Sunday, February 01, 2009

Bake Shop, Movies, Bread



Oh. My. Goodness. Just had to share this wonderful site I learned of over on The Happy Zombie. It is Moda Bake Shop. What a fun assortment of "recipes" for quicky projects using the precuts out there today: fqs, charm packs, jelly rolls, etc. Go see for yourself. I turned my heart block into a table hot pad for February. I did make it a little larger than the sample (just 'cuz I already had this 12 1/2 inch block) and I did replace the regular batting with heat resistant batting (just 'cuz I had a large enough scrap of it) and I did add a bit of lace (just 'cuz I had some and well, it's Valentine month!!). Other than that it's just like the one on Moda Bake Shop LOL!!!


Movie Time. On Thursday DH and I decided to go see Slumdog Millionaire. Oh, wow, what an amazing movie. I can see why it won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. It is suspenseful, eye-opening, a bit violent, entertaining, and romantic--all in one! It was a bit depressing to see the orphan kids of India and how they grapple with staying alive. But so uplifting in a strange way also. Two thumbs up!


Then yesterday dear sister and I had a Girls Day Out. We lunched at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Margarita's (and yes, had margaritas!), went to the new Dillard's store for some shoe shopping therapy, and then to the movies to see Marley and Me. Now THAT is a ten-hankie film! A sobbing and dripping and sniffing ten-hankie film. But entertaining nonetheless.




I have been on a kick for about a year or so to find a great go-to no-knead bread recipe. This book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Hertzberg and Francois, has a good one. You can google the master recipe (Boule Artisan Free-Form Loaf)--that's where I first learned of it. Wish I had saved the website. It is one of those where you make a large amount of dough and keep it in your fridge, then pull out what you need for that day's bread. It has a very good flavor and it is convenient to have the dough waiting for you in the fridge. Will post a photo next time I make it. Next picture is from the Mary Jane's Farm magazine (which is an amazing mag, BTW, if you are interested in organic food, crafts, and farm life). Her No-Knead Artisan Bread uses a sourdough starter and looks very similar to the Hertzberg-Francois loaf. I am going to give this one a try some time this week. And, of course, the NY Times Speedy No-Knead Bread is also a tasty one. That recipe is also google-able. If any readers have another yummy no-knead recipe you'd be willing to pass along, I'd greatly appreciate it. Mmmmm....warm yeasty bread, is there anything better?
Off to buy ingredients for making quesadillas to munch on during the Super Bowl...

4 comments:

Linda C said...

Good to see you blogging again, Vera! Always fun to see what you are up to.

I think that I can help you with the Artisan bread link. Try THIS. I have been experimenting with bread this year but am not nuts about the kneading part (arthritic-y wrists) and can't afford a bread machine right now either. This site interests me---a lot and so does the book!

sewprimitive karen said...

Goodness, that bread looks terrific; so does your heart hotpad!

Nana's Quilts said...

Thanks for the "heads up" on the Moda bake shop. What cute patterns. I went and saw Slumdog a week ago and thought it was terrific. I haven't seen the other Oscar nominees, but sure thought that one was great. Thursday my quiltgroup is heading out for Mexican food and then to a play about Gee's Bend. Should be a fun evening.
Marne

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

I am going to google that bread recipe....it looks yummy. I need to make some bread for the professor...he does love homemade. BUt really enjoys the heavier breads. Haven't found the right one yet.