![\"016\"](\"http:\/\/www.heidiannie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/016.jpg\" "\\"016\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nVERY cold.<\/p>\n
Frank decided to have the fireplace heat the family room and kitchen and I decided to keep the<\/p>\n
rest of the house between 60 and 62 degrees Farenheit.<\/p>\n
Keeping a small fireplace like ours going all day is like babysitting- diligence and timing is all important.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The first day I spent watching the fire- running off to do some laundry- dishes- make meals-<\/p>\n etc.\u00a0 and it seemed like a real burden.\u00a0 But I kept a faithful watch and decided to do the<\/p>\n second day differently.\u00a0 Because I had been keeping an eye on the ashes underneath the<\/p>\n grate and they were hot and substantial by mid day.<\/p>\n Look at all those hot coals!<\/p>\n So \u2013 yesterday I made a loaf of bread- a white bread with olive oil and high gluten flour and yeast.<\/p>\n Just a regular small loaf to experiment with, you know?<\/p>\n and around 3:30 PM I placed my baking stone into the hearth on the grate.<\/p>\n Placed my dough in a cast iron kettle with the lid on, closed the front windows of the<\/p>\n fireplace and left it in there for 25 minutes or so.<\/p>\n It baked it up \u2013 burned the bottom slightly and gave me a large loaf of slightly smoky bread.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Which went perfectly with my London Broil steak sandwich for lunch.<\/p>\n I should have gone sourdough with a more complex flour- but it was an experiment.<\/p>\n Which turned out very good.<\/p>\n (Although Frank said the house was too smoky and I let the fire go out so he had to start it up<\/p>\n again.\u00a0 He isn\u2019t a bread lover.\u00a0 He likes store bought- so what does he know?)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It has been very cold. VERY cold. Frank decided to have the fireplace heat the family room and kitchen and I decided to keep the rest of the house between 60 and 62 degrees Farenheit. Keeping a small fireplace like … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n