You are probably familiar with the windowpane test when making bread, but if you are not, here is a quick explanation. Why do the windowpane test? The windowpane test is a way to test the gluten development in bread dough. This can be accomplished kneading by hand, kneading in a mixer, stretch and folds, coil…
What is Garlic? According to the Oxford dictionary Garlic is a strong-smelling pungent-tasting bulb, used as a flavoring in cooking and in herbal medicine and is closely related to an onion, that produces a bulb. Each bulb contains sections which are called cloves. When crushed, garlic emits a strong pungent odor. Garlic Used for Health…
In our household, we can usually eat an entire loaf of sourdough within a day. However, there are times when people aren’t around and my family is getting smaller, which doesn’t make the loaf disappear. What do you do then? Freeze Your Loaf If you can’t manage to eat an entire loaf within about three…
If you have been making sourdough, you probably have heard or know about the float test. It’s an easy process to tell if your starter is ready to be used in your breads. How to feed your starter? When you have your starter, you will normally feed it with equal amounts of flour and water….
As a teenager, my mom bought kits where one would make corded and metal-linked rosaries. I used to make quite a few. I could relax and make them while watching TV or have quiet time while assembling the rosaries. I had forgotten how I used to make them until I had several rosaries that were…
A Little Background I have been making sourdough for a while and have tried many different methods of baking my loaves in the oven. I’ve tried open-bake and Dutch oven methods, using ice cubes inside a Dutch oven, and ice cubes in a pan in the oven. The Dutch oven without ice cubes always worked…
Memories of Children’s Books As a child, I remember certain children’s book quite vividly. They stoked my imagination and I still love reading them to this day. Two books I specifically remember are Dorie and the Witchdoctor and The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes. I always wished I had shoes that could make…
Spring It’s the beginning of May and spring seems to be taking it’s time blossoming. I was rather spoiled this winter in SW Minnesota with its abnormally warm temperatures and lack of snow. Since winter was warm for this part of the country, I thought spring may be dry and hot. Well, so far it…
What is Rhubarb? Rhubarb is a perennial which means it comes up every year. Its stalks are sour, crunchy, and juicy which make delicious jams, desserts, drinks and wines, and can even be used in savory dishes. It is considered a fruit by the FDA but in reality, it is a vegetable. Rhubarb pops it’s…
May is Here! May has arrived. Fruit trees blossom, flowers bloom, the grass turns green, and the start of new season begins. It’s a beautiful month full of beauty and new life. What better time to celebrate the Blessed Mother and crown her as Queen of Heaven and Earth. The month of Mary and May…
