Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Queens Birthday Posted in Lunch A wet cold winter weekend - SOB winter is offically here. James was rather cross at the weather - Todd & him had built a grass sled & wanted to try it out but the rain wouldn't stop. He reminded me of a caged lion - he just loves being out doors so to be cooped up is not fun. A long weekend for Queens Birthday - We had lots of visitors pop in. Bill & Robyn came & got the ram - we are rather fond of him - but he is not going to be sausages but will be used for a few more seasons - so that was nice to know. Bill put some wood on truck much appreciated & Brent cut it up so it's all in our stash. James had Todd stay the weekend - he wanted to learn to make bread - so he whipped a batch in bread maker so it would be all ready for breakfast. He was very proud of his bread and will make it at home in his bread maker. Lunch I put on a big vege soup. I add any root vege basically. 2 onions 4 cloves garlic pumpkin, kumera, potatoes, carrots & a few celery stalks. Cover with water & let it boil away, Salt n pepper to taste. MMM nice on a winters day to warm you up. Can add a bacon hock if wanted but I just tend to make a vege soup.  A quick, warm, filling cheap meal. Oh I also whizz it up so there are no lumps. My Basic loaf of bread is 1 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons of yeast - Edmonds sure bake 3 teaspoons of sugar 3 cups flour 1 1/4 cups warm water 1 tablespoon of olive oil. I use this base for all bread - and I use the bread maker - a real time saver. I either fully make the loaf in the bread maker or set it to dough cycle which takes 2 1/2 hours the I mold it or add toppings like I did for the Poppy seed bread. And then bake it in the oven - I do this way often if short of time. One can also mold them into buns II use same base recipe for fruit bread - but just add spices & fruit. Just another wholesome cheap meal. - • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link Tuesday, May 6, 2008 Soda Bread Posted in Lunch Quick & tasty bread. No kneading or waiting for it to rise. PLUS wonderful for when you have run out of yeast. 3 1/4 cups flour 1 level teaspoon of baking soda - rub this in your hands to get out any lumps. 1 level teaspoon salt. 400ml butter milk. Sift flour, mix in baking soda & salt make a well & add butter milk. Then with your hands mix until combine & lightly knead to get even. But don't over knead. Place on a floured board - pat it into a circle - put more flour on top - bottom if needed so it is not sticky. Pat down gently. Make a cross cuts from middle to outside edges of dough. Then poke knife in each quarter - (old Irish folk say the cross is to bless your bread & the poke is to let out any fairies - if your bread doesn't work blame it on the fairy!) Bake in a pre heated oven 230 deg C for 15 minutes. Then turn oven down to 200 deg C for 30 minutes. • Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link