We are in a slight warm-up period but are getting a mix of rain and sleet. That means roads will be treachorous. We had planned a WM run but will probably cancel.
I did chores again yesterday morning and it was more uncomfortable at a windy 24° than it was the day before at no wind 10°. I just did the puppies who are little wild things. I stayed in the pen with them and petted them until they finally got over the thrill and settled down to eat. Tito, the large male has very unusual colored eyes. I tried to get a picture but wasn't very successful. The are amber colored. I hope they stay that color as he ages.
As you can see, Daisy decided to eat while Bella (black) is attacking my glove.
DH decided he would do the grain feeding.....I let him.
Cooking
My new bread making technique was using
a biga as a preferment or starter and reducing the yeast. May I say
after one experiment that I am not impressed and once I use the other
half of the biga, will probably not do it again. The biga is
supposed to be improve keeping quality, taste and texture. Well, DH
and I couldn't ascertain an improvement in the taste or the texture.
It also seemed I did not get the volume I usually get. It may be
that I am not really a bread connoisseur just like I am not a wine
connoisseur. I strive for a light, tender bread more like store
bread but better tasting. When I started making bread it was during
the Artisan, no-knead craze and I had tried that but it wasn't what
we wanted. This bread was similar in my opinion. My Sis got me started again (she is going through my
early experimental- bread- making phase now). I will stand firm...no more ventures into bread
that takes between two and 5 days to make while waiting for a
perferment to ripen.........so you true bread making bakers can just
shake your heads. I am hopeless.
2/19/15
It wasn't quite as cold last night,
17°. I love it when it isn't 'leave the water dripping' cold which
for us is l0°. We are in line for some freezing rain later today
and tomorrow.
I fixed something different for
breakfast. I made scones with our scrambled eggs. I have just made
them once before. They are simply a sweetened biscuit with eggs and
cream. I like using the leftovers for shortbread. I will do that
for lunch using our frozen peaches.
Farm
Our farm hand (doesn't that sound
inflated) he is just a 16-year old neighbor. Came and Max showed him
how to use our tractor for feeding the round bales. If the weather
is too severe he can use his truck that is equipped with a bale
spike on the back. He turned his ankle getting off the tractor. I
hope it isn't too bad. I will call and check on him this morning.
I am going out around 9 to do chores
near the house. It was 24° but with wind.
It was more uncomfortable than the day before at l0°. My hands got numb before I was finished.
DH did the grain feeding.
Dragging through the frozen snow requires a rest period when I come in.......
Cooking 2
I decided to make our old-fashioned white bread (no preferment or starter!). I did have to use Hogsdon Mills flour since our local store wanted $6 a bag for King Arthur and I refused to pay that. I may be slightly prejudiced but I don't think I get as much lift with other flours. I added two eggs instead of the called for one. Just did it without thinking because I had two eggs sitting on the counter top from collecting that morning. I like the color and texture and may keep adding two eggs. You know now we don't have to worry about cholesterol in our food ! (did you hear the latest nutritional recommendations?) My Sis and I got a good laugh.....she and I didn't believe that link between foods a cholesterol when they began pushing it.
I had thawed a surprise package from the freezer when it turned out to be strawberries that were past their prime, I decided to make jam. I added l cup of the aforementioned peaches to make the 5 cups. It turned out nicely. The fruit was frozen with l cup of sugar so I reduce the jam recipe by that cup and proceed as usual. I used pectin with this batch.
Note: no lids...yet. In a cleaning frenzy I carried all canning supplies out to the milk parlor (jack of all trades work room). I will retrieve them this morning.
