Bob The Baker

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

 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

 a few little snips 

from the garden

have a lovely weekend!

The Tomato Chronicles: Chapter 1

 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