Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Kitchen Experiments

Nope, nope, nope. Just didn't want you all to think our lack of posts since Saturday meant something exciting had happened. We are just not that lucky yet! So, in the meantime, we have been preparing meals to freeze for when we come home from the hospital and are too dog-tired to think about preparing food. Our doula is an excellent cook, and since she has to hang out here until the baby is born, she's put herself to excellent use preparing wondrous things, which include two quiches (spinach and chedder and mushroom, leek, and swiss), latkes, turkey meat loaf (we ripped that idea from oneofhismoms--thanks!), and a lasagna. Just lovely and tasty.

I have also been occupying myself by doing some experiments in the kitchen. Some have been successful, others not so much. Inspired by Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I've been making some cheese. I made mozzarella and ricotta, and the ricotta is in the lasagna, cooling as I type. I put the mozzarella onto a pizza this weekend and it was quite tasty. Then I tried making bread. Well, I suck at that. I think I killed the yeast by accident so there wasn't much rising going on, so while the flavor of the bread was good, it was like eating a brick of bread. Oops. I just want something kind of light and artisinal-looking-anyone have any good breadmaking recipes or tips?

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Can't wait to hear the updates!!!! Waiting patiently for the little one :)

Blue Pearl said...

How about acupuncture appointment and/or castor oil?

Heather said...

I keep checking your page like 5 times a day hopeing that you've posted that baby is on the way! *sigh* but no such luck! Your just taking such good care of him/her in there that they don't want to come out!! lol. I'll continue to wait patiently... :)

LoL. bread? No good at cooking bread. sorry. Mine would prob come out like yours...

Unknown said...

try the bittman/lahey no knead bread from the new york times--watch the video first (it's very helpful), and increase the salt in the recipe.

here's hoping you don't get to finish waiting for the dough to rise!

CD and SP said...

our doula recommended the no-knead bread recipe. i just need to get my hands on a cast iron dutch oven and i'm set to go!

Melody said...

I have one decent breadmaking tip--I got it from my buddy Alton Brown. Well, two. First-- use a food processor to do the first knead. Second, after that first knead, let the dough sit for a half hour before you try to work with it-- will be much less sticky.

Ooh-- one more. If you get sticky dough on your hands and can't work the dough any more because of it, rinse your hands in COLD water. Warm makes it stickier. Cold actually gets the dough off.

No recipes, though. So far I have only attempted plain jane white bread.

evangeline said...

hmmmmm haven't heard anything in a while... getting excited!

Anonymous said...

You made matzos! Mazel tov!

Now about that bun in your oven...

None said...

My only breadmaking tip is to use a thermometer to measure the temperature of any water you mix with the yeast to make sure it isn't too warm. 100-110 deg is what I usually shoot for.

I have no tips about your bun in the oven. I did acupuncture, and squatting exercises, and ate spicy Indian food and dried fruit and downed evening primrose oil capsules. What finally worked? Time, I think. (And castor oil -- two doses -- but that was after my water broke and labor didn't follow and I was facing a hospital induction if I couldn't get things moving in 24 hours. It's pretty nasty stuff. I don't recommend taking it unless you are facing a hospital induction that you don't want. But now I'm offering unsolicited advice, so sorry. My bad.)

Glad you're keeping yourself busy with projects.

Faith said...

just waiting, waiting, waiting here...

say hello to that doula of yours!

Anonymous said...

I, like so many others, am just waiting! Love you all, brookie