Amish White Bread

For Aunt Beebe:

A few weeks ago, you asked me for my Amish White Bread recipe.  I sent you the link on Facebook.  While I was making it again today, I thought I'd take some pictures of my process and then give you an illustrated post about it.  I hope this helps ....

Ingredients:

2 cups warm water

2/3c white sugar

1-1/2 tbs active dry yeast

1-1/2 tsp salt

1/4c vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam:

2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. 

It will look like this after three cups.

It will look like this after six cups.

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. 

It will look like this when it's done.

Place in a well oiled bowl and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about one hour. (I preheat my oven at this point - to 350 - and let it rise on the stove top. My kitchen is chilly and this heats it up and helps with the rising.) 

Covered and rising.

Uncovered and doubled in bulk.

    

3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide in half. (I use the kitchen scale for this -- it doesn't have to be exact, but it should be pretty close.) Shape into loves and place into two well-oiled loaf pans (don't skimp on the oil here.) Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above the pans (I get the cloth damp and cover them again.)

4. Bake at 350 (F) for 30 minutes or until golden brown and delicious. (They should turn out of the loaf pans immediately upon removal from oven. If not, let them bake longer.)

Yum!

Warning: Nerdity Ahead

I was listening to NPR on my way to work this morning, catching the tail end of Culturtopia just as I was pulling out of the driveway.  They were talking about the things that made them happy this week. Someone said something that made them happy was the poet James Tate.  

He read a poem.

It made me happy.

I hope it makes you happy.

Teaching the Ape to Write Poems

by James Tate

They didn't have much trouble

teaching the ape to write poems:

first they strapped him into the chair,

then tied the pencil around his hand

(the paper had already been nailed down).

Then Dr. Bluespire leaned over his shoulder

and whispered into his ear:

'You look like a god sitting there.

Why don't you try writing something?'

Moonbase

     I'm all for space travel and exploration.  I'd love for future generations to colonize the moon and other planets. I'm an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy and things about outer space.

But Newt Gingrich is an idiot.

I submit to you first Neil Degrasse Tyson, everyones favorite astrophysicist:

Linky

I submit to you second the argument that an American Moonbase is against the law. Not just any law, mind you. It's against SPACE LAW! 

I submit to you third that even Warren Ellis thinks he's full of bullshit.

I don't normally get into politics on this blog. However, I hold firmly the opinion that Newt Gingrich is an idiot. It's nice to know that smart people like Neil Degrasse Tyson and Warren Ellis agree with me.

Grumpy Post

[Beware: snark ahead]

I hate it when people say "When I was a kid we didn't have [enter name of modern concept or technological device here]" 

Edison's kids said the same thing about electricity. 

It's called progress folks.  Move with the times.

[end rant]

Stop SOPA

Confused by what's happening today or what all the fuss is about?

Reddit, Wil Wheaton, and Warren Ellis (for those of you outside the US) - among many others - have pretty good explanations. 

Go. Read and inform yourself.

Then hie thee to Wikipedia, type in your zip code, and tell your local representative not to support S.968.

Thoughts in January

     It is approximately the middle of January. While we have only recently gotten our first snowfall of the season (thank you, global warming,) typically by this point in the winter we've been covered in snow for about two months.

     I hate it.


     I know, living in New England as I do, I should be used to the snow and the cold and everything New England winters bring. I'm not. People tell me I ought to take up skiing or snow boarding or some other winter sport.  I don't.


     I try to be more optimistic about it. Winter helps us enjoy summer more by comparison, right? And it's pretty, in a way.  For a little while.  Until it gets dirty and slushy and disgusting.  And we get to have nostalgic, Norman Rockwell Christmases.

 
     Norman Rockwell Christmases are over-rated.


    I try to keep my head down and trudge along in January.  Try not to think too much about it.  In February, I'm grateful for the short month; March I spend trying to catch whiffs of Spring in the air; April, I scan the forecast every day for warmer temperatures.

    There is very little to keep my hopes up in January.  Just the idea that I have two and a half more long months (at least) to get through until Spring.


   

December

     Wow. So I guess I fell off the radar there entirely. No post for over a month. Sorry 'bout that.  Things have been crazy here. Shows closing. Preproduction for new shows. New day job. Holidays. Traveling.

So, recap:

1. New job.
    Nothing too exciting. Receptionist for a real estate office. The major thing I have learned is that I find real estate to be incredibly boring. I see how it can be exciting for someone else (particularly the person doing the selling,) but not for me.  But it's a day job. I go in, do my time, then go home and forget about it. Not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but a decent way to pick up a paycheck while having plenty of time and brain power for other things.

2. Holidays.
   Christmas was nice. We went to The Boy™'s parents' house for the weekend.  I was sick, but it didn't prevent me from relaxing and having a good time.
    We're spending New Year's Eve with friends. I'm looking forward to that, too.

3. Traveling.
    First, there was the aforementioned trip to Downeast Maine. After New Year's, we're going to NY to my sister's. It's Dad's 60th next week, and the whole fam damily is coming to celebrate. I'm also looking forward to that. Haven't seen Parents, Sister or Nephews since June. And haven't seen my brothers or their families in two years.  It'll be a good time.

4. Shows.
   A tiny bit of a break right now.  Detritus starts rehearsal at the end of the month, then I'm pretty much booked through August.  This is not a complaint.

5. Derby.
   Still going great! We've added Tuesday practices and are now practicing three times a week.  I went up north a few weeks ago and had a great scrimmage with a couple of other teams.  We're planning another bout this winter, hopefully at home.  I'm looking forward to the Great Derby Social at the end of the month and the Triple D weekend in June.

   That's my life n a nutshell right now.  I'm home recovering from strep throat (aka Pixie Plague, as the entire derby team has had it.)  I'm hoping it's gone before we leave for Sister's.


    If I'm not back before the weekend, Happy New Year to you, Dear Readers.  May your 2012 be fantastic.