Bob The Baker

9 comments:
I am a wanna be baker 
so when feel the urge to bake a loaf of bread...almost from scratch 
I find Bob
Bob supplies almost everything you need in a nifty little bag 
with simple instructions on the rear
Today I'm baking Bob's whole wheat bread and I always add about a tablespoon of honey which is not in the instruction but you can really taste it in the end result
Just dump it all in a bowl...no need to use a mixer or bread machine
It's much more fun to use your best kitchen tool
your hands of course!


It comes together pretty quickly and then you can plop it on a counter top and start the kneading process

Bob puts all kinds of seeds and lovely little grains in his mixes
I usually knead this mix for about 10 minutes 
This dough goes through a double rise
I like to use these Cambro plastic measures
 because you can see when the dough has doubled 

When the dough gets to the top of the 2 L  Cambro
I punch it down gently to remove the air

Cover it again and let is rise a second time
After the second rise 
I tuck it into a lightly greased bread pan
It does deflate a bit so if you have time 
let it puff up again
And finally pop it in the oven
425 for 30 - 40 minutes
did I mention the smell?

pure heaven
If you have never tried a Bobs Red Mill product I highly recommend all of them
He also make mixes which are gluten free
: 0)

I just love Bob

have a scrumptious weekend!


New Ideas For The Garden

12 comments:


 Spring is here and the garden is at it's happiest
 This year we have started planting and working on a new area of our property...
It sits way out in the back
 There are three really huge oaks back there 
and it gets wonderful filtered sunshine
 This old lady is one of the most beautiful
 I think
 The plan for this area is to use all California native species of plants
with winding pathways and areas to sit and watch the birds 

 A creek divides the property and you cross over little bridges to get back here
 I like this spot for a garden shed

 and over here maybe some chickens 
just across from the vegetable garden


I have tons of ideas saved to a Pinterest board called "coops and sheds"
and there are some  amazing and creative little buildings being built 
by people all over the country
 I think simple is probably better for us
like a nice little board and batten shed with a metal roof

and just for fun...how about a "spool"
that's a spa pool!
This one happens to be from a wonderful landscape company 
Grace Designs
check out her work here


 but today...
it's back to work in the vegetable garden


 I hope you are enjoying some spring gardening too!







Peaches and Cream

3 comments:

 a few little snips 
from the garden





have a lovely weekend!

The Tomato Chronicles: Chapter 1

5 comments:

 Over the last three years I have had my share of success 
 growing tomato's
in the vegetable garden

 I realize this is not something really earth shattering
because tomato's will pretty much grow 
anywhere they are planted

 but what is astounding is how many tomato's 
the average garden geek
 (which would be me)
 can get from a single plant

 It seems like it's a never ending 
tomato-palooza 

So this year I have 9 plants in the garden already...  
most are heirloom and interesting varieties

but I have a few of the old favorites like 
San Marzano, Better Boy and Sweet 1000's

Then today this arrived...what the...?
It came from Burpee

I completely forgot that I had ordered this special 3 pack of tomato plants 
called SuperSauce 
way back in December!


so here is the pitch:

this tomato is a Burpee exclusive 
and when mature, each tomato is supposed to weigh 2 lbs 
and be 5 inches high
and
it's virtually seedless

are you kidding?
 really??

and it makes great sauce?
no wonder I ordered it!
 When I finally pulled the saucy little plants out of their plastic space suit 
they looked a bit tired and dehydrated
and
not so super
 the instructions say to feed them luke warm water 
and let them rest for a day
 and then plant them
 so that's what I'll do

Now...do you think they will be a super star in the world of tomato's?
or 
a SuperSauce star?
or 
a big fat dud?


You now have read the first chapter of 
The Tomato Chronicles

more chapters to follow