I have been getting no where fast.

Lots of stuff is going on- but nothing is happening.

I’m frustrated.

In my life that means make and bake some bread.

It is satisfying.

It works.

We end up with bread.

So today was a marathon bread day.

I made sourdough rye, old country rye and peasant bread.

And I mixed them all together and made a braided loaf,

and a marbled loaf…………………………………

and a couple of plain sourdough rye loaves.

Sourdough Rye is my favorite sourdough bread.

You add the deep flavor of blackstrap molasses the tangy sourdough and the slightly sharp rye and caraway seed flavors and you have a masterpiece!

Here’s the recipe-

1 cup sourdough starter

1 1/2 cups bread flour

3 cups rye flour

2 tsp salt

1/4 cup molasses

2 TBS butter,melted

1 cup very warm water

2 TBS yeast

Add yeast to water and proof for about 3 minutes ( you may add 1/2 tsp sugar to get everything moving faster).  Mix together flours and salt in large bowl.  Make a well in the center of the flour and put the starter, butter, molasses and proofed yeast together and mix the flour into the center, drawing it down from the sides.

You may need a little more warm water or a little more bread flour depending on the way your dough starts to set up together- if it looks dry and like there is too much flour- add water.  If it looks too sticky and the flour is all incorporated – add flour.  The dough should be tacky to the touch, but not sticky. 

Flour your counter and dump dough onto flat surface.  Knead for at least 10 minutes and then put dough- gathered together into a ball- into an oiled bowl and cover.  Allow to raise for about an hour and a half and then shape into desired loaf.

To braid -roll three different doughs to the same length and thickness and attach at one end then braid them together and pinch at the other end.

To make a swirl or marble loaf-

Roll out three different doughs and layer them on top of each other and then roll them tightly together, pinch ends and put into a loaf pan and let raise for about 45 minutes, then bake in 375 degree oven until brown , about 40 minutes.

First of all- I made it here all on my own.  I have a problem with sleep deprivation and it causes me to fall asleep while in a car.  EVEN if I’m driving.

I haven’t  driven for more than a half an hour without having real problems staying awake for about 10 years now.  But I am pushing the limits and forcing myself to go further and further and on the way back from Chincoteague, I managed to drive almost 3 1/2 hours.  Of course, Cynthia was sitting next to me and helping me to stay awake. 

I came to Columbus by myself.

I sang and prayed and  ate pretzels and drank coffee!

So, I’m praising the Lord for this victory!

Luke is in Chicago until Wednesday, so I get to be dinner and nightime caregiver, while Willow is teaching ESL  classes.

Aidan has a cold, cough, runny nose and a slight fever.  He is not feeling well at all.  And yet he is such a trooper.  I went with them to the doctor and he was so cooperative- breathing deeply and holding real still for the examination.

He is really talking!  Counting and naming items, people and toys. 

He has a hard time saying Gramma- so I had him call me Heidi.

EVERYONE calls me Heidi (except my boys who call me Mom.)

I’ve never been the Aunt-type or the Mrs. Fodor type-  and Heidi is real easy for little ones to say.

Anyway, as I said he is pretty miserable.  And he isn’t eating very well- food just doesn’t really appeal to him.  Except for apples, cheese, sweet potatoes, and bread.

AND- these healthy peanut butter balls his mother makes him.

So that was supper.  Here are a few shots of him devouring these balls- which by the way- he asks for by name.  Pea-buttah-baws!

Here’s the recipe.

1 cup natural peanut butter

1/4 cup oatmeal

2 TBS. honey

2 TBS>  coconut

2 TBS. ground flax

Mix together and roll into little balls

Refrigerate until set.

YUMM!