eredien: Dancing Dragon (Default)
[personal profile] eredien
I've become obsessed with bread-making lately. Before, we only had regular yeast, so that was what I used. This weekend I got some new quick-acting yeast. My goodness, it makes a difference! During the dough stage, the dough kneaded instead of sticking to the paddle and being whapped against the sides of the breadmaker, and the white loaf with candied lemon peel currently in the breadmaker is getting a HUGE, POOFY, delicious-looking crust. Only 20 minutes left!

Books I read this weekend:
Dust, Elizabeth Bishop
The Virgin of Flames, Chris Abani
Usagi Yojimbo, vol. 1, Stan Sakai
...all I can say about these right now is that they are very different from each other.

I also took a lot of pictures and video at the Franklin Park Zoo. Baby giraffe! Two day old baby wildebeest! Newly hatched butterfiles! A really close closeup of a Kia parrot! A twenty minute conversation with a cockatoo!

Also had two lovely BBQs.

Reviews of books, and pictures from the zoo, to come.

Also, if you care about book design, these will make you happy. The Penguin Great Ideas series cover designs:
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3

(no subject)

7/7/08 02:54 (UTC)
ext_646: (Default)
Posted by [identity profile] shatterstripes.livejournal.com
A twenty minute conversation with a cockatoo!

"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Hello, hello, hello!"
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
"Hi!"
"Hi!"
"Hi!"
"Hi!"
Edited 7/7/08 02:55 (UTC)
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(no subject)

7/7/08 17:21 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] autumnesquirrel.livejournal.com
Vegan yum yum had this recipe recently for focaccia, if you need more bread to try. The correct yeast really does make a huge difference. If you buy a large amount of it keep it in the freezer to keep it fresh. It does get less potent over time.

(no subject)

8/7/08 02:31 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] autumnesquirrel.livejournal.com
I guess I wouldn't put the little packets in the freezer, but Mom buys her yeast in bulk and keeps most of it in the freezer.

I've never used fresh yeast, but if you decide to get some I'd be willing to share. Chowhound has a thread on buying fresh yeast in the boston area and seems to think that you can get small blocks of it in most grocery stores, but I'm not sure where in the store. Maybe try Harvest or Whole Foods in the cooler section?
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Bread Alone

8/7/08 14:07 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] nucl3arsnke.livejournal.com
Bread Alone is a bread book referenced in The Omnivore's Dilemma that also has instructions for this.

I'm thinking of getting it because I like the title so damn much!

(no subject)

7/7/08 17:33 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] rusalka.livejournal.com
Oh, so that's what was in the bread. I ate some while it was fresh. OM NOM NOM tasty :)

Breadmaker

7/7/08 19:05 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] nucl3arsnke.livejournal.com
Hi!

Please tell me about your breadmaker/breadmachine. After reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, I'd like to eat less and less industrial foods, and bread struck me as possibly a good place to begin cutting out preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup, and other things that just don't seem like they should be in food.

In any case, I have had two experiences with breadmachines back in the 90's, and neither bread was good.

What kind do you own, and where do you get your recipes? (I remember the old ones sold "bread mixes." These struck me as a marketing ploy, and do not satisfy my "less industrial food" impulse."

Thank you!

8/7/08 14:05 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] nucl3arsnke.livejournal.com
I was kind of thinking of starting by hand, too, and then seeing how much I get into it, how much time it takes, etc.

I really appreciate the advice and book and recipe recommendations; thanks again!

Re: Breadmaker

8/7/08 22:36 (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] rax.livejournal.com
"I have been using "Bread Machine" by Jennie Shapter. Highly recommended. It has sections for small, medium and large breadmakers for each recipie, and the different kinds of bread range from simple to complicated. Plus the pictures are gorgeous; it's like breadrotica."

MMM LOAFY