Bruce

Posted on June 22, 2011 by heidiannie

His daughter, Heidi, took this picture.

I pirated it from Facebook. Thanks, Heidi!

This is my brother, Bruce.

He lives in Portland, Oregon and I don’t get

to see him often. The last time I went to visit

was about 9 years ago. We talk on the phone

and he has a facebook account that he NEVER

looks at, but it has been 9 years.

So – tomorrow – Cynthia and I are flying to

Oregon.

Growing up, he was my big brother

(actually ALL three of my brothers were

big brothers) but Bruce was also my friend.

We talked- you know what I mean- about more

than just the happenings of the day.

He opened up windows into the future for me,

helped me to see patterns in the world and to

figure out where and how I could find a place to

matter in life. But like most of my siblings, he was

a lot older and moved on in his life while I was still

searching for a direction to follow.

And like me, Bruce is a recorder of places and people

and events. Our stories remain consistent and match

up- whereas our sibs stories are kind of vague and hazy-

our memories are sharp and clear.

This is important to me.

I like to know that my memories aren’t colored by time

and emotion. I like to corroborate them with someone

who also remembers.

Because I’m a great story teller- and I can shade a story to

tell what is convenient or really just makes a better “story”.

So it is great to have some one else’s memory to line up with,

a ruler to measure up what is true and what is fantasy.

One week in nine years isn’t really enough time to spend

with someone you love.

But it is better than no time at all.

The essentials of a good rye (or why I ground my own flour!)

Posted on June 19, 2011 by heidiannie

I was looking for a good rye bread yesterday.

I had depleted my freezer supply.

Run out of the last baking I did in Chincoteague.

And I just can’t buy the insipid loaves they sell at the stores locally.

I went to the bulk food store to buy some flour,

and all they had was a very fine white rye flour.

Sad. SAD. downright sad.

So I bought some rye berries-

got out my grinding apparatus-

And ground my own dark rye flour.

The little red hen hasn’t got anything on me!

It took a little while because my grinder is

almost as old as I am. And it is done by

hand- and I didn’t have it clamped down on

my husband’s new table.

But I ended up with almost a cup and figured

that would give me enough fiber and texture

in my loaves.

Then I fed up my sourdough and added 1 cup of

the white rye and 3/4 cup warm water and let that

prove overnight.

At the same time, I followed Joanna’s advice,

and poured hot water on another cup of white

rye and stirred until smooth and then left with

the sourdough starter poolish/sponge to prove

for at least 8 hours (overnight).

This morning I added the rough ground flour, 2 tsp.

sea salt, 2 TBS butter, and 1/4 cup sorghum molasses

and enough water and high gluten wheat flour to

give me enough dough for 2 loaves of bread.

I put the dough in a warm place to raise for an hour,

then shaped it into two loaves- one for the banneton

and one in a loaf tin, covered them loosely and then

let them raise another hour and a half.

I added some golden flaxseed for flavour and

beauty and made the mistake of cutting a vent

in the top. I think it destroyed the integrity of

the gluten cloak and the loaf got sloppy in shape.

Then I baked them a 375 F for about 45 minutes.

Although I’m not entering them into a beauty

contest.

And I sliced it for a crumb shot before it cooled

completely.

All in all, I am quite happy!

I love rye bread with golden flax seed.

Psalm 8

Posted on June 18, 2011 by heidiannie

¹ LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.

Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

³ When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.

⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet

⁷ all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,

⁸ the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Sometimes I look long and hard to find the psalm to share.

Sometimes it is just there.

I’ve been living it- day by day.

Psalm 8 has been playing 24/7 on my heart and mind track- O Lord,

our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

What psalm is on your mind and heart 24/7 ?

In my kitchen…

Posted on June 17, 2011 by heidiannie

Focaccia bread with sundried tomatoes and rosemary and herbs de Provence.

I love this bread- great for dipping, eating plain, or splitting for a sandwich!

My new banneton from Celia,

http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/06/13/in-my-kitchen-june-2011/

who is, by the way, the originator of the “In my kitchen” posts.

I love my banneton! But even more, I love Celia- go check out her

blog!

In my Kitchen …

I have cream of balsamic vinegar- Meredith bought these

in Chincoteague! It is like syrup- great on top of strawberries

and ice cream. Just plain GREAT!

I also have this wonderful ginger syrup that Meredith

bought on her journeys around the world! Add hot water

and you have ginger tea- can be used as a flavoring in

baked goods and just happens to be one of my favorite

flavors!

And Australian licorice! This is the BEST licorice I’ve

ever eaten. It is totally addicting. Good thing it is also

available at Giant Eagle stores here in Ohio!

I don’t want to forget this sauce we picked up at the Wine

and More shop in Chincoteague- I don’t want to forget because

it is absolute YUM!

Speaking of ice cream- I also have remnants of a feast

that Luke and Willow brought whilst they were moving

from Columbus to Long Island. Jeni’s ice cream is made in

Columbus, Ohio- and located right down the street from

their apartment. We became very good friends over the

years, and I was mourning their moving because I wouldn’t

have a good excuse to go to Jeni’s anymore. So they brought

me a selection. Notice the Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet.

If I was on death row and could only choose one thing for my

last meal?

It would be the Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet.

I just realized I left the ice cream on the table after taking the

picture. Maybe I should go and make sure it isn’t melting.

Maybe I should just go and eat some!

So –what’s in your kitchen?

Good times!

Posted on June 13, 2011 by heidiannie

I’m back and have so many happy memories!

We played and worked and ate and ran and cooked and

talked and shared until we were exhausted!

And I’m still exhausted.

And cooking and playing and working and eating

and sharing.

My question is…

Who is going to do all that laundry stacked up in the basement?

A note of thanks!

Posted on June 6, 2011 by heidiannie

A huge thank you to Celia,of fig jam and lime cordial fame !

Celia had just gotten some bannetons to raise and shape her

breads, and when I rather effusively admired and drooled all

over them on-line, sent me one as well!

Here is my first effort. It should have been a great success, but

I was rather forgetful along the way- let the dough raise too high

in the first raising, was a little too liberal in the rye flour dusting,

and then forgot to preheat the oven. The bread was a whole wheat

it was delicious- but it doesn’t look as great as I’d like!

I’m trying again tomorrow.

I just wanted to say thanks, again to Celia-

and give a preview of my new bread shape!

Of David, and Allyson, and me. Psalm 27

Posted on June 5, 2011 by heidiannie

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me
   to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

There are times when ,

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

In fact, many times.

I am not a strong warrior under battle conditions.

I fall on my knees. I throw up my hands.

I call upon the Lord.

When first I read this psalm, I remarked on all the

enemies present , Allyson said,

“There

are always enemies.”

And she’s right – there are.

We are surrounded by witnesses and enemies and

brothers and sisters. And we are surrounded by

grace.

So today – whatever enemies show up on your radar-

no matter the circumstances of your life-

despite who has forsaken you-

in the very face of disaster-

“Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.”

Most likely – you will have a crowd of

believers standing right beside you.

Look for me in the crowd.

S’mores and raspberry rhubarb pie ( and some people I love)

Posted on June 4, 2011 by heidiannie

S’mores! Are these a world wide treat?

If not, they should be.

We made our with Reese’s peanut butter cups- and they were perfect.

Graham crackers, melted marshmallows and a peanut butter cup.

We put up the firepit and built a fire last night- smoked out the mosquitoes

and made our yummies and had a rollicking good time, last night.

And today, we went to the Cowboy festival, Aiden got to ride a pony- we bought

some cowboy hats and sat on the dock of the bay watching the boats.

When we came home we got sandwiches from Woody’s (pulled pork with

coleslaw and fried onion rings-decadent!) and then I made a pie and started

some bread. The bread is still raising- but the pie?

Raspberry/rhubarb custard pie- that’s for dessert tonight.

Dinner looks like pan fried tenderloin medalians, basmatti rice w/chicken and lemon

broth, mushrooms,garlic and kale, sauteed with spring onions, green salad and

bread.

Steps On The Journey

walk with me a while

Monthly Archives: June 2011