tomorrow.
I have that cookbook but to my shame have never opened it. I need to do so.
That is a lovely loaf, Len!
That is a lovely braid, Chocomouse. I like the idea of a dinner bread!
My first bread machine came from an estate sale when we lived in Texas. My second bread machine came from a moving sale here about six years ago. I agree that thrift stores are not great places to look, but you never know.
I made yogurt on Tuesday.
For dinner, I cooked half a box of wholegrain rotini pasta, which I mixed with a 4 oz. log of Greek cheese and a 12 oz. bag of cooked frozen spinach, with a dash of lemon and freshly ground pepper. Next time, I would use just half a bag of spinach, as it overwhelmed the rest of the ingredients. We had it with two of the leftover pork chops from last night.
I bought eggs at the local grocery today: 1 dozen for $5.99. After the 10% senior discount on Tuesdays, that was $5.40.
In response to Len's thoughts about chicken prices, I've noticed that they have been higher the past couple of weeks.
My understanding is that chickens, ducks, etc. killed for bird flu cannot be sold for food but must be destroyed.
Aaron--That is why I always proof yeast. I buy the active yeast, and I want to see those bubbles! I hope that you find the perfect pizza crust method.
Chocomouse--That is sad about your bread machine. Any chance that you might find a used one in your area? I was fortunate to get my two bread machines--which I also only use for mixing and kneading--that way.
On Monday, I adapted the Orange-Almond Scones recipe from Elizabeth Alston's Biscuits and Scones (pp. 82-83). I used half Irish-style flour, reduced the baking powder from 4 tsp. to 3 tsp., replaced the butter with 1/3 cup canola oil plus enough buttermilk to make ½ cup, and replaced ½ cup finely chopped blanched almonds with 1/3 cup almond flour. It was a semi-sticky dough, so I used a #10 scoop (King Arthur calls it a popover scoop) to make 8 mounds, then baked. They were done after 21 minutes. They have a great texture. My only regret is that I used the ¼ tsp. of almond extract the recipe specifies. My husband and I find it too strong. I will bake the adaptation again, but next time, I will use vanilla. I might also try it with barley flour rather than the Irish-Style for variety.
I roasted and processed two pie pumpkins on Monday. I froze some of the puree and plan to use the rest in upcoming cooking and baking.
For Monday's dinner, I made pecan-coated pork chops, a new technique for me. I worked off a recipe for Sheet Pan Pecan Crusted Pork Chops with Balsamic Veggies, which I find on the internet at a site called Simply Sissom. I just did six boneless pork chops, which I dipped in an egg combined with ½ Tbs. Dijon mustard, black pepper, and roasted paprika. I held back on the paprika out of concern for my husband, but next time, I would use more, and I think he would be fine. I overcooked the six by about 5 minutes. I thought them slightly dry, but my husband did not mind, and the coating protected them. I will adjust the time to 20 minutes at 350 F next time. I roasted sweet potato chunks in the small oven to go with them, and we also had microwaved fresh broccoli.
Congratulations on your first stromboli, Joan!
Thank you, Italian Cook. I'm sorry to hear about your major water incident. I hope that the approval comes soon, so the contractor can get to work before another job elsewhere pops up.
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