Sourdough Recipes

I am posting my favorite sourdough recipes. You need a sourdough starter for the recipes I am posting.  If you don't have a sourdough starter, it is very easy to make. Look for my post labeled, "How to make a sourdough starter".

This is a very easy recipe for 2 loafs of Sourdough French Bread. You need to allow about 1 1/2 hours from start until ready to eat.

 http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Sourdough-French-Bread

This recipe is for Sourdough Pancakes. You need to start this pancake batter the night before so that it can sit out at room temperature overnight. The following morning, you add the remaining ingredients. If you like sourdough pancakes, these are really good. I have made these for house guests and they were a big hit!

 http://www.recipezaar.com/Sourdough-Pancakes-160205

Buckwheat isn't something you hear about much anymore, but my hubby grew up eating because his father really liked it. It isn't exactly strong tasting, but I would say it is an acquired taste. When I found this recipe I knew I had to try it. He loved them.

http://www.recipezaar.com/Sourdough-Buckwheat-Waffles-82754

These waffles make a very light and crisp waffle, just like the recipe says. You need to start the batter the night before so that it has at least 8 hours to sit. They put together easily in the morning. I have served these to house guests and everyone loved them.

 http://www.recipezaar.com/light-and-crisp-sourdough-waffles-415432

  

Don't forget to change your clocks. Spring ahead.  We will loose an hour of sleep, but not if we go to bed an hour earlier tonight. I know that it is especially hard on kids and pets. I have had an extra hard time adjusting to Standard time since the fall and I just felt like my body adjusted to it about two weeks ago. But, I still love daylight savings time! I have been counting down the weeks since January.

I love it when it stays light later. I have always loved that part of it! In my opinion, the best thing that George W. Bush did for us was sign a bill in 2005, extending DST an extra 4 weeks. Thanks, W! The only thing that would be better is if it lasted year-round. California has had a bill pending that would keep the state of California on year-round DST. I hope it goes through someday soon so we don't have to Fall Back again in October.

We've come a long way, Baby!

It's about time!

Today I read an amazing article about a group of highly-skilled and brave women that were finally honored yesterday for their accomplishments as pilots during World War II. This article was printed in the Press-Telegram this morning and I hope you will take the time to read this very short article. You will find the link below. I'm quoting the opening paragraph:

"They flew planes during World War II but weren't considered "real" pilots. No flags were draped over their coffins when they died on duty. And when their service ended, they had to pay their own bus fare home."

This article is about a group of women who were "in service" during WWII, but were not recognized because they were women! They were World War II, Army Air Corp, WASP's (Women Airforce Service Pilots). They flew planes into combat zones and those that were killed in service to this country were considered "civilians," and had none of the benefits given to the men. These women are now in their 80's and 90's and yesterday they were awarded with congress' highest civilian honor.

Believe me when I say this is a compelling story. It choked me up as I read about these amazing women. I really hope you check it out. It will only take a few minutes to read.

http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_14648739?IADID=Search-www.presstelegram.com-www.presstelegram.com

Tis the Season...

...For Allergies!

While the bees are busy cross-pollinating the citrus trees, those of us with allergies have headaches, we are sneezing, wheezing, wiping our eyes and noses. The winds have been blowing this week, so the pollen is everywhere. The streets, houses, cars and everything else are covered with a coat of yellow. If you open your windows or leave your door open, expect a coat of yellow on everything!

Even in the evening when everything is still, the pungent smells are literally breathtaking! I mean you are gasping for some fresh air, it is so strong. While it is nice to have orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime and kumquat trees in our yard when the fruit is ripe and ready to pick, getting through the pollination season is really rough!

 

 

 Orange Blossoms

And then there is the Jasmine! Beautiful, but what a scent, especially when it is right outside your bedroom.

Grapefruit Blossoms

My one lone Fuschia

The Geraniums doubled their size over the winter

Even the King Palms are trying to reproduce!

I'll stop complaining, because I do love it when everything is in bloom and it smells like spring is on it's way! 

Otis Cafe's Black Bread

If you have been following this blog, you saw the sourdough starter recipe that I made a few days ago. I needed it in order to bake this wonderful black bread.

In case you missed it, here is the recipe again.

I was very happy with how fast the starter was ready. If was actually ready to use in 4 days. It must have been very active yeast! Today I had a few hours free to actually make the bread. I have the bread baking in both ovens as I type. I wish you could smell my house right now. It smells really good!

This is what my starter looked today before I used it.

 A view from the top

 A view from the side.
The layer of clear liquid on top that means it is ready.

 You need to stir it well and then it is ready to use.

Now that the starter is ready to use, here is the recipe for the Black Bread.

In a separate mixing bowl, I mixed the all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and baking soda. I stir it with a spoon to mix it up. I set this aside.

 These are the flours that I used

In the bowl of my KitchenAid, I added the buttermilk, milk, eggs, light and dark molasses and sourdough starter. I mixed it well, using the paddle attachment, until it was combined. 

I used these "dark" molasses today.

 The Grandma's brand is available at most grocery stores near the pancake syrup. I bought the Plantation brand at Sprout's, a local farmers market/health food store. 

Some of the molasses that I have in my pantry. 

The Grandma's Original is the "lightest" molasses that I have found. The Blackstrap is about as dark as I've found.  You can also use 1 cup of all light or dark, instead of mixing 1/2 light and 1/2 dark. I spray the inside of my metal measuring cup with non-stick spray so that the sticky molasses slides right out with very little mess.

Back to the recipe: You gradually add the flour mixture in about four portions, mixing well after each addition. Now you are ready to pour into your greased baking pans. The recipe calls for two 9x5-inch bread pans, but we like our bread in smaller portions. I baked mine in two long narrow baking pans and one smaller bread baking pan. Don't forget to let the dough rest in the pans for 20 minutes before you put them into the oven to bake.

I baked the two long narrow loafs for 35 minutes in my large oven and the loaf pan in the smaller oven for about 45 minutes. It is really good right out of the oven!

When the bread is completely cool, I slice it up and wrap with plastic wrap and then foil wrap. I put it in a zip-lock freezer bag and put it in the freezer. It stays very moist and is excellent toasted. Enjoy!

Oscar's Party

I happen to enjoy watching the Oscars!! There I said it. I had only seen one of the movies, but who cares. I like to watch the Oscars and I don't care who knows it!! I love to settle in and get ready for hours of people watching, mainly seeing what the women are wearing. I know it takes a long time to get ready so someone should appreciate all that time and effort. So I do what I can. 

Grandpa spent some time in the afternoon with Wiley and Ivan and told Wiley that Gramma was having an Oscar Party! Wiley was very excited that there was going to be a party but, he wanted to know "Is it going to be scary"? No it wasn't. When they came to the house, Wiley wanted to know "Where is Oscar"? It sounded pretty silly to tell him "Oscar is that gold thing that man is holding." Well, he found out that Gramma was having a party for some imaginary gold man named Oscar. Hmmm, sounds pretty silly doesn't it!

A few shots from our "Oscar Party"

  Ivan waiting for "Oscar"

 

As you can see, Ivan is really interested in Oscar

 

 Wiley is still waiting for him to show up to his party

  

Ivan is more into ice cream than Oscar

 

  

Forget Oscar, Wiley's loving his ice cream cone

As you can see, I missed most of the Oscars, but who needs Oscar when you have Wiley and Ivan. We had a lot of laughs watching the boys eat their ice cream cones. I wouldn't trade that for anything! Even Oscar!

   

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 

Blog Surfing Sunday

Sometimes I like to sit down and check out other peoples blogs. I especially enjoy looking at other peoples recipes. Here are a few I would like to try and thought you might enjoy seeing too
.
 Baking Bites has a interesting looking bread. It looks super easy to make. It might be fun to make on St. Paddy's Day.
http://bakingbites.com/2010/03/oats-and-honey-irish-soda-bread-with-raisins/#more-4327
 

The Kitchen has a one ingredient ice cream that sounds easy and good. Who doesn't like ice cream! Check it out, http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/stepbystep-instructions-for-oneingredient-ice-cream-097170  You might be surprised to see what that ingredient is. 

    Sunday Baker has a recipe I plan to make this week. It's called Healthy Peanut Noodles with Chicken. If it sounds good to you, check it out here: 

http://comeandpeek.blogspot.com/2010/02/healthy-eating-peanut-noodles-with.html  

If you are looking for something sweet or more specifically Chocolate, Cookie baker lynn has a recipe for some great looking Bittersweet Decadence Cookies.  Check it out: http://cookiebakerlynn.blogspot.com/2010/02/sweet-treat-yourself.html

My Kitchen Cafe is one of my favorite blogs. You can always count on finding a great recipe here. This BBQ Chicken Braid looks good and there are pictures to help you create it. You should check it out if it sounds interesting.

http://mykitchencafe.blogspot.com/2010/03/bbq-chicken-braid.html 

Speaking of BBQ, My Kitchen Cafe has another recipe that caught my eye, BBQ Chicken Pasta. I can't say that I have ever thought about putting BBQ in a pasta dish, but it sounds good. http://mykitchencafe.blogspot.com/2010/03/bbq-chicken-pasta.html

 

Preschool with Wiley and the C-17 Globemaster III

Wiley started preschool a couple of week ago and Thursday I went with his mom and brother, Ivan to pick him up. He was really happy to see us when we arrived. We were asked to join them in their good bye circle song. It was more like a "Ring around the Rosie" song.  I had my camera out ready to take pictures but was happy to drop it to join in.

A few pictures of Wiley at his new school.

 

 Wiley with Ivan in the background

  

 It is an amazing learning center for kids

  

 Wiley is giving me a little tour

  

I'm sure this is something really special

  

but I don't remember what it was

and I still don't recognize what it could be

 

but Wiley really likes it and wanted me to see it! 

Thanks for the tour, Wiley!! We are so proud of you!

After preschool, we had some lunch and then we headed over to the airport to watch a few planes come and go. We were lucky to see the largest plane that comes in and out of Long Beach, getting ready to take off. Wiley was so excited. These planes are so large that they all but stop traffic on the 405 when they pass overhead. They are very loud and they look like a flying hotel! I'm not sure what was so special about this one, but as soon as it started heading for the runway, people got out of cars with cameras and ladders. Seriously! These pictures don't really capture just how large they really are!

  

C-17 Globemaster III 

Each plane costs 200 Million Dollars!

There are 212 in service right now!

(In case you were wondering where some of your tax money is going!)

 

 These are the worlds most advanced Airlifters. 

This means that they carry oversized cargo; tanks, helicopters, other heavy equipment. They can carry over 80 tons. They carry heavy equipment to both wars and recently have been taking supplies into Haiti. Some of them are equipped as flying hospitals, Aeromedical Units, for evacuation or injured soldiers/people.

 

How would you like to look up and see this heading your direction?

 The unique thing about them is that they can land on a 3,000 foot long paved or unpaved airfield. They can air drop 102 Paratroopers with their equipment, including a 70 ton M1 Abrams tanks. It requires only 3 people to operate, a pilot, a copilot and a loadmaster. They are actually manufactured here in Long Beach. Pretty amazing! Thanks to my Hubby for all the extra info. He enjoys reading about these kinds of things!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-17_Globemaster_III 

**in case you want more information ;)