A Losing Battle

My battle with Bread Making Disease has been lost, and I have wonderful, yummy flat bread to show for it. The battle was officially brought to its end yesterday afternoon, when the batch of No-Knead Pizza Dough was made. Later glorious handfuls of soft dough were formed into amoeba like flat breads, covered in various topping and baked to a delightful state of crispy, yet still soft.

Some were topped with just a drop of olive oil, a sprinkling of garlic and a dusting of grated parmesan. Another was topped with basil tomato sauce and sliced mushrooms, and the version pictured here was topped with PC Bacon & Roasted Onion dressing, slices of turkey breast, mushrooms and grape tomatoes, with a grating of Bothwell smoked 2 year old cheddar. They all tasted wonderful, and there is still dough in the fridge.

(I think it looks even tastier if you click on the picture.)

Maybe it's time I learned to co-exist with my Bread Making Disease, and just accept it as being a part of me instead of constantly battling against it.

Banana-riffic

To beak up the possible monotony of lists, the March theme for NaBloPoMo, I bring you Banana Cupcakes. I used to have a fabulous recipe for these, but sadly, it was lost during the time of no oven. Fear not though, I have found a replacement. Dare I say, I think it may even be better than the lost recipe.

Banana Cupcakes
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. soda
4 tbsp. sour cream
1 c. mashed bananas
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips(optional)

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs. Dissolve soda in sour cream, add to creamed mixture and beat well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into cupcake papers. Bake at 350 degrees, 20 - 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Makes 1 dozen large cupcakes or 3 dozen mini cupcakes.

These are equally yummy with or without frosting.

Spring Ahead..?

As I may have previously mentioned, I have had enough of winter. In my opinion, it can go away any time. On that note, here is today's list. I don't have any particular reasons that these are my favourites. I love them all for the same reason, I think that they are beautiful. They are in no particular order. I hope they may help to brighten someone else's winter blahs, as they have helped to brighten mine.

Top 5 Favourite Garden Pictures I Have Taken

1. Rain Wet Morning Glory.

2. Petunias with Pots.

3. Raindrop Leaf.

4. Yellow Daisies.

5. Lilac Coloured Petunia.

Winter Blahs

I'm tired of winter, very, very tired. I'm tired of snow, walking in snow, shoveling snow. I'm even tired of looking at snow. This has inspired today's list. Of course the list would be affected by weather, so for the sake of me attempting to beat my winter blahs, we will pretend that weather conditions are all favourable.


Top 5 Places I Would Like to Knit

1. Stonehenge, I have dreamed of visiting there since I was young and learned about it on T.V. I can imagine sitting upon the grass knitting, my back against one of those mammoth stones.

2. The Eiffel Tower, preferably at the top, or sitting on the stairs. I would even be happy to stand beneath its structure and knit.

3. Tahiti, in a hammock, beneath palm trees where I have a view of the captivating turquoise waters.

4. A Mountain Cabin, curled in a comfy chair, on a deck overlooking a pristine lake surrounded by trees. Oh, and with no biting insects. Nothing would quite spoil my knitting fantasies like being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Autumn would nice.

5. Work, I know this doesn't sound like much of a knitting fantasy, but I work on the phone all day, and would love to be allowed to slip in a few stitches between calls. It would totally make my day more bearable.

New Unofficial Holiday

Here at Chez Moonlit Knit today was unofficially named as "Dumpling Day".

For supper, the girls made Gyoza. A Japanese version of pot stickers. Basically a dumpling, filled with a cabbage and pork mixture, that is fried and them steamed. They were very very tasty. They used an online recipe we had found, and made a delicious dipping sauce of soy sauce, lime juice and ginger. Meg took this picture and is very proud that she was able to capture the steam in the shot.



As my contribution to the meal I made Apple Dumplings, from The Pioneer Woman Cooks. They were absolutely wonderful, complete and true demon food. You know, the kind that calls to you, pummels your will power and makes you want to eat the whole pan. I reduced the butter to 3/4 of a cup, and the sugar to one cup. I definitely don't think that the finished product lacked for the alteration in any way. This recipe will surely be going into regular rotation.


For anyone keeping up on my battle with Bread Making Disease, I made it through one more day, unless you count dumplings as bread. Though I did buy a 10 kilogram bag of flour while grocery shopping today.

The Cost of Adorable

I have managed to resist the lure of bread making yet another day. I think I may well crack tomorrow. I really am craving homemade pizza.

The list for today will reflect some of the very adorable and lovely items I would love to have for my kitchen, but would probably not be able to swallow the price tag for. They are in order from highest to lowest price.


Top 10 Incredibly Over-priced Items I Lust After for My Kitchen.

1. Dots Porcelain Cookie Jar $100.00 This is so beautiful, I absolutely love the pattern.


2. Eva Solo Garlic Press $83.61. This is like art with a function.


3. Fish Measuring Spoons $65.00. I just love these, I have no reason or excuse.


4. Bread Bin $62.63. What a funky, great place to store the products of my Bread Making Disease.


5. Le Creuset Mini Dutch Oven (8 oz) $54.95. I love this, but have no idea what I might use it for to justify the price, for a casserole that holds one cup.


6. King Chin Grinder $53.66 each. This is just so cool.


7. Queen Chin Grinder $53.66 each. Of course, I would have to have the Queen to go with the King.


8. Eva Solo Grating Bucket $44.69. This one is actually incredibly functional, maybe someone will make a less expensive version soon.


9. Mr.Chin Timer $39.60 each. I actually found this before I found the grinders. I don't really need a timer, as there is one built into my stove, but this is so adorable, how could I resist.


10. Mandarin Citrus Squeezer $35.72. This is the least expensive on the list and I think it may actually be my favourite. I already have a juicer, but ... well, apparently I have an addiction to cute.

Dealing.

I managed through the day without baking any bread. I did however share some of the delicious brioche buns with my co-workers, and I ate one myself. I think it's a good sign that I was able to show this level of restraint. Tomorrow though, that's a whole 'nother day and I can already feel the symptoms of Bread Making Disease creeping up on me. All day, actually it began last night, I have been itching to try the No-Knead Pizza Dough. If I do succumb to this afflictiom of mine, I will be sure to take pictures.


On with today's list, a bit of a follow up to yesterday's entry.


Top 5 Ways to Deal with a Flour Shortage.


1. Stockpile as much flour as is humanly possible. This may involve replacing some furniture with Rubermaid totes filled with bags of flour. Oh well, the kid's mattresses probably are due to be replaced anyway.

2. Becoming close, personal friend's with a wheat farmer ... or two.

3. Finding alternatives to wheat flour. I know there are alternatives, I'm just unsure as to how they would bake up. Once wheat flour becomes more of a commodity, will alternate flours also become more costly and harder to obtain?

4. Selling off small amounts of stockpiled flour and or baked goodies at a large profit, in order to support my own habit.

5. Growing wheat in the back yard and teaching my children the value of hard work by having them mill the wheat into flour for their loving mother.



My mind is racing, I know there are many, many other ways to combat the horror of a possible flour shortage, however these are the top five so far. Suggestions are welcome. As an avid baker with fans to please and a very bad case of Bread Making Disease, flour is almost as important as breathing. I can't imagine not always having a big cannister of flour waiting for me in the kitchen.