Tag Archives: bread

Midweek Musings

Posted in books, bread, budgeting, budgets, California, cancer, reading, velcade by

I started reading Clavell’s Noble House. I read this back in the 80’s, but he is such a good writer, I wanted to reread it. The books are hard to find(any by Clavell is), but my son, who frequents thrift stores, found a first edition for me. Whereas Shogun takes place in ancient Japan, this is set in Hong Kong. I have a library book to pick up, and it’s one that’s been on hold for quite a while, Dan Brown’s Secret of Secrets. Have you read it? I’m curious about it and whether I’ll like it. I did like the action in his other books, so we’ll see.

I’ve had a flare-up of my IBS, so I haven’t been to the pool or down to the Roseville gym. I have walked and done the Auburn gym, but I want to keep track of what foods may be triggering this( pizza? dairy?). I checked with Dr. Laptalo, and he thought it might be connected to my Velcade. (Remember my chronic diarrhea started way back with Revlimid, like in 2010. Most of that is over with, but occasionally I get a period where it seems to flare up. He suggested some OTC Imodium, so I’ll check that out. I do have Lomotil, which I take when needed, and that was an absolute game-changer for me, so I could go out to eat, travel, etc. But these flare-ups make it hard to go out. Todays Wednesday, and I’ve been fine the last few days, so I’ll see how it goes for the rest of the week. This is a common side effect of chemo, but with Velcade, I haven’t noticed much. On the other had I didn’t develop IBS with Revlimid for 3 years, and then the last 2 when I was on it were truly awful.

So, as such, I haven’t decided if I want to get my book or not. I plan on making another sourdough loaf as I fed my starter. The whole wheat loaf didn’t have a very good rise, so I think my starter was too weak. I did get some organic flour to use as opposed to the whole wheat I had used. Whole wheat is great for a yeasted bread, but much harder with a sourdough starter.

I need to work on next month’s budget, too. I have Allstate as an extra expense and part of the house insurance, too. I need to check if there’s something else too. Property taxes are coming due, so I need to figure that out.

That about sums it up!

MLK Jr. Day and menu for the week

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It makes me so sad to have this be MLK Jr day and all that he stood for and died for, and to have our country deteriorating in front of our eyes. I still believe in the ‘dream’ and that somehow we will find our way back to decency, truth, and democracy.

I read an article in the NYT, I think it was on a reporter in Minneapolis, and how on the ground there, it is much worse than it appears. She gave a couple of examples, and it was horrifying. I just checked, and it is the NYT and the reporter is Lydia Polgreen. You should read it if you can.

Like Samwise Gamgee says, ‘that there is still some good in this world’.

Onwward to the daily stuff in one small persons life.

Last night we had ham and Swiss cheese sliders while we watched ‘Stranger Things’. I think there’s one episode left in Season One. It’s better than I remember.

Monday- a freezer meal of one of the Souper Cube meals. I have a mac and cheese and a wild rice soup out to use.

Tuesday – I have some corn tortillas to use up, so I might make enchiladas and beans.

Wednesday- I have one frozen pizza left in the big freezer, so I want to use that up.

Thursday- I have some tamales in the big freezer, too, so I may do those as well.

Friday- Breaded cod and potatoes. I have 3 or 4 russets to use in the fridge, so either I’ll make some French Fries or do home fries. Plus, I have a baggie of cut-up bell peppers in the freezer, so I could add some if I do the home fries.

I am using the veggies I used the vacuum sealer on, and it seems as if it’s working great. I opened the shredded brussels sprouts, and they looked great. So I have lots of salad to use up this week, too.

Today is a home day, and I started some sourdough bread. The YouTuber I’ve been watching for sourdough tips is Kelly Welk. Very practical and useful information that she gives, plus she demonstrates how to do things. I didn’t have enough bread flour, so I added in White Wheat, so I’m not sure if that’s going to affect the density. For me to run out of flour certainly says something about where my priorities have been. I guess I haven’t made any bread in a while, except in the bread machine, and I wanted that to be half whole wheat. I’ll go to Costco to get their flour sometime this week.

I hope it’s a good holiday for you, and we must believe that good will always win out over evil.

What plans do any of you have today? In California, all the state parks offer free admission. That would be fun to go do.

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, bread, cancer, ikea by

A different morning. We went for a walk as usual but then I wanted to go to Ikea for a Hemnes that was on sale. It’s the 2 drawers one and I’ve been waiting for them to come back into stock. Plus they were 15% off so a very good deal. I plan on using this in my office area to corral odds and ends.

So there was no gym day and that’s okay. I wasn’t feeling it anyway.

This week is crazy with appts, which is my least favorite thing. But I’ll persevere through.

We’ve been watching ‘Slow Horses’ with Gary Oldman and it is sooo good. A little confusing at first but then you catch on. I just finished reading Ina Garten’s memoir and like it a lot. What a talented woman. Maybe a little over the top with a Type A personality but still I have a lot of respect for her.

I’m reading the new Thomas Perry book, ‘ Pro Bono’. Also excellent.

My son stayed overnight and did a deep clean of my car. It really needed it so I appreciate his effort.

After getting home, I started another Meyer lemon rosemary sourdough. This is a great recipe and seems to work every time.

Here’s the recipe:

88grams of starter

360 grams flour

236 grams water

11 grams salt

1 tsp yeast

Note: I think this recipe would work without the sourdough and just adjust flour and water for the 88 grams of starter and use more yeast.

Mix together to form a loose ball of dough, it will be shaggy. Let rest for 30 minutes and then start your fold and turns. Basically lifting one end of the dough over to the other side. I do this on all four sides if that makes sense. Let rest for 1 hour or so and repeat. I usually forget and just do a few more folds and turns when I remember.

Put in a bucket or bowl and refrigerate overnight. The next morning heat your oven to 475 and keep your dutch over in the oven to heat up. Then take the dough out of the bucket put on parchment paper and do a few tucks and turns( rolling the dough into a ball and turning to create some tension). Then I make a few cuts on the top and put it in the Dutch oven with the top on for 35 minutes. Take the top off and bake for another 15 or so. You can take an internal temp to check if it’s done. anywhere @ 200 degrees is right.

B is not feeling very well so I’m hoping it’s only a passing stomach thing but he’ll call down to Stanford tomorrow and explain what he’s feeling. Hopefully, it’s just a bug.

Well, back to house stuff and reading:)

Simple Sunday

Posted in bread, California, cancer, cooking by

We had RAIN! Such a surprise! It started yesterday morning @ 4am and kept going off and on till about 11 am. It was so nice.

I’m back from the gym and working on doing my folds in the cheddar/jalapeno sourdough. One more fold and I’ll put it in the bucket to do the bulk fermentation. The house is chilly so it could take all day. I have some chicken I want to use up. It was kind of a mistake order from Walmart a while ago. It’s not super great quality so I think I’ll put it in the IP with some seasoning and see how it turns out.

This week I have 2 appts. The dentist for a cleaning and then Dr. Laptalo. After the dentist, I might go down to the Roseville gym and the library. It’ll be too late to try and swim. We’ll see. I’ve been so uncommitted to things lately. I wonder where that is coming from? That’s definitely not my usual M.O.

No other news from cancer world. He did get a call from a UCD oncologist’s office and made an appointment. But it’s really only like an info appt not about treatment per se. We’ll do it because that may be the doctor who does follow-up after Stanford. But right now we don’t know that.

Here’s a Gus picture:

And here’s Chester

Happy Lughnasadh!!

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It was August 1st, but I’m writing about it today.

Also known as Lammas, Lughnasadh is the first of three autumn celebrations in the Wheel of the Year.  Lughnasadh is celebrated on August 1, which is in the sign of Leo, when the sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo. Halfway between the summer solstice (Litha) and the fall equinox (Mabon), ancient communities marked the first harvest of the season with gathering of grains and baking bread. Because of this, early Christians referred to Lughnasadh as Lammas “loaf mass” and Lammastide is sometimes used in place of Lughnasadh. This from:https://www.mabonhouse.co/lughnasadh

I can always feel the tilt of the earth this time of year. Already the mornings are darker and evenings are darker earlier. I like it. There is a golden hue to things and not just that things can be very dry here in California.

I shall make some bread to celebrate. I plan on stocking up on some flour too as I read that because of the wildfires in Canada that the grain/wheat productions may be disrupted. I am still considering getting a grain mill but haven’t jumped on that band wagon yet.

August 1, Lammas

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For some reason, I have always loved the Celtic calendar. which is also called a cross-quarter. I used to believe it was all ‘past life’ influence but now that stuff doesn’t ring true. It’s probably more kinship with the Welsh( which I have in family lineage) and Irish( perhaps on my father’s side). Anyway, it doesn’t matter, why, just that I like the cross quarters and today is Lammas. The Celtic celebration of late summer.Photo Of Sunflower

I can always feel the sift of air and light at Lammas. Perhaps just that I walk early every day and notice those things.

This would be a day to bake bread from the harvest. I also saw to make beeswax candles. I used to make my own candles but have long given that up and now just buy my beeswax candles. I do burn them nightly from fall to spring but not during the summer. The glow they give is like no other and is one of my favorite rituals.

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I just made some bread so I won’t do another loaf but I do have some buttermilk to use so I am planning on making buttermilk biscuits. Good enough.

On a sad note, our neighbor has poisoned the skunks and we have one in our yard dying a painful death. It has really upset me. I don’t want skunks under our porch either but for the most part, they are harmless and they do eat things at night.  Right now it has sprayed a last spray and is in the bushes by our water pond. I guess once we can see where it is we will pick it up(with a shovel) and go bury it. It makes me mad that he did this.

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Some lavender from our plants that I harvested. I use lavender all winter to freshen up clothes and sprinkle on rugs and then vacuum up.

 

Beautiful fall!

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Our fall has been spectacular. Such pretty colors. Yellows, reds, oranges. Our oaks are turning and we have a nice red Japanese maple in the front.
Work week ended pretty well I really enjoyed the week working alone. Of, course, lots of patrons and chit chatting.
We’re in for a big change as the article cold starts coming in. Not like the rest of the country freezing but cooler here.
I see the doctor this week. I’ll tell him I want to go back on dex, we’ll see what he says. I’m just not willing to have my numbers climb up. When revlimid stops working then I’ll deal with numbers rising.
Other than that, I don’t work tomorrow since it’s actually Veterans Day and the county offices are closed.
I’m going Togo to target and get some Christmas lights. We keep a stand of white twinkly lights in our house year round.
Since we don’t have any outside lights it gives us a glow and not overbearing.
I think we are going to try again to go up to Tahoe and cut a tree. It’s a bit of a drive just for a tree but I’d like to do it.

My son is having his wisdom teeth out in December. We just got the insurance stuff and it looks like our 20% will be close to 900. Yikes. It’s always something.
Oh well, what can you do. Our EF continues to drop and not be replenished as we use what comes in. We need to do some serious reevaluating in the next 2’years. I don’t want to move with my health as it is but I will not stress over money, or lack of money and if it means moving , then we will. Renting or buying an RV to live in full time are options. As long as we are close to a major cancer center.
Who knows, that’s still in the 2 year plan.

I made a crock pot chicken for dinner and B is getting the same but with tofu.
It’s a pesto sauce. I’ve got mashed potatoes I’m experimenting with as they were frozen.

I also made the Tassajara whole wheat bread yesterday. Quite excellent. Different from the artisan in many ways, but just as good.

I’m working on the thanksgiving menu and I’ll be looking for organic/ natural turkeys on sale.

Just keep walking project update !

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We are on day 526 of the JKWP. Everyday… I’m still only doing less than 2 miles a day of intentional walking but I do take extra steps all day. I’ve never tracked that so that could be interesting. It’s been glorious at the park. I’m all alone. No nasty dogs or people:)
Update on trees dying from bark beetle. It looks like there’s one one going. Geez, I think that’s 5 or 6 and my husband thinks the huge sugar pine might be infected too. We will just have to wait and see how many are going in the end. If they move closer to the house we’ll need to do something sooner than later.

I didn’t feel great last night. This seems to happen occasionally. I get home from work, I’m fine and then either a headache or stomach upset. Not sure what that is. I feel ok this am, but my stomach still feels a little off.

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Here’s my latest bread effort. I’m using the recipe from Tartine bakery in SF.
It came out great and I bought a scale to measure the flour!

Tuesday work and the week ahead!

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I’m at the library alone this week as my co worker is at Disneyland. It’s nice to do shifts alone. Thursday the other person will fill in but I’ll do Friday and Saturday too. There’s always stuff to do, transit, book drop, etc. but it’s nice to go at an easy pace. Today is the longer day and it’s somewhat tiring and I get a little nervous about GI issues. I have some immodium to take when I get there. I have a light salad for lunch. I try not to eat too much there because of the GI stuff. But, if I need to run to the bathroom , I put out the “I’ll be right back” sign. I’m so lucky since this is probably the only branch I could do this in. Plus we have a sink right in our work back area so I can keep my hands constantly washed.

My walk was nice this morning , no one there to start. I like the early time now.
My foot is still bothering me but I have to wait to see the podiatrist.

I’ve got a new bread recipe I’m making. It’s from Tartine bakery in SF. It’s not a no knead per say, but relatively easy. Oh, I bought an early Christmas present for my self. All bread bakers who are serious WEIGH there flour. So I dragged B to crate and barrel on Sunday and got an oxo scale. Very nice and I’m hoping to take bread making to a new level it’s sort of my passion right now.
I also put together a lasagna at 7 am to bake when I get home at 5pm.

I just finished reading ” the life-changing magic of tidying up by Marie Kondo
This is a fun book and I did get some great ideas from it, mostly, when you pick up item in your house, is there a spark of joy you get from it. If not out it goes. I did a little deeper decluttering with this and liked it.

The march 3 updates and Sunday musings

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imageimageimageWell financial has been a disaster. We didn’t save anything above 401 which is just automatic.

We, used sinking funds for septic, car and camera. Ugh…….. But at least its there. The problem is that it’s hard to rebuild it at our current outflows.

I did keep adding to my $5 savings and am at $150.

52 week savings is a little short, but I will add after pay day. Also, we’ve had 4 no spend days.

Personal, the Just Keep Walking Project, is going good. We’re on day 291 so we are close to the 300 day, which I feel it’s down hill from there.

Decluttering is ok, I keep looking around and not much here in the house. The pantry is still a problem as it’s in the entry on large costco stainless steel shelves. But, it covered in a cool retro barkcloth . Still I’d like it too be a closed cabinet, but most are too small. The Costco shelves are 4 ft wide and must be 6ft tall, I use it for food, appliances etc. any ideas. See above pictures…

I made some sour dough bread dough, it’s rising . Today I’m cooking it in the le Crueset  not the loaf pan. The I made yogurt in the maker, but when I added the yogurt starter the milk was too cool, so I’m not sure it’s going to work. I think I’m going to make some spaghetti sauce from last years garden tomatoes.

tonights menu is BBQ chicken/ chick patties, potato salad from farmers market potatoes, and probably a big salad from farmers mrkt

lettuce.

Tomorrow , Asian lettuce wraps

tuesday, maybe a pizza.

Wednesday, ?

Thursday, BBQ burgers on lettuce.

Friday, tacos

Saturday, Sandwich, and salad , I think.