No Knead Crusty Bread ~ So Easy!

This bread experiment was everything I had hoped it would be and more!  I wanted to share my test run with you so you can give it a try if you like.  I found the recipe on Pinterest.  The pin originated from a great blog that you should take a peek at...Simply So Good.  The original post for her Crusty Bread can be found here.  I tell you this not only to give her credit, but so you can go to the post and read all of the comments which are chock full of tips and hints as well as variations of this bread which seem to be never-ending!  My little post is just the beginning ~ hers gives you so much more information and ideas! 

You will need a cast iron dutch oven or lidded pot.  Enameled cast iron will also work, as will any oven ready pan with a tight lid.  I used a black cast iron dutch oven that I found at our local Fry's grocery store for $39.99.  There are others that cost much more if you want to give them a try.  I do recommend reading reviews of each brand, as some of the enameled ones have had problems with cracking and peeling...not all, but some.

Then get ready for the easy peasy instructions...here we go!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups          white unbleached flour (you can experiment with other flours)
• 1 3/4 t          salt (kosher is suggested, but I used sea salt and it tasted great)
• 1/2 t             yeast (I used dry active)
• 1 1/2 cups    water

      If you use yeast that calls for disolving in water, be sure to count that water towards your total.

Directions:

In large bowl, add your flour and salt.  Add yeast if you are using instant, otherwise add it with the water. 

 

Whisk the dry ingredients to mix. 

 

Next, add water (and yeast with water) and mix.

The dough will be sticky and look funky, but that's what it is supposed to do.

 

Cover the dough with saran wrap or press n seal and let sit on the kitchen counter for 12 - 18 hours.  DON'T PUT IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR!  It needs to proof for all those hours.  It will rise, so be sure your bowl is large enough.

After it rises (mine didn't double in size, but did come up some), it will look sticky but that's normal. 

Place your empty pan or dutch oven in a preheated oven at 450 degrees and let it heat up for 30 minutes.   While it is heating, move the dough to a well-floured board or mat and shape it into a round mound.  Mine was too moist and didn't shape well, but have faith...it will still turn out okay!

After 30 minutes, take your pan out of the oven and carefully place the dough in the very hot pan...watch your hands!  Flouring your hands before you do this will help since it is so sticky.  Mine was actually like the blob, and kept sliding off my hands, but I a managed to sneak it into the pot anyway!

Place pan back in oven with lid on and bake for 30 minutes.  Take lid off and bake for another 15 minutes.  Even with my flat dough and wrestling to get the blob into the pan, this is what I ended up with...

Remove from pan - it doesn't stick, just comes out clean - and cool on a rack.  Mine tasted yummy, tho' it was a bit course looking.  I may need to add a bit more flour and stir and handle less to get a finer look.  But, as Janet says, this is a very forgiving bread!   My Hubby loved it, too!  I took some to my neighbor and she also loved it!

Success!  Now to experiment with some of the variations mentioned on Janet's post!  I can't wait to bake it again! 

Happy baking!


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Huge Green Hugs,Pat

Tips to Attract & Feed Wild Birds in the Winter

 

 

Do you like to feed wild birds and/or watch them flit around your yard and garden?  I do.  I have several bird feeders in our yard and near windows so I can have a front row seat for nature.  Their antics and pecking order (pun intended) are fascinating to me.  I came across these tips and want to share them with you.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to feed wild birds this winter when their food becomes scarce.

 

1. You are making a commitment

 

You accept a responsibility when you decide to take on wild bird feeding.  Keep in mind that you will need to purchase bird feed often, and make trips out to your bird feeder at least several times a week (daily in our neighborhood) to refill  the feeders or clean up the area.  (Birds can be very messy!)  And once you begin, the birds will learn to depend on your offerings.  They will return hungry and often!

 

2. The right food

 

Certain birds like certain foods.  The secret to attracting birds to your backyard is to feed specific to find out what kinds of birds are in your area and which ones you want to attract. Then buy the feed accordingly.  

 

Here are the preferred diets of some of the more common backyard birds.

 

- Sunflower seeds: black-capped chickadees, blue jays, dark-eyed juncos, mourning doves, gold finches, evening grosbeaks

- White millet: mourning doves, house finch, gold finch

- Cracked corn: cardinals, mourning doves, pigeons, blue jays, starlings

- Peanuts: tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, red and white-breasted nuthatches, hairy and downy woodpeckers

- Suet: black-capped chickadees, evening grosbeaks, house and gold finches

 

Sparrows will eat all of the above except peanuts.

 

3. The right feeder

 

Some birds, such as mourning doves and black-eyed juncos, prefer feeding on the ground. If you want to attract ground-feeders, be sure you have some sort of covering in the form of shrubbery or fencing, as ground-feeding tends to attract predators. If you have a hanging feeder, it's still a good idea to provide protection for ground-feeders because some of the seed will fall to the ground, attracting ground-feeding birds. For hanging feeders, get one that is sturdy and has a guard against squirrels and raccoons.  You may also want one or two feeders that are built just for the smaller birds so the larger ones don’t dominate them.  Give the larger birds a different one or two. 

 

4. Plant trees and shrubs that produce winter berries

 

Another way to attract birds to your back yard is to have plants that bear fruit in the winter.  Examples include dogwood, American holly, wax myrtle, and firethorn. These are also lovely landscape plants, and they provide protection for their feathered munchers in the form of thorns or dense growth.  I wonder if any of these grow well in our high desert climate.  Looks like a little research is in order!

 

5. Water

 

A water source such as a birdbath also attracts birds. In the winter, you will need to keep the water from freezing either by hand (such as pouring warm water into it periodically) or by purchasing a commercial birdbath that uses electricity to heat the water.  Gosh…who knew there was such a thing?  Guess I need to wander the garden centers more often!

 

6. Be patient

 

It often takes a few days for the birds to discover your buffet.  If you are willing to wait, however, some feathered friends will eventually show up.  As word gets around, more and more birds will come to your feeder and you will be blessed with many bird watching opportunities.

 

Have fun with your new-found feathered friends and let us know how it goes!  What birds visit your feeders?

  If you like this post, be sure to follow this blog before you leave! It's easy peasy...just choose one or more of the options on the right sidebar!

Huge Green Hugs,Pat

Alfalfa ~ It's Not Just For Cows!

 

  When I was in high school, I participated in a science fair with my alfalfa brownies.  I had read about the vitamins, minerals and nutrients contained in this plant, and since we lived on five acres and had a large alfalfa field, it was a natural fit for me.  I wanted to see if I could actually grind the dried leaves into a flour and make brownies.  As luck would have it, I was able to accomplish all that, and to my amazement, they actually tasted good!   

It has been years since I have thought about those brownies, but I have become a huge fan of alfalfa sprouts, using them in salads and on sandwiches.  


Now, I have found some vegetarian alfalfa sprout recipes I want to share with you!    Alfalfa sprouts are a crunchy, fresh food which is easily found in the produce section of your favorite grocery store.  They are full of nutrition.  Even though we pretty much know about using them on our salads, they really deserve some recipes of their own.  Here are some ideas for adding them to your diet, and instructions on how to sprout your own. 

 

Alfalfa Sprouts

Pour one cup of warm, filtered water into a wide-mouth, quart jar.  (I used a tiered sprouter found online or in stores.)  Add 1 tablespoon of alfalfa seeds and stir. Cover with a coffee filter and secure it with a rubber band. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, pour off the water and add some fresh, filtered water. Swirl the seeds around and drain most of the water (use a strainer as you rinse the seeds to make sure you don't lose any). Cover the jar again with the coffee filter and rubber band.

 

 

Lay the jar on its side so that the seeds spread along the side of the jar (you may have to shake it a bit). Keep the jar in a dark, cool place and repeat the rinsing of the seeds once daily. (For me, this would be our pantry, which stays cooler than the rest of the kitchen.)  In about 36 hours, you should see the beginnings of sprouts. At that time, move the jar out into the light, preferably where it can get some sun. Continue to rinse the sprouts as they grow, and when they reach the desired length, refrigerate them in the jar.  Voila!  Your very own DIY alfalfa sprouts!

Okay, now for the recipes...  

Hummus Wrap (serves 1)

Ingredients:

* 1 whole wheat tortilla

* Hummus

* Roasted red pepper strips

* Alfalfa sprouts

* Grated sharp cheddar cheese (optional)

Spread about 1/4 cup of hummus down the middle of the tortilla. Layer cheese (if using), red pepper strips, and sprouts on top of the hummus. Fold one side of the tortilla over the contents; fold the other side in and serve seam-side down.  Mmmm, my mouth is watering!

 

Fruit and Nut Salad (serves 1)

Ingredients:

* 1 cup shredded lettuce

* 1/2 cup mandarin orange segments

* 1/4 cup sunflower seeds or slivered almonds

* 1/2 cup (or more) alfalfa sprouts

* Raspberry vinaigrette to taste (optional)

Place shredded lettuce in bowl. Top with mandarin orange segments, alfalfa sprouts, and sunflower seeds or slivered almonds. Toss together with some raspberry vinaigrette if you like, but the juicy mandarin oranges and fresh-tasting alfalfa sprouts may well eliminate the need for dressing.  Healthy, tempting and delish!

 

 

Sprout Sandwich (serves 1)

Ingredients:

* 2 slices whole wheat bread

* 1 avocado

* 1-2 slices of fresh tomato

* 2-3 rings of red onion

* Safflower oil mayonnaise

* Generous handful of sprouts

* Tofu lunch meat (optional)

Spread mayonnaise on both slices of bread. Layer lunch meat (if using), sprouts, avocado, tomato, and onion on one slice of bread; top with the other.  Easy to prepare, good for you, too!

 

Sprout Juice

For a healthy, green juice, try whizzing the following in a blender:

* 1 cup spinach leaves

* 1 cup chard leaves, chopped

* 1 cup alfalfa sprouts

* Squeeze of lemon juice

* Water

Add lemon juice to taste, and water to achieve the desired consistency.  This will be tested in my new juicer just as soon as I run to the grocery store!

 

Alfalfa sprouts also make a good topping for gazpacho and other soups. In fact, they can be used as a topping for all kinds of dishes, from stir-fry to - whoa...check this out - ice cream!  Really! Do you have some alfalfa sprout recipes you like to fix?  Would you share your recipes and tell us about them in the comment section?  We'd love to try yours, too!

    If you like this post, be sure to follow this blog before you leave! It's easy peasy...just choose one or more of the options on the right sidebar!

Huge Green Hugs,Pat

Juicing ~ What Juicer Do I Need?

Juicer and produce...getting ready.

Source

  Recently I posted about juicing - To Juice or Not To Juice - exploring the idea and facing my fears.  Since that post, my Sister Maggee emailed me with some tips and ideas and I have been continuing my research...starting with which juicer is the one for me. I actually had no idea Maggee had been juicing for the last 35 years.  Gee, do I feel silly.  I knew she was a vegetarian who concocted wonderful meals for many years...yep...I knew that much!  But juicing?  I may have a few brain cells missing at my age and just never connected the dots...or they somehow became unconnected in the last few years?  Turns out she is quite knowledgeable on the subject and I intend to pick her brain till she hollers "Uncle!"  I'll go into her suggestions in a future post. 

In progress...juicer to jar. 

Source

 

In this post I want to talk a bit about the first step - deciding which juicer is the best fit for what I want to accomplish.  Ahem....do I even know yet what I hope to accomplish by juicing?  No, of course not.  But, weight loss appeals to me, as does better health and more energy.  If I can achieve any or all of those I'd be happy.  So, did I know there are several types of juicers?  No, of course not.  I have now  learned that there are citrus juicers, centrifugal juicers, single gear and twin gear juicers, masticating juicers - and each works a little differently to extract the juice.

 

Citrus juicers are as the name implies, for juicing citrus fruits.  Centrifugal machines get the juice separated by spinning at high speeds.  This causes heat which can deplete some of the nutrients, but works quicker that others.  The single and twin gear juicers work at a slower speed, thus no heating and more saved nutrients and vitamins.  Masticating juicers gnash the produce.  They all vary widely in price, so determining which one suits ones needs best is crucial for those on a budget (like most of us).

 

 



Basic Green
Source

 

After thinking about this awhile, I have come to the conclusion that price and health are my priorities, so I selected a Champion Home Juicer which is moderately priced and is a masticating type. I didn't know one brand from another, but Maggee has had this brand for years and it has served her well.  It had good testimonials and is very sturdily built.  (I get nothing for mentioning this, just wanted to let you know my selection.) 

 

Step One is done...it should arrive by the end of the week.  Once it is out of the box and on my counter, I am sure I will be emailing my Sister with a gazillion questions!  It is a relief to have finally made a decision.  Now I can take the next step and discover the benefits of juicing - as well as the dangers.  You see, HB (HoneyBunny) is diabetic and if he chooses to juice, the recipe will need to be strictly suited to his dietary needs.  The sugar in most fruits and some veggies would cause his blood glucose to spike and we don't want that to happen!  More research!

 

I hope you will follow me on my juicing journey and offer advice and suggestions as I travel this road.  I am learning as I go...on the "juice" training you might say!

 



 If you like this post, be sure to follow this blog before you leave! It's easy peasy...just choose one or more of the options on the right sidebar!

Huge Green Hugs,Pat

WasteLESS Wednesday

My Pinterest addiction has not been cured and don't even think about intervention...I won't submit!  I love to get lost in all of the wonderful photos and quotes!  Here are more recycling and repurposing ideas I found...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: thecozyoldfarmhouse.blogspot.ca via Pat on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

Source: home-styling.blogspot.com via Pat on Pinterest

Source: jordanwaraksa.com via Pat on Pinterest

  
My pick of the week is the painted trash can made into a side table!  I love it!  What have you repurposed lately?


 If you like this post, be sure to follow this blog before you leave! It's easy peasy...just choose one or more of the options on the right sidebar!

Huge Green Hugs,Pat

To Juice or Not To Juice?

The juicing craze is getting to me.  I am beginning to look at websites and facebook pages touting this and wondering if I can have before and after photos that look as good as theirs.  I am even looking at recipes and wondering if they will really, really taste as good as their promoter says they will.  I mean, it all looks good, but does green liquid actually taste tasty?  Or am I apt to gag at the first swallow attempt?

Fresh squeezed fruit juice is very good and healthy as well.  It is just that I am not sure about adding veggies that I have never eaten or even heard of to the mix.  The thought sort of frightens me.  Am I being silly?  Do juicing wimps eventually get over it and learn to enjoy the idea of fruits and veggies in liquid form?  Will I seriously be able to lose some weight and not want to eat everything in sight once I put the juice glass down?

I have friends who got into juicing a few months ago.  They lost weight and look great.  They look healthier and are certainly good role models for this idea.  I have wondered if I should talk to them about my fears and reservations.  You see, I love food...the kind you chew.  Can I be just a part-time juicer?  And, do I really need one of those fancy, schmancy expensive machines? 

Have you made your own juice drinks?  Do you have favorite recipes?  Did you begin with a 10-day juice fast?  Or start slowly?  Are you still juicing?  I need help!


  If you like this post, be sure to follow this blog before you leave! It's easy peasy...just choose one or more of the options on the right sidebar!

Huge Green Hugs,Pat

Prevent or Fight Flu with Vitamin D

 

 

Flu season is upon us.  Have you had your flu shot yet?  I got mine last week on a routine visit to my doctor.  We need to be prepared, you know!  I found some helpful tips for fighting the flu should you happen to feel it coming on.

 

You may have heard of fighting colds with Vitamin C, but how about fighting the flu with Vitamin D?  That’s a new one to me!  Exposure to sunshine helps the body manufacture Vitamin D, and Vitamin D boosts the body's own virus-fighting ability. This, along with other factors, is why colds and flu increase in the wintertime when there is less sunlight. If you want to use Vitamin D to prevent the flu this year, here is how.

 

1. Eat fish…lots of fish. (It's interesting to note that the diet of the Eskimos, who live in a part of the world where there is no sunshine at all for long periods, includes lots of fish oil and is therefore rich in Vitamin D.)  In descending order, some of the fish highest in Vitamin D are as follows:

 

* Herring

* Catfish

* Sockeye salmon

* Steelhead trout

* Halibut

* Sardines

* Mackerel

* Tuna packed in oil

 

You can also benefit by adding cod liver oil and fish oil supplements to your diet.

 

2. Two great sources of Vitamin D are tofu and soy milk.  Tofu has 124 IU (International Units) of Vitamin D per serving, and soy milk has 119 IU per cup.  Adding these to your diet will help with the flu battle.

 

3. An alternative or an addition is a good Vitamin D supplement. Some recommend Vitamin D3, as this is said to be the effective and the least likely to cause problems if taken in large amounts. Most supplements are in increments of 1000 IU - take up to 5000 IU per day. Children under the age of ten should have less; no more than 2000 IU is suggested for children aged two to four, and no more than 3000 for children under ten.

 

4. Increase your Vitamin D intake if you have been exposed to the flu. You can take up to 10,000 IU if you think you've been exposed. Make the appropriate  adjustments for children according to their ages.

 

5. Always a good healthy habit…Be sure to drink lots of water.  Large amounts of Vitamin D in your blood may raise your risk of developing kidney stones. Water helps flush out the excess vitamin.

 

6. Get outside in the sun when you can. Even in the wintertime.  Go outside as much as possible on sunny days.  While your face may be the only skin exposed to the sun, it's enough for you to benefit.

 

 

And, don't forget to get your flu shot if you are able to take them!  Have you done that yet?  If you like this post, be sure to follow this blog before you leave! It's easy peasy...just choose one or more of the options on the right sidebar!

Huge Green Hugs,Pat