It's going well

Let me tell you what V and I are having for lunch today.

Yesterday I made this buttermilk bread (recipe at the end) and it is pretty darn good. I'll spare you the pictures - I haven't yet found a way to make food look appetizing in black and white. But Sunday I made buttermilk pancakes, and so I had about 2 cups of buttermilk left over. I've been wanting to bake some bread for a while now, so I looked for a recipe and found a good one. I can't say it's very healthy, but it is tasty. Both the crust and the bread are very, very soft. I can't taste the buttermilk, but R says that he can tell it's there.

So for lunch, I sliced us each a piece of buttermilk bread, put a tiny bit of mayo, broke up into bite-sized pieces some of our leftover chicken from the other day, then balanced halves of red seedless grapes on top, and added some shredded mild cheddar cheese (V's favorite) to the top of everything to glue it into place as the cheese melted in the oven. Add a side of carrots and that's lunch. Tasty treat!

In other news, V has discovered the joy of online kids' games. She is burning up the bandwidth at Nick, Jr. and Sesame Street. She can do just about all of it by herself and that has given me some happy mama time during the day to knit without fear of hearing, "Is that for me? Can I try it on? Is that mine?" every 30 seconds. Don't want to dampen her enthusiasm, but it's nice to have some quiet.

I'd say the knitting is going well.

I'm really enjoying myself and already beginning to wonder what project I should try next. Maybe socks. Or a hat. Since I've done a scarf for V and this one is for me, I'd like to make something for R next. I think he'd like that. Recently he asked me why anyone would want to wear hand-knitted socks (I think he thinks they'll be too bulky), so maybe I'll make some for him so he can figure that out and tell me. I think I can win him over. I'm already dreaming of some sort of pretty tote bag or something to keep my knitting in. The plastic grocery bag I'm using is poked full of holes and split up the side! Maybe I'll put that in my letter to Santa this year, which I'll be sure to send along with a pair of knitted socks.

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Want to see more b&w photos? Check Michelle's cool still life pics, Gayle has some glorious guitar love going on, Jen has the cutest pictures of my favorite Bean, Cloudscome gives us autumn leaves and a Bible verse, Toni's photo looks how she feels today, Shelli has some great lines and depth of focus in this one, Mama Voss has a guilty-looking pup, and Alexis tells us that the party is over! Poor little pumpkins!

Want to participate? It's not too late...

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Now here's that recipe:

Buttermilk bread

• 1-1/2 cups buttermilk (I used fat free)
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup butter (or whatever healthy/non-healthy alternative you normally bake with)
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5-1/2 cups bread flour (I didn't have bread flour. I'm not sure what kind of flour mine is, but I used it anyway)

Then...

1. Proof the yeast in warm water.
2. Place the butter and buttermilk in a saucepan on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until butter has melted. Let it cool a bit.
3. Place sugar, salt, baking soda, buttermilk mixture, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Add 3 cups flour, one cup at a time, and mix with the dough hook attachment of an electric mixer. Gradually add the remaining flour while continuing to mix. When dough is not sticky, turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for several minutes, until the dough is soft and smooth. Place in a greased bowl, and turn once. Allow to rise until doubled in size. (I don't have a dough hook attachment for my mixer, so I just stirred it until I couldn't anymore and then I kneaded it for about 12 minutes)
4. Punch down the dough. Divide and shape into two loaves. Place in two well-greased 8x4-inch loaf pans. Let rise until dough has risen one inch above pans. (At this point, I put half the dough in the freezer for another day.)
   
5. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Loaves are done when nicely brown and hollow sounding when thumped. (My oven heats too hot! So I put it in at 325° and it was done after 25 minutes.)

Comments

[jen]

Love. That. SCARF. And I really am hungry now :)

[Amy]

I'm a huge buttermilk baking fan. I use it where ever I can - just gives baked goods that 'special something'. Your scarf is beautiful.

Now for some completely unsolicited advice: don't knit any socks for R. If he doesn't get it, he won't get it and you will have knit teeny tiny stitches for a presumably gigantic foot that will never get worn. Not that I know from experience or anything...

[Ms.Tee]

Wow - you've been busy! I'm definitely trying this bread - bread's my all-time weakness. And chocolate. :)

[Toni]

You almost (almost) make me want to dig out my knitting needles and try making a scarf. I'm not sure I even know where they are now, it's been so long. Great photo of your project.

There's nothing better than real buttermilk pancakes, especially with some fresh blueberries dropped in to the batter as it is cooking. I use buttermilk in my cinnamon roll recipe - scrumptious!

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

I wish I knew how to knit.....sounds like a nice way to spend some time during the day.

p.s. I've got a b&w up!Do I email you the link?

[Keri]

I can't knit, but I did post my first BW! for the project! check it out.

[Toni]

Here's my b&w for Friday:
http://dailyvignette.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/wanna-play-huh-huh/

Still haven't found those knitting needles. :)

[Julia @ Hooked on Houses]

That buttermilk bread sounds so delish right now!!

[sheri]

You are blowing my mind! You have become quite the crafty one haven't you? It sounds delish!

[lisa e.]

mmm. sounds yummy, i need to try it.