Back in Virginia

Posted on May 31, 2011 by heidiannie

This is the first loaf of sourdough French I’ve made this week.

I’m back in Chincoteague in my test kitchen ( really Meredith’s kitchen, but I

don’t think she objects if I call it my test kitchen, especially when, as in the

next two weeks, she gets to test the results right along with us!)

That’s right- she finally gets to come home in the summer!

She’s never seen her house in the summer aside from in pictures- so yesterday

Cynthia and I planted up three huge combination planters of very beautiful

annuals and set them at the entranceways.

And I just made mini lemon cheesecakes to welcome her. Cynthia and Ally

are picking her up at Norfolk International Airport and Aiden and I are

waiting patiently here for them to get back. He’s patient because I talked him

into taking a nap. I am really not very patient- but I am waiting quietly so

Aiden will take a nice long nap!

We went out to the beach yesterday. The ponies were so close to the road

that I couldn’t resist taking a picture.

And there are all these great pictures of Aiden playing with the waves!

See the look of pure pleasure in his face?

And on hers?

Ocean magic!!!

A psalm for the traveler

Posted on May 29, 2011 by heidiannie

I’m writing my own today.

Praise to the Lord for His goodness.

For His mighty protecting hand in the darkness.

And for the path He provides through the fog.

Praise Him for His loving care for the deer that

didn’t jump into our path- and for the speed

He gave to the one that did.

Praise Him for the mysteries of engines and

brakes and squeals and noises that turn out

to be the rear windshield wipers.

Praise Him for guidance around the mountain

paths and through the mountain tunnels.

Praise Him for the strength of steel that

hold up bridges over the depths of the bay.

And for the clouds that block the sun during

the hottest part of the journey.

Today I’m praising Him for the journeys end-

and for the anticipation of a beloved daughter’s

soon arrival.

Praise the Lord with me!

I love flax and rye!

Posted on May 26, 2011 by heidiannie

My new favorite bread!

This is my new favorite bread!

I made it today, using a sourdough

sponge and after several hours of

raising, added white and dark rye flour,

And 2 Tbs. of soft butter, and 2 Tbs.

of molasses and 2 tsp. salt, and 1 Tbs.

rapidrise yeast, and 1 cup HOT water.

I mixed it up and then added 1 1/2 cups

high gluten hard wheat bread flour and kneaded it for about 10 minutes. It was a rather sticky

dough, so I oiled the bowl and let it raise for about 2 1/2 hours and then cut the dough in half

and added some golden flax seed that I had soaking in hot water. The golden flax became soft,

and the water almost gelatinous. I love the caraway flavor with rye so I added a Tbs of caraway

seeds as well, shaped each into a loaf and put into a greased loaf pan for a final raise.

It was ready in about an hour and a half and I baked them at 350 degrees F. The loaves were

high and firm- and the flavor – PERFECT!

I had a little visitor for dinner tonight- Aiden asked for a second piece of bread after he had

finished his meal.

This is His new favorite bread, too, I think!

Another view!

Bread and yarn and fish and islands and pie- random pictures!

Posted on May 25, 2011 by heidiannie

I know- I’m all over the place with this one.

But then- I AM all over the place right now.

I’m getting ready to go away for two weeks.

But first an adventure with Thomas the Train and two Aidens!

And Frank doesn’t want me to leave him without goodies in the

larder. ( We don’t really have a larder, but you get the point ?)

French with very bad slashes. I actually used scissors and cut

the top of the bread, I couldn’t take time to look for a razor.

Plus two loaves for toasting.

Yarn from the Faroe Islands! It is beautiful. And it is full of

lanolin. And it smells like sheep. And I LOVE it! Thanks to

Luke and Willow for my Mother’s day gift!!!!!

I knitted a cotton fish with lavender soap inside for Aidan!

And made a rhubarb custard pie for dessert tonight.

These are the cookies I made to leave at home.

So now, I need to do laundry, go shopping, pack up the car,

pack up my clothes, and talk Frank into getting the oil

changed in the Jeep before we leave on Sunday!

I can’t wait to get back to my test kitchen in Chincoteague!

This time I’m taking some starter from home- AND some rye flour!

More pictures- final report

Posted on May 23, 2011 by heidiannie

Allyson enjoying her tea and quiche!

Aiden picking out his bread bear with a little help from Cynthia.

The tables laden with tea goodies to go. And the Rhubarb fizz and Individual

trifles.

We made over $500 in donations and profits. So –a successful venture!

I’m so glad the day started and ended with our nieces, Allyson and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth and her daughter came and helped us empty our inventory!

We met some very nice people, visited with some old friends, and re-

connected with a few people we hadn’t seen in years.

Now I want to bake some bread for us and start preparing for our two

weeks in Chincoteague.

( We had a short and busy visit with our son and his family in Columbus

on Saturday. He graduated from Bexley Theological Seminary and they

will soon be on their way to their new home in Long Island, New York.)

So- what did you do over the weekend?

Psalm 82- the look of justice.

Posted on May 22, 2011 by heidiannie

Psalm 82

An Asaph Psalm

¹ God calls the judges into his courtroom, he puts all the judges in the dock.
^2-4 “Enough! You’ve corrupted justice long enough,
you’ve let the wicked get away with murder.
You’re here to defend the defenseless,
to make sure that underdogs get a fair break;
Your job is to stand up for the powerless,
and prosecute all those who exploit them.”
⁵ Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges!
They haven’t a clue to what’s going on.
And now everything’s falling apart,
the world’s coming unglued.
^6-7 “I commissioned you judges, each one of you,
deputies of the High God,
But you’ve betrayed your commission
and now you’re stripped of your rank, busted.”
⁸ O God, give them their just deserts!
You’ve got the whole world in your hands!

Judgment awaits.

The world didn’t end yesterday at 6 PM.

Were you dressed up for the rapture?

Predictions have been made since Christ

was raised up on a cloud in the view of 500 followers.

Many seem to neglect that Jesus said that only God knows the

hour of Christ’s return. So men keep setting

dates and waiting on mountain tops and those who

don’t believe keep on scoffing.

BUT – judgment is coming.

I particularly like this psalm in the words of The Message.

NIV and KJV and many other translations use ‘gods’ instead

of judges and it is confusing in today’s mindset.

Here we look at the way justice was set up by God.

” You’re here to defend the defenseless,
to make sure that underdogs get a fair break;
Your job is to stand up for the powerless,
and prosecute all those who exploit them.”

I like the idea of “judges in the dock”.

We are responsible for our actions.

We are responsible for our judgments.

We are responsible to care for the defenseless.

And judgment day is coming.

It just wasn’t yesterday.

A quick preview (In my kitchen- Part 1)

Posted on May 19, 2011 by heidiannie

I’m looking longingly out my window.

My orris root iris is blooming and I’d love to capture

it in first bloom- but don’t have the time.

I know there are many other garden beauties

out there- but my yard is so wet walking

about feels like an adventure in spongeland.

And I really don’t have the time.

Today, I’m making the mini-trifles-

strawberry pie trifle- Boston cream pie- and

Key lime. And the finger sandwiches- chicken salad

and hot pepper jelly on wheat- cucumber and boursin

cheese on French- and smoked salmon and hot mango

curry on sourdough peasant- ( these descriptions are

making my mouth water!)

I finished making the quiches yesterday, have the sausage

rolls made and frozen- ready to bake for tomorrow.

Here are some pictures-

Lemon coconut dainties- awaiting a flower garnish.

Cinnamon-almond honey bees!

Lavender sugar cookies.

Carmelized onion, sundried tomato and asparagus quiche.

And I forgot to mention, I’m assembling the lemon curd and

crystalized violet tarts today.

I’ve got to go- I’ll post better pictures and let you know

how the sale went later.

Let me know if you want any recipes!

Only a moment…

Posted on May 17, 2011 by heidiannie

I only have a quick moment to post today.

I’ve been baking- and packaging- and baking some more.

This has to be shelf ready by Friday- and on display on

the booth by 10 AM!

So far- I’m on schedule- but there is still so much to

bake and make and do!

I haven’t been able to take pictures- I’ll put up the

pictures of the finished results on Friday (or perhaps, Saturday).

I’ve got to go and make some more pastry dough.

I just wanted to say “hi” and AARGH!

(What have I gotten myself into?)

Saving the best for last- Psalm 150

Posted on May 15, 2011 by heidiannie

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
² Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
⁴ praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

This psalm is short and to the point.

Anywhere, everywhere= Praise the Lord.

Praise Him for His strength and greatness.

Praise Him with any instrument you can play.

Dance, dance – throw everything you have into

this session of praise.

Praise with with your first, last and every breath.

Don’t hold back- give way to the passion in your soul.

Do it NOW!

Do it always!

Don’t hold back-

Praise Him with loving abandon.

Making pizza and flounder…

Posted on May 13, 2011 by heidiannie

I’ve been so busy baking lately.

I decided to have a booth at River City Shop’s

Spring Fling, in Copley on Friday the 21st of May.

My booth is called Tea to Go-

So I’m making tea- and cakes and cookies,

and scones and sausage rolls and bear breads.

and quiche and tea sandwiches.

And some mini-trifles.

The idea is to pick up a treat and enjoy- now or later!

So – I’m baking and preparing.

Supper is not a main priority- for me.

For the guys- it’s #1 priority.

I made pizza last night-

Jordan was pretty happy.

I told him I was making flounder tonight- and I did.

Only I knitted it!

He didn’t think I was very funny.

But I REALLY had a good time knitting this little fish!

He’s not only cute- but in good taste, no?

And I got my hair cut just in time for this unseasonable

hot weather! 80 degrees F- AND I baked most of the

day.

( I made Italian seeded sausage rolls and sausage links with

a blend of tomatoes and onions and green peppers sauteed to

top the sausage.) And fresh asparagus picked from the garden with

ramps to flavor it, pan fried with a little olive oil, a salad and onion

rings. Not flounder, but still pretty good!)

I didn’t have time to take pictures of any of the quiche- I froze them as soon

as they cooled, but over the next week I’ll try to take some more pictures

and share some recipes.

Steps On The Journey

walk with me a while

Monthly Archives: May 2011