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Jan. 20th, 2008 11:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ksmithThat's what the stick-on-the-window thermometer showed earlier this morning. The one attached to the tree about 6 feet away from the house showed -5F.
I didn't even want to think about walking to the end of the drive to get the papers, but King was pacing and bugging me every time I sat down, then walking and standing by the door. So. Ski pants, instead of yesterday's wool pants. Heavier socks. Two layers under coat instead of one, a stretchy long-sleeve biking shirt beneath a fleece pullover. Coat and scarf and boots and headband that covers ears.
The heavy gloves don't really work. I have to hold King's lead in one hand and clench the other into a fist inside the body of the glove. But the fingers of that glove then get very cold, and I hate stretching out my fingers so I can change hands.
King, meanwhile, trotted along oblivious. This is, after all, the dog whose idea of fun is running through frozen marshes and smashing the ice to bits. He's drowsy now--I keep it anywhere from 63-66F during the day, but that's apparently enough to lull him.
I didn't write much yesterday. The problem with Saturdays is that it's usually my catch-up-on-chores-and-cooking day. Errands. Shopping. Baked pioneer bread, which I must say is curious stuff. I had never baked a quick bread with whole wheat flour before. It didn't rise much at all, and I was concerned that it would be underdone inside even though the toothpick came out clean, and follow the Palmer House Brownies into that failed recipe graveyard in the sky. But it was indeed done inside, and came out looking like this:
It's very good when toasted, then slathered with cream cheese and strawberry rhubarb preserves. But it's not very sweet, so you could use it to make a ham or turkey sandwich or as a side bread with salads or soups.
Today I have questionnaires to fill out and other online stuff to do and dinner to make--Cornish game hen with orange-honey glaze (except I'm going to substitute apple juice for orange juice and See What Happens), sides to be determined. Doing laundry now. The washer has developed an intermittent squeaking noise which I hope is due to cold and not indicative of anything serious.
And finally, a bouquet of flowers that graced my room for a time, because I think we could use them.
I didn't even want to think about walking to the end of the drive to get the papers, but King was pacing and bugging me every time I sat down, then walking and standing by the door. So. Ski pants, instead of yesterday's wool pants. Heavier socks. Two layers under coat instead of one, a stretchy long-sleeve biking shirt beneath a fleece pullover. Coat and scarf and boots and headband that covers ears.
The heavy gloves don't really work. I have to hold King's lead in one hand and clench the other into a fist inside the body of the glove. But the fingers of that glove then get very cold, and I hate stretching out my fingers so I can change hands.
King, meanwhile, trotted along oblivious. This is, after all, the dog whose idea of fun is running through frozen marshes and smashing the ice to bits. He's drowsy now--I keep it anywhere from 63-66F during the day, but that's apparently enough to lull him.
I didn't write much yesterday. The problem with Saturdays is that it's usually my catch-up-on-chores-and-cooking day. Errands. Shopping. Baked pioneer bread, which I must say is curious stuff. I had never baked a quick bread with whole wheat flour before. It didn't rise much at all, and I was concerned that it would be underdone inside even though the toothpick came out clean, and follow the Palmer House Brownies into that failed recipe graveyard in the sky. But it was indeed done inside, and came out looking like this:
It's very good when toasted, then slathered with cream cheese and strawberry rhubarb preserves. But it's not very sweet, so you could use it to make a ham or turkey sandwich or as a side bread with salads or soups.
Today I have questionnaires to fill out and other online stuff to do and dinner to make--Cornish game hen with orange-honey glaze (except I'm going to substitute apple juice for orange juice and See What Happens), sides to be determined. Doing laundry now. The washer has developed an intermittent squeaking noise which I hope is due to cold and not indicative of anything serious.
And finally, a bouquet of flowers that graced my room for a time, because I think we could use them.
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Date: 2008-01-21 12:18 pm (UTC)Pioneer bread
Included in the must-have cookbook of the new year, America's Best Lost Recipes by Christopher Kimball, is this updated version of Pioneer Bread, a dense quick bread with a history dating to the covered wagon era. It's perfect for everything from morning toast to an afternoon snack or a companion to soup at lunch or dinner.
MAKES 2 LOAVES (10 SERVINGS EACH)
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
2 cups buttermilk
½ cup corn syrup
1 cup walnuts (or pecans), chopped
½ cup raisins
½ cup dried dates, chopped
Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans. Whisk the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. Beat the egg in a medium bowl, then stir in the buttermilk and corn syrup. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until just combined (a few streaks of flour should remain), then stir in the walnuts (or pecans), raisins and dates until just incorporated.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean (about 1 hour). Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely (at least 45 minutes). Serve.
The bread will keep at room temperature wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 4 days. The bread also can be wrapped in 2 layers of aluminum foil and frozen for up to 2 months.
From America's Best Lost Recipes
Nutrition facts per serving: 205 calories, 4 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 11 mg cholesterol, 37 g carbohydrates, 5 g protein, 216 mg sodium, 3 g fiber