I think the cooking/baking/Julia-ing would have been much smoother yesterday if I didn't feel like I was having to clean the kitchen every six minutes. Despite this, however, I managed to a) bake my very first loaf of bread (Woo Hoo for me!) that was simply delicious and perfectly perfect in every way, and b)make two quarts of pickled beets. More about those later.
If you haven't tried this darn bread recipe yet, may I just say that if I can do it, a monkey wearing striped pajamas could do it. I think it has to do with baking it in the dutch oven. The steam that's captured makes the crust perfectly crunchy and the interior chewy and wonderful. Yum. Me.
As for the pickled beets. They tasted great, but the work to produce them was a little more than I expected. And, considering the fact that the beets were organic and cost about five bucks...I probably would have been better off just paying the $1.69 for a little jar of ready-mades and forgetting about strapping on my inner housewife. I am determined, though, to find beets at the Farmer's Market this summer so we'll have another go with all of the new knowledge I now have.
No Irish Soda Bread. Truth of the matter is that I just couldn't stand one more round of cleaning up/wiping counter tops/running the dishwasher. What can I say? I like a clean and tidy kitchen, especially when I cook, so three projects in one day was a little ambitions for me. Maybe I'll take a crack at it this week.
Not much stitching to report. I've just moved the clocks forward and will now head upstairs to futz around until bedtime. (Which will now seem like it's coming at 7:30.) Damn daylight savings time.
Stewey is rather unwell today. He ate a full breakfast (which is extremely unusual for him) and then he upchucked all over the patio. He must have had a hungry belly when he woke up, but didn't know to pace himself. I've tucked him into his perch with a little 7-up and his silk smoking jacket, and last I checked on him he was channel surfing and grunting obscenities at the TeeVee.
That bread looks awesome! As for the beets, well, I'll just have to take your word for it...
ReplyDeleteHoping Stew-man feels like himself again really soon. Happy stitching to you!
Well done for the bread and see you at the Famers' Market! Hugs to Precious!
ReplyDeleteI do hope that Stewey is feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking through each of my Ina cookbooks for the Irish Soda Bread recipe. What a pictorial testimony.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Will have to give the bread recipe a try...that does look yummy!
ReplyDeletePoor Stew-myster!~~ But, that bread looks oh so yummy!! Who knew your talents run so deep~~~ Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteFaye
Always knew you were well rounded (and I DON'T mean physically!!!)
ReplyDeleteBread looks terrific, and I love pickled beets, but I buy them at the supermarket.
Hope the Stew-meister is feeling better.
The beets and the bread look wonderful. I like to boil my (organic) beets, slice them up, and when they have cooled a tad add thinly sliced green apple. Sprinkle some balsmic over the mess, and you have a nice beet salad, which is served cold. Yum.
ReplyDeleteStewey must have the same bug I do. Hope he is feeling better soon.
The bread does look good. I will have to try it, and I do love pickled beets. But, think I'll do the store, instead of making them myself!!
ReplyDeleteHope Stewey feels better.
I'm not getting the pickled beets but I'm with you on the bread. There isn't anything better than the smell of fresh baked bread in the air.
ReplyDeleteI hope Stewey is feeling much recovered.
Oh my, pickled beets with hard boiled eggs at Easter dinner - a family tradition I did not incorporate. That is definitely a midwestern thing I think. Anyway, your bread looks awesome but I cannot help to think that sweet Stewey had qualms about the "pickling" event in the kitchen; bringing on a little anxiety causing nightmares and ultimately leaving a deposit out on the patio. I used to have the same reaction when some of my hard boiled Easter eggs found their way into mom's beets. I'm sure they're quite healthy however.: )
ReplyDeleteThe bread looks delicious! I hope Stewey feels better. I hate it when my fur babies don't feel well.
ReplyDeletelooks scrumptious
ReplyDeleteof course i am mentally pretending the beets are giants jars of berry jam......
Woohoo for you! That looks utterly fabulous and delicious! :D The beets, too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope Stewey will back in fighting form (so to speak) in no time.
(The mystery Barbara was/is me, btw.)
ReplyDeleteYay you for your kitcheny weekend!! The bread looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteI hope Stewey feels better soon... you're probably right... he probably just ate too fast.