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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Making Sourdough Bread

 l recently ordered Sourdough Starter from Amazon.com for $6.00 (shipping was extra) at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C0E5VG/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

The vendor for the Starter was Breadtopia at:  http://www.breadtopia.com/store/sourdough-starter.html

Luckily, I found this 1/2 gallon crock at Good Will for $2.00.  It works great for growing my Starter.
 

 The instructions for reviving my Starter came with it. 

After adding flour and non-chlorinated water, I covered the mixture in the crock with plastic saran wrap.

After 2 days, my Starter began bubbling.


Every 12-24 hours I added more flour and distilled water.

After mixing.
  
For my first sourdough loaf using the Starter, I made the Plain and Simple Sourdough Bread Recipe found at the following link:
 http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?recipeID=7075&origin=detail&servings=16&metric=false

I made one substitution by replacing 1 cup of the white flour with whole wheat flour.  

This is my bread machine.

My machine tends to "overbake" so I compensate.  I always bake bread using the Quick cycle with Light Crust. 

Add 1 package of yeast per recipe.

Prior to using the 1 cup of bubbling Starter called for in the recipe, I fed it 1/2 cup non-chlorinated water and 2/3 cup of flour this morning.  I waited about 3-4 hours for it to begin bubbling again.  At that point scoop 1 cup of Starter out of the crock.  Start adding more flour and water to the original batch to "grow" more Starter.


I placed water in the bottom, salt, flour, and yeast in the pan.  I put the Starter on the top.

 Bread machine is kneading the dough.

The finished product  was delicious.  It was an easy recipe and I will use it again!



Thursday, January 2, 2014

The Birds Visiting My Yard Today - 1/2/14

I had time today to watch my yard for visitors here in North Texas.  My first guest was unexpected - a hawk arrived this morning looking for a chicken dinner - luckily all my hens were safely in their pen - what a beautiful bird!  For the record - in addition to the birds that I snapped pictures of, I also had a visit from a killdeer.

Swainson's Hawk



Mockingbird


Chickadee


Dove

Female Cardinal


 Another Female Cardinal

A blurry picture - but I got a shot of a male and female cardinal together.

Male cardinal


 This is a newcomer to my yard - I have never seen one of these before!  It is a very small bird with yellow cast to its wings.  It is a ruby crowned kinglet.  I saw a red patch on it!




 

 White Crowned Sparrows

House sparrows.



House finch.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas From Our House to Yours!




Bourbon Balls

Coconut Macaroons

Christmas Bacon Quiche

  Carrot Cake
 
Fantasy Fudge


Merlin in his Ho-Ho Hoodie, Festus in his Christmas Sweater with Charlotte and Kevin enjoying hanging out in the Christmas Tree!


Shopping at Northpark Mall in Dallas!
 

Woodland Christmas Tree









Blooming Amaryllis

 Christmas Cactus
 

 Christmas Table


Christmas Spread while we wait on the turkey to cook!


 Christmas Incense fills the air...




Moose Tree
 

 Christmas Angel


Gingerbread Village


 

Mistletoe!











Bacchus - the God of Wine