Bagel Verdict

DELICIOUS! I finally had one this afternoon. ( dealing with dry socket made it virtually impossible to chew this morning) The cinnamon bagels are a real hit. Rich seemed to like the poppyseed bagels. I can't have one of those for a couple of weeks, due to the wisdom teeth situation...so I'll be able to comment on those at a later date. I will definitely be making bagels again. They were easy...they just have a lot of wait time to them. There really is nothing like a fresh bagel, or fresh bread. Store bought is good, but fresh out of the oven, just doesn't compare.

In the Kitchen...

So a couple of weeks ago, I had told my in-laws that I was going to try my hand at making bagels. I just hadn't gotten around to it. My mil asked me about it on the weekend, when I had brought over some baguette's and foccacia, so I decided this week would be the week.

I've made bagels in the past, but it wasn't an authentic bagel recipe. While they were good, they just weren't what I was hoping for. They simply used a basic breaddough recipe and were shaped. While they tasted good, I wanted a "real" bagel.

So, I'm going to go to my trusty book, The Bread Baker's Apprentice for a bagel recipe. I bought this book a couple of years ago, and have loved all but one of the recipes I've tried from it. The author goes into the science of bread making, as well as explaining the hows and whys of technique. So, I'm going to split the recipe, and should be able to get 6 cinnamon raisin and 6 poppyseed bagels out of this batch. Yummy! Hopefully they will turn out. I won't know until tomorrow, cause the recipe is a two day recipe, with an overnight chill in the fridge for the bagels before cooking. Tomorrow will yield some yummy treats, I'm sure.

On the Calendar...

This week looks to be another busy week. Last week we were supposed to have a CPR class on Thursday, but that was cancelled and rescheduled for this Thursday. I'm hoping it works out, and that we have that out of the way.

I'm also waiting for a phone call from one of the local hospitals. They have an infant newborn class we need to take for our adoption, and so I'm hoping we'll be able to get into tomorrow's class. Nothing like last minute planning, eh?

Friday, I get to go see my oral surgeon again. Just a routine post-operative appointment. The area where my wisdom teeth were is not painful at all. But the surrounding teeth and my front teeth are sore. I have read that teeth sometimes shift, and am wondering if that's what is happening. Regardless, the pain is controlled with ice and prescription ibuprofen, so I'll stick with that unless it gets worse.

The end of the month is looking like its going to be busy. My Mom is talking about coming to spend a few days with us at the end of June. I can't wait. Visits with Mom are always nice. We tend to just sit on the porch swing and visit. I'm looking forward to it.

Then, for the fourth my sister is going to come visit with a friend. She wants to go to the zoo ( I've never been to the zoo in Boston, so that should be fun. I'm sure Simeon will have a blast, and he loves his Auntie Sarah.) We will also be going to Sturbridge Village. They will be having special fourth of July events in the evening. I have to buy tickets soon, can't wait for the paycheck to be here! Simeon is really excited about some of the contests they will be holding. He says he wants to participate in the pie eating contest. I'm really really looking forward to that. Since November, we have been reading Simeon the Little House on the Prairie series. There have been a few descriptions of their fourth of July celebrations and fairs. I think this pioneer village visit, with their festivities will be a great way to finish off this book series. We are on the last book, so the timing is IMPECCABLE! Yeah for good literature and for fun field trips that reinforce what we've learned.

Bread Making

So I mentionned making sour dough last week. It was yummy oatmeal sourdough bread, but I wanted to make something different. I've been doing some research, and figured out that my sourdough sponge could be used to make french baguette's and foccacia. So today, that was my endeavor...Mmmm, the kitchen smells good and the bread tastes fantastic.

I love working with bread dough. There's just something so satisfying about making bread, of kneading it, watching it rise, shaping it, and then baking it. Something comforting about doing something that so many men and women have done for so long. In some ways, it makes me feel closer to family from years gone by...The bread pans I use to make my buttermilk sandwich bread were passed on to me by my grandmother, and she says she received them from her mother, my great grandmother. I love thinking of both these women, going through the same motions as me, to provide nourishment for their families. The pans are worn, and dented, and even have a couple of wholes in them, and while I do own some newer bread pans, these are the ones I use and cherish most.

I've been reading the Little House on the Prairie series to Simeon. Making bread makes me think of Ma and Laura making bread so regularly. Creates a special bond...peculiar, I know, but satisfying and comforting at the same time. Sure, I could go and buy the bread at the grocery store, it would save me time and energy, but then I wouldn't have the satisfaction of making it, nor the satisfaction of people appreciating my hardwork.

The more I learn about the art of breadmaking, the more I realize that its an art, a science. It's a way for me to exercise some creative energy and at the same time, use my mind for something other than teaching simple arithmatic and reading. It's a challenge, and one that I thoroughly enjoy.

So...if you are ever down this way, let me know, I'll make sure to have some fresh homemade bread, some homemade jam and a nice cup of tea, or lemonade...we can have an old fashioned visit, and appreciate the simple pleasures of yesteryear.

My garden

I've enjoyed checking out my garden over the past few days. Our tomato plants are finally starting to grow, thanks to this long awaited heat wave. My lettuce is doing well, and I can't wait for a fresh salad, once my teeth are fully recovered.My flowers are doing nicely as well. I am so excited, I noticed a bud on my miniature yellow rose bush this afternoon. I'll be checking it every couple of days. I LOVE yellow roses.

I've also discovered some pests. I have some of those BLASTED aphids on my bleeding hearts as well as my butterfly bush and my climbing rose bush. I took care of those with some murphy's soap oil mixed with water. I was glad to see a bunch of spider's by all of those plants though. Eat up spider's, let's get rid of those nasty critter's together.

My delphiniums have been struggling. Something is clipping the leaves, and leaving simply the stems. No one really knows what could be doing it, but anyway. Of my 6 plants, I only had 3 that were looking good. I'm glad to share however, that the other three have more stems and leaves coming. I must look like a real goof talking to my plants...grow little flower, grow, grow!

Alas, I'm hoping for lots of flowers to admire in both the garden, and in a vase on my kitchen table! I LOVE flowers!

Tooth Update...

So the surgery itself went well. I no longer have my four wisdom teeth. Overall, I have little to no pain. My cheeks hurt more than my teeth, and I think that's from the swelling. I hoping that I will be back to eating normal food in a few days. So far, I've managed to eat stuff that will "dissolve/melt" in my mouth, rather than anything I actually have to chew. I'm taking it really easy, for fear of the dreaded dry socket. I've been looking forward to getting the all clear and start running. While I'm enjoying the gum numbing effects of ice cream, I'm dreading what its doing to my hips. LOL

WooHoo!

My sister sent me an e-mail about a class action suit for overpayments of student loans. In Quebec, the provincial government is the one that takes care of all of that stuff...Anyway, all this to say that I'm getting back almost 320 dollars. It's so exciting to me to see how God provides. It's not like we "need" anything, but with having my wisdom teeth out, it will definitely help. Yeah for unexpected cheques!