The Men In My Life
They all hang out in my kitchen, these guys of mine. Mr. Coffee, George Foreman, the
Misters Black and Decker. A recent new member to the group is the Breadman. He arrived
a few days ago. Has only baked one loaf. I do not know if I can stand the excitement...the
aroma of yeast permeates the entire house. Things that drive you crazy, indeed!
Kidding aside. These are a Mother's (or Dad's) little helpers that make life easier. The
bread thing is great. You do not have to mess the place up by using 2 bowls with flour etc.
all over the place. I had read that these little machines were developed first for the
Japanese, who have notoriously small kitchens. Mine fits on the computer desk I converted
for culinary use...see Make Do. The Black and Decker is a toaster I retrieved from things
I had packed long, long ago. Probably bought in the eighties, it is a quite small unit that
tucks under an overhanging cabinet. My neighbor adapted it to fit the old cabinets (solid,
thick wood), so that air circulates nicely over the top of the unit. Now that I have the
Foreman Grill, I have little need for a toaster/oven. The Breadman should keep the big
oven use down. Not that I baked much bread. The only successful experience...years ago...
was a simple whole wheat jobbie. As you may have gathered, my baking skills are not up
there.
11/24/07: The only ingredients I had on hand yesterday were those for rye bread. Crazy
me, I used one tablespoon of honey and substitued the other two with 18 drops of stevia.
Cut the salt down to one half teaspoon. No problemo! The loaf that came out is to die for.
While I wait for the recipe book, I will try the limited formulae in the instructions. I'm off to
the supermarket for some gluten, whatever that is.
11/26/07: Did obtain a variety of flours and gluten. Took a while to find these things in
several stores. While trying to find a shoemaker, I woud up on Rte. 28 in Centerville.
There, in front of me was a huge natural food store called
Cape Cod Natural Foods. www.naturalretail.com Great store.
3/8/08: Another great store. Called the Star Market, I had asked two seperate
employees for several items. One was dry buttermilk (in the baking aisle) in a bulk size.
Most stores have the 4 packet size. The other was a glass spice bottle with a metal top.
Had not looked through the store for about a month, then while looking for something
else both items showed up on the shelves. Both quite reasonable. Viva Star!
11/30/07: Went out and bought the store out in Centerville, Ma. Hardly! The health
food store on Rte.28 is humongous. bins and bins full of flours nobody ever heard of. Did
the supermarkets in also. Bought quick acting yeast, supposed to be good for bread
machines. Guess what. Need to put in lots of salt to slow it down. Huh? Should have
known. Like instant gratification oatmeal, they add so much other junk...The devil's in t
the details.
Made some bran bread with yeast. They come out just like muffins. Also mixed ingredients
for pumpkin bread. then placed in the machine, using Bake and Dark settings. I "toasted"
a slice on the Foreman grill in the morning and used Mussleman's Apple Butter as a spread.
Yes!
12/3/07: Tried something different after not having too much success with rising. Rather
than reducing the salt, got Morton's Lite Salt, recommended by Beth Hensperger (the other
woman in my kitchen) in her book, "the Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook". This
helped considerably. I made a buckwheat/millet number that took off toward the ceiling.
And delish. The lite salt is partially subbed with potassium, although, I think the benefits
of the potassium are cancelled out by the cooking process. [Have to eat more bananas!]
One of the things Ms. Hensperger writes about is powdered buttermilk. Now we're talking.
You do not have to throw out partially used containers! The majority of these ingredients
are now stored in my studio. [It is quite cold out there due to the Cheney make-a-buck effects
on our households.]
By the summertime, the garage and extra refrigerater out there will do fine...the stuff
keeps better in a cool environment.
Pretty soon, I'll make a trip to the local health food store and pick up some wheat berries
to sprout. You grind them up somewhat to add to bread. There is also quinoa (pronounced
keen wa) grain. You have to rinse this profusely and cook for 20 minutes in water...but it
may be worth it, has the highest protein content of any grain. Grown in the Andes, I recall
potatoes (maybe sweets or yams) grown there contain a higher level of protein that others.
Searched around the internet and found instructions for the little Braun coffee grinder I
haven't used in a while. The instructions are "somewhere in this house." A kind person
had reviewed the grinder on epinions.com and explained how to clean the machine.
The sprouting took 3 days plus overnight soaking , but worth the effort. Made a honey
wheat that is going to a birthday celebration for my good friend, Dorothy. Of course, I had t
o test it. Will make a Swedish rye tomorrow morning. I can hack into that one, too. Just
a couple of pieces for lunches. The folks at the dinner understand my craziness.
12/10/07: The morning after...Both breads were a huge success, even though I took a
chance by subbing small portion of the light rye flour. (Swedish Rye calls for medium rye flour.)
I added few tablespoons of oat bran and few of rye meal. For those tablespoons added, I
reduced the light rye flour by same amount. For those folks who are familiar with bread
making, Ms. Hensperger's book suggests, to enhance the texture and the rising, subbing
lecithin granules for some of the oil and using a minute amount of powdered vitamin C
(you can crush pills). Several pinches sprinkled in the flour and you are off to a
beauteous piece of work.
a few days ago. Has only baked one loaf. I do not know if I can stand the excitement...the
aroma of yeast permeates the entire house. Things that drive you crazy, indeed!
Kidding aside. These are a Mother's (or Dad's) little helpers that make life easier. The
bread thing is great. You do not have to mess the place up by using 2 bowls with flour etc.
all over the place. I had read that these little machines were developed first for the
Japanese, who have notoriously small kitchens. Mine fits on the computer desk I converted
for culinary use...see Make Do. The Black and Decker is a toaster I retrieved from things
I had packed long, long ago. Probably bought in the eighties, it is a quite small unit that
tucks under an overhanging cabinet. My neighbor adapted it to fit the old cabinets (solid,
thick wood), so that air circulates nicely over the top of the unit. Now that I have the
Foreman Grill, I have little need for a toaster/oven. The Breadman should keep the big
oven use down. Not that I baked much bread. The only successful experience...years ago...
was a simple whole wheat jobbie. As you may have gathered, my baking skills are not up
there.
11/24/07: The only ingredients I had on hand yesterday were those for rye bread. Crazy
me, I used one tablespoon of honey and substitued the other two with 18 drops of stevia.
Cut the salt down to one half teaspoon. No problemo! The loaf that came out is to die for.
While I wait for the recipe book, I will try the limited formulae in the instructions. I'm off to
the supermarket for some gluten, whatever that is.
11/26/07: Did obtain a variety of flours and gluten. Took a while to find these things in
several stores. While trying to find a shoemaker, I woud up on Rte. 28 in Centerville.
There, in front of me was a huge natural food store called
Cape Cod Natural Foods. www.naturalretail.com Great store.
3/8/08: Another great store. Called the Star Market, I had asked two seperate
employees for several items. One was dry buttermilk (in the baking aisle) in a bulk size.
Most stores have the 4 packet size. The other was a glass spice bottle with a metal top.
Had not looked through the store for about a month, then while looking for something
else both items showed up on the shelves. Both quite reasonable. Viva Star!
11/30/07: Went out and bought the store out in Centerville, Ma. Hardly! The health
food store on Rte.28 is humongous. bins and bins full of flours nobody ever heard of. Did
the supermarkets in also. Bought quick acting yeast, supposed to be good for bread
machines. Guess what. Need to put in lots of salt to slow it down. Huh? Should have
known. Like instant gratification oatmeal, they add so much other junk...The devil's in t
the details.
Made some bran bread with yeast. They come out just like muffins. Also mixed ingredients
for pumpkin bread. then placed in the machine, using Bake and Dark settings. I "toasted"
a slice on the Foreman grill in the morning and used Mussleman's Apple Butter as a spread.
Yes!
12/3/07: Tried something different after not having too much success with rising. Rather
than reducing the salt, got Morton's Lite Salt, recommended by Beth Hensperger (the other
woman in my kitchen) in her book, "the Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook". This
helped considerably. I made a buckwheat/millet number that took off toward the ceiling.
And delish. The lite salt is partially subbed with potassium, although, I think the benefits
of the potassium are cancelled out by the cooking process. [Have to eat more bananas!]
One of the things Ms. Hensperger writes about is powdered buttermilk. Now we're talking.
You do not have to throw out partially used containers! The majority of these ingredients
are now stored in my studio. [It is quite cold out there due to the Cheney make-a-buck effects
on our households.]
By the summertime, the garage and extra refrigerater out there will do fine...the stuff
keeps better in a cool environment.
Pretty soon, I'll make a trip to the local health food store and pick up some wheat berries
to sprout. You grind them up somewhat to add to bread. There is also quinoa (pronounced
keen wa) grain. You have to rinse this profusely and cook for 20 minutes in water...but it
may be worth it, has the highest protein content of any grain. Grown in the Andes, I recall
potatoes (maybe sweets or yams) grown there contain a higher level of protein that others.
Searched around the internet and found instructions for the little Braun coffee grinder I
haven't used in a while. The instructions are "somewhere in this house." A kind person
had reviewed the grinder on epinions.com and explained how to clean the machine.
The sprouting took 3 days plus overnight soaking , but worth the effort. Made a honey
wheat that is going to a birthday celebration for my good friend, Dorothy. Of course, I had t
o test it. Will make a Swedish rye tomorrow morning. I can hack into that one, too. Just
a couple of pieces for lunches. The folks at the dinner understand my craziness.
12/10/07: The morning after...Both breads were a huge success, even though I took a
chance by subbing small portion of the light rye flour. (Swedish Rye calls for medium rye flour.)
I added few tablespoons of oat bran and few of rye meal. For those tablespoons added, I
reduced the light rye flour by same amount. For those folks who are familiar with bread
making, Ms. Hensperger's book suggests, to enhance the texture and the rising, subbing
lecithin granules for some of the oil and using a minute amount of powdered vitamin C
(you can crush pills). Several pinches sprinkled in the flour and you are off to a
beauteous piece of work.
- Note: The little coffe grinder I call Master Braun (too small to be called a man in my
- life) is a good tool to grind the vitamin C caps. I would break those elongated ones
- in half for the grinder. You can do about 10-15 at a time. Makes plenty to work with.
- I made a Swedish rye for my neighbors. Using just small amounts of the enhancers
- caused the loaf to rise up to the baking machine's lid. Had to punch it down slightly.
- Think I'll leave out the C for this type of loaf. The texture was terrific according to
- my neighbors. I credit the scant teaspoon of malt for that.
Heard from another friend who used the last staling up pieces of the homemade bread
I'd given her. What for? The birds? No way. She used it for French toast. Of course,
she should know. She cooks...and I quote her, "It's what I do."
12/17/07: Spent the morning cooking chicken/vegetable soup to freeze and a cottage
cheese dill bread... Yes!
I froze 3/4 of that one for my Christmas visit to Bridgewater. Will only have time bake one
other, a Swedish Rye which I can offer to the vegan in the family. One of the recipes I may
try is bread pudding. For something of a failure I tried. It has wonderful ingredients but
needs a little sweetening. It is a whole wheat raisin. When I make the pudding, I will layer
blueberries under the pudding. To make things festive, I may bring slivered almonds
(and add almond extract to the pudding). Folks can add the nuts to ice cream served on
the side of the pudding. Does that blow you away or what?
12/22/07: Maybe I'll leave out the nuts. This may be overkill. Can't find any slivered
without flavoring anyway.
The "fixers" have struck again. They rearrange stores and do away with a lot of the
good stuff or c-l-e-v-e-r-l-y move things to where they think you will be hooked and buy
them. What kind of logic is that? If it aint broken, etc.etc.
Just thought we needed some Spring feelings here...Taken along 6A, Barnstable, MA
12/29/07: Bought myself a birthday present yesterday. He's the new man in my life...but
he is not restricted to the kitchen...he's all over the place. Dyson. Yes, I went Nutsy
Fagan and bought the animal hair version. But, what a whirlwind this fella is. When I
learn more about its use, I will not suck up every small rugs in the house. Wild. But it
certainly does the job on wall-to-wall and bare floors.
This fellow Dyson has figured out a handle placement so that you do not kill your back.
Ergonomically engineered, it makes you walk straight with the weight of the appliance
balanced nicely. In between vacuuming, I will get the Swivel Sweeper after those naked
foors.
1/1/08: Back to the kitchen. One man in my life that I neglected to tell you about is Bob.
You know the one. The guy with the Red Mill. Flours are availabel all over the place,
including the Ocean State Job Lot here on the Cape. If you go to his web site,
www.bobsredmill.com, there are interesting recipes. And you do not have to jump through
sign-up hoops to find them. Very friendly site.
5/5/08:This hasn't to do with the men in my life, but one in the life of an acquantance of mine.
When the house needs vacuuming, she asks her husband if he will mow the rugs. Clever
gal, the terminology appeals to males more than cleaning.
10/24/09: Recently purchased a juicer. Manufacturer Breville. I will call this on Mr. Breville.
There is so much power, that I have to be careful to cover the entry tube on top quickly
or my kitchen will be decorated with 3D fruit colors. I know this one had to be created by a man.
Why do they think fast is the greatest? Not a bad juicer. Occassionally check the pulp catcher
and send "discarded" chunks through again. What can I tell you? It's a replacement for an
Omega which appears to have pooped out after a few years. ?? Costly, as you pay for all the
stainless steel. Live and learn. The new one was about a hundred cheaper.
So onward with the apples carrots and celery, the pomegranates and berries, the tomatoes,
greens and most of all nutrients, antioxidants and great flavor.
I'd given her. What for? The birds? No way. She used it for French toast. Of course,
she should know. She cooks...and I quote her, "It's what I do."
12/17/07: Spent the morning cooking chicken/vegetable soup to freeze and a cottage
cheese dill bread... Yes!
I froze 3/4 of that one for my Christmas visit to Bridgewater. Will only have time bake one
other, a Swedish Rye which I can offer to the vegan in the family. One of the recipes I may
try is bread pudding. For something of a failure I tried. It has wonderful ingredients but
needs a little sweetening. It is a whole wheat raisin. When I make the pudding, I will layer
blueberries under the pudding. To make things festive, I may bring slivered almonds
(and add almond extract to the pudding). Folks can add the nuts to ice cream served on
the side of the pudding. Does that blow you away or what?
12/22/07: Maybe I'll leave out the nuts. This may be overkill. Can't find any slivered
without flavoring anyway.
The "fixers" have struck again. They rearrange stores and do away with a lot of the
good stuff or c-l-e-v-e-r-l-y move things to where they think you will be hooked and buy
them. What kind of logic is that? If it aint broken, etc.etc.
Just thought we needed some Spring feelings here...Taken along 6A, Barnstable, MA
12/29/07: Bought myself a birthday present yesterday. He's the new man in my life...but
he is not restricted to the kitchen...he's all over the place. Dyson. Yes, I went Nutsy
Fagan and bought the animal hair version. But, what a whirlwind this fella is. When I
learn more about its use, I will not suck up every small rugs in the house. Wild. But it
certainly does the job on wall-to-wall and bare floors.
This fellow Dyson has figured out a handle placement so that you do not kill your back.
Ergonomically engineered, it makes you walk straight with the weight of the appliance
balanced nicely. In between vacuuming, I will get the Swivel Sweeper after those naked
foors.
1/1/08: Back to the kitchen. One man in my life that I neglected to tell you about is Bob.
You know the one. The guy with the Red Mill. Flours are availabel all over the place,
including the Ocean State Job Lot here on the Cape. If you go to his web site,
www.bobsredmill.com, there are interesting recipes. And you do not have to jump through
sign-up hoops to find them. Very friendly site.
5/5/08:This hasn't to do with the men in my life, but one in the life of an acquantance of mine.
When the house needs vacuuming, she asks her husband if he will mow the rugs. Clever
gal, the terminology appeals to males more than cleaning.
10/24/09: Recently purchased a juicer. Manufacturer Breville. I will call this on Mr. Breville.
There is so much power, that I have to be careful to cover the entry tube on top quickly
or my kitchen will be decorated with 3D fruit colors. I know this one had to be created by a man.
Why do they think fast is the greatest? Not a bad juicer. Occassionally check the pulp catcher
and send "discarded" chunks through again. What can I tell you? It's a replacement for an
Omega which appears to have pooped out after a few years. ?? Costly, as you pay for all the
stainless steel. Live and learn. The new one was about a hundred cheaper.
So onward with the apples carrots and celery, the pomegranates and berries, the tomatoes,
greens and most of all nutrients, antioxidants and great flavor.
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