Little tidbits of my life

Homemade Bread...a few tips...and random ramblings!

FINALLY, I made some homemade wheat bread good enough to eat!  I have a bread machine which I love, but lately I CANNOT get a good loaf out of it!  I was about fed up when the last loaf looked more like the inside of a softball than a loaf of bread, but I gave it one last try.  Now just WHY I know what the inside of a softball looks like, I can't remember, but I DO recall nonetheless, that it looks like the bread I attempted to bake last week...spitting image!!!  I've been pretty sick, so my hubby took me to Walmart to find some OTC medicine.  While there, I said I also wanted to get a new bag of bread flour.  My hubby said "PLEASE, let's just buy a loaf, it's not going to work!!!"...that sounded kinda like a challenge to me, so I doggedly marched to the flour aisle and got my bread flour, and some new yeast, and a little box of gluten...and marched PAST the bread aisle, without stopping, to the checkout!!!  I was DETERMINED...When I got home, I planned my strategy...when in doubt, READ THE DIRECTIONS...I read BOTH my bread cookbooks from cover to cover.  After a little while, I had alot of new ammo to take w/me to the bread machine.  I learned the following:

1.  because I'm at least 1000 ft above sea level (actually a little over 2,000 I think) that I should have added just a little more liquid than recipe shows.  According to my cook book, the atmospheric pressure drops the higher the altitude, thus causing drier flour.

2.  the altitude also causes the yeast to react different, too...suggestion to decrease yeast in 1/4 tsp increments each time bread is made till it looks like it rises correctly. 

3.  I also included 4 tsp of gluten this time to help make the crust softer...

4.  if the dough in the bread machine forms separate little balls of dough, then it's an indication that more water is needed...several little chunks were flying everywhere, so I decided water MUST be the secret to success here in my N. GA mountain home. 

SO after adding water and adding water AND ADDING WATER, I still had to pause the machine and knead it by hand w/just a little more b/c the machine had already reached the end of the road for kneading...

BUT my persistance paid off!  It turned out PERFECT!  I forgot to take a pic when I first got it out, so the pic below is only about 1/2 the loaf as the rest of it is already history!  I've had bread w/every meal for a day and a half, so I MUST start rationing myself!!!  I cut super-thick pieces when I just want to add a little melted butter and eat plain bread...I cut it thinner for sandwich slices.

I've had a tough time w/widespread pain from fibromyalgia and I have bronchitis again, so I haven't posted in awhile, BUT some things going on at my home are as follows:

1.  I MADE WHEAT BREAD...oh yeah, already mentioned :o)

2.  I FINALLY saw my first hummingbird for 2008 this evening!  He was one of the pretty little ruby throated varieties that are popular in my area.  He flew to my deck and looked at me as if to say "HOP TO IT, I'VE FLOWN A LONG WAY AND SUPPER IS NOT WAITING ON ME!!!..."  SO, I immediately got the feeders cleaned up and loaded them up w/some nice syrupy water.  I hope he gives me another chance!  I LOVE this time of year.  Several varieties that do not live here all summer often stop by for a sip during this time of year.  I hope to notice a few other varieties during this time period.  I like to try to get a quilt up on my stand and open all my window blinds and quilt while watching the hummingbirds play.  They love to come to my window and watch our cats watching them.  They also tend to look over my quilt.  These are some might inquisitive little creatures! 

3.  My hubby is trying every way he can think of to "con" me out of my "George Bush" money, so he has agreed to and is now in the process of PAINTING my living room and dining room...PLUS he likes the color SO much now that it's on the wall that he's mentioned painting our hallway and den as well!!!  MIRACLE...it's been STARK white since the day we moved in 4 years ago and has driven me CRAZY!!!...I am not able to paint b/c of FM, so he is doing all the work by himself...so NOW my living room is between a green and dark tan...called pinecone hill...earth friendly paint from Home Depot..NO ODOR, NO HARMFUL CHEMICALS..can't even smell it!!!  I will post pics once he finishes.  I remembered to take "BEFORE" pics, but I took the curtains down before the pic, so not a TRUE BEFORE...he has asked for a cheesecake since I was able to accomplish a successful loaf of bread...I normally don't bake on FM days, but I told him I'd bake a cheesecake AFTER the painting is finished, a celebration cake...SO now he has my "George Bush" money to look forward to, PLUS MAYBE a cheesecake!  BTW, he wants my money to go toward the purchase of yet another gun of some sort.  He is notorious for buying a gun he just HAS to have, THEN after taking it apart and customizing it by bedding it himself, refinishing stock, or whatever...then he ends up not happy w/his finished work and sells it at local gun shop on consignment for LESS than we paid...ANYWAY, rambling here...moving on...

4.  I got my piano tuned today, the one we purchased at an estate sale last month.  I haven't been able to play it b/c some keys were not working properly...SO the piano guy and I found out today that there is NOTHING wrong w/it...it was b/c of MICE!!!!  YIKES...while he had the piano apart, I asked him to let me vacuum out the keys since I couldnt reach them easily when I cleaned up the piano...I vacuumed out a MOUSE!!!  YIKES AND GROSS to the 10th power!!!  It was more like a little fossil of a mouse, but STILL, how gross that a mouse was under the keys and was the reason the keys would stick!!!!!  We were BOTH a little freaked out, BUT now the mouse is gone and my piano plays like a dream!  I also found out I got a great deal!  He said the piano would sell for around $1,295 in a piano shop.  I paid $500 for the piano, $215 for delivery and tuning...so total spent $715 PLUS they gave me a brass piano lamp for free!!!  As I said, though, I purchased it from a friend who had lost her mother-in-law.  She wanted me to have it and would have given it to me for free if she hadnt been left w/debt to pay off for her mother-in-law.  I look forward to telling her how great it has turned out!!!  I was quite happy w/my find.  I had to do ALOT to clean it up to make it presentable, scrubbed every surface w/wood cleaner and used "mean green" to clean the piano keys, but now it is just wonderful to have a piano to play in my home again!  I've played the piano for a little over 20 years now and I am SO HAPPY to have a good one again!!! 

5.  I got a tiny little greenhouse started on my front porch a couple weeks ago...I put an old plate warmer in the bottom of it on a brick to help keep it warm...I've planted a few herb seeds and peppers both sweet and hot for now.  I also am trying to grow lantana from seeds in the greenhouse, but is only an experiment as I usually just toss them in the soil and they spring up wherever.  I want to try to get them started now and plan out where I put them this year...who knows if it'll work???  If not, I will have plenty that will come back anyway.

6.  I FINALLY got to see a rheumatologist last week!  I was having a really tough time that day.  They had a cancellation, so they called me 2 hours prior.  I hadnt slept a wink the night before, so I really looked a mess!!  He seems to be a VERY thorough doctor and I know he's an answer to my prayers.  I have felt a HUGE sense of relief since meeting him.  He is going to try very hard to help me.  He said I'm WAY UNDER-medicated, which was a shock!  I take Lyrica, which is the only FDA approved med for FM, but I take 150/day.  He is increasing it to 300/day and thinks that will be a good STARTING point for some relief.  He also is switching my Lexapro (anti-depressant) to Cymbalta.  He said FDA is in the process of approving Cymbalta for FM patients.  He said the lexapro is not a good thing to combine w/Ultram pain pills.  He is keeping me on Ultram for pain, and the Cymbalta should bring further pain relief from what I understand.  SO, that's where I am physically right now.  He did some x-rays and bloodwork and suspects arthritis, too, but I'll know more in May.  Now I'm just fighting bronchitis and sinusitis, so once it clears I hope to try to do SOMETHING outside if nothing but sit and eat breakfast!  BUT hopefully I can work on my springing up Spring flowers.  

Well my friends, God is so good to us and I am THANKFUL to be able to give an update that includes God's answers to prayers.  I am just SO AMAZED every day at His goodness and how in the world HE could love me!  Astounding!  I am bubbling over this evening w/joy and hope for the future and for God's Will to prevail for us all.

Love in Christ!

Teresa

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07:05, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 .. Posted by jennickless

Teresa,

It is good to read about your happennings. It sounds like you have been busy!
Your bread looks mouth watering!
Very interesting info on FM. I am going to pass it on to Mom. She also has arthritis and has seen the specialist, but has only given her Lyrica. By the way is not helping.
Enjoy that piano and I wish you a terrific day!

Jennifer

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08:45, Tuesday, April 8, 2008 .. Posted by OklahomaSweetPea06

Oh I hope to goodness we dont come across ancient mice bodies when we have the 1917 Upright tuned( the last time it was tuned was in 1940) . That bread looks good, wanna pass me some with honey butter?