Happy July! June was a quiet month around here, with school getting out, and families traveling after big graduation events or simply being released from the daily school schedule. We even were the recipients of a wrapping on the house. Here in Texas when someone "toilet papers' your home as a prank, it is called a wrapping. And now it is July...and we are joining Sherry for In My Kitchen her monthly event where we all get caught up with one another, sharing all the kitchen activity from the month before!
July has always been a hot one, everywhere I have ever lived!
From California (my birth state), to Washington state, Oregon for a short time. Back to Washington, then Montana, Wyoming and now here in East Texas! And each home in each of these states has been the same in July, happy, food filled and with family around the table. But I have to be honest I have had zero interest in cooking dinner so far this summer, and I don't see a change in that weather very soon, LOL! Which means I really need to step up my coking game! This is summer time, food sharing time, food harvest time, food preservation time. It clearly is not time for zero interest.
I have been working on bread.
Whole Wheat Sourdough Sandwich Bread to be exact. I had developed, baked and even posted a final recipe about making sandwich bread using the whole wheat sourdough starter that I made for myself. And the bread was delicious, but there was a small large problem. The slices were too big to fit in the toaster! And as a toast lover I knew that must be remedied immediately. So I returned the post to draft and I have been working on taking what was a two loaf recipe and tweaking it to be a three loaf recipe with the same flavor, texture and softness. Needless to say it did not get republished in June, making my new recipes list a bit on the small side....
But around here bread is my staple food. It is eaten daily.
As a kid I loved white bread, but it was the only bread I knew. Even when mom baked it was white bread. It wasn't until about eight years ago that I even considered whole wheat bread for my family, and our daily bread. Being a late bloomer to the practice of whole food ingredients, I am still getting it all done right! Bread is usually the one thing that most folks can and do give up, but after healing from years of ulcers, it is the one thing I can always eat! Needless to say, a nutritious, high quality bread is quite important in my kitchen. Fortunately I have nine hens and one rooster that help with the failed loaves as recipe development continues on.
Oh, and I also started working on Laurie Colwin's Gingerbread with Chocolate Icing, in whole wheat of course. Because you can't live on bread alone! We will need to bake this one again (of course!) and stack it up with raspberry jam in the middle, as Laurie suggests! These two lovelies will show up in July!
New posts for June include:
Braised Cucumbers in Cream, from Julia Child. Let me just tell you, these are quite delicious! I would never have thought to cook cucumbers, but I urge you to give this dish a try. Plus with cucumbers in the garden, I have tasked myself with trying something new to us, each year...and being in charge of following through on my tasks, I have found a couple of delicious recipes that I would have never thought of before. This is one of those recipe finds...
Pork Steaks Braised in Milk. A cooking method I had remembered one day, and decided to try it out for my own dinner, some decades later! We enjoyed this method multiple times due to a good buy on pork and it seemed only natural to post it! Plus this braising method is hands free, and if you have a canning kitchen away from your everyday kitchen, the heat from the oven is out there...
And,
Please offer some wild and open space, for Homestead Sunday #9. We are big on the birds, the bees and the fireflies around here! And have been for a long time. This post is a monthly continuation of my Homestead Sunday series where I show a bit about what we do on our little homestead.
And June saw one other accomplishment, all of the older posts on Scratch Made Food! & DIY Homemade Household have been updated!
And with that, June has been reported. Funny while it doesn't look like much on paper when listed, June has been as busy as any month, only hotter than usual. But before speaking too soon, about hot weather, July is our hottest month here in East Texas...how about you? How did your own June shape up, drop a comment, I love hearing about it all!
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I tried the Julia Child cooked cucumber recipe once, when I first had the book. Somehow I have never made it again. Yes it does seem odd to cook a cucumber!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your cooking projects… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Mae, I was a real skeptic, but we liked this dish enough I will make it again. Especially since we often have more cucumbers than we can eat fresh...thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate it.
DeleteI do like to tweak recipes until I get them just right too. It sounds like you had a busy June. We did too with a few really hot days thrown in.
ReplyDeleteWell I think we have both learned that until the family likes "it" it probably won't be eaten, LOL. I am always amazed at how many wonderful things you share, you are my arm chair travel guide!
DeleteCooking cucumbers is a very interesting concept to me. I'm always prepared to try something new, after all cucumbers are really a fruit aren't they? Baking sourdough bread is an ongoing story for me as well. Bread should really be a staple, I find it hard to give it up and is very economical. I enjoyed your post, thankyou.
ReplyDeletePauline thank you! I agree, bread is a staple and I have come to question if I could give it up. Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate it.
DeleteI really enjoy reading about and seeing pictures of how you manage your homestead. I find it fascinating although I doubt I would enjoy raising hens or any farm animals.Your breads look amazing. I eat gluten free bagels occasionally but that's the only bread I eat. On the other hand, my husband is.a big bread eater. I used to bake bread when the kids were small but no more. I'm afraid I've become one to err towards convenience. Interesting post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJudee I think your cooking style has evolved as your family and busy lifestyle evolved. I think I knew I would happier with land and lots to do as we moved yearly as a child. You are one of my arm chair tour guides I enjoy!
DeleteThanks for joining in this month! Always good to see you. It is a big season for citrus and olives in australia this winter, so olive oils have been available much earlier in the season, and everyone is making citrus-y foods. (I made cordial, and preserved lemons.) Have a great month. And have fun with the breadmaking.
ReplyDeletecheers
sherry
Sherry I always enjoy seeing what is new in your kitchen, the world around us is full of food, and the best way to learn more about it is with a visit to a blog across the pond, Thanks so much for hosting!
DeleteNothing like needing to change a recipe to suit an appliance! I hope you get the perfect slice to toast, and as I always say, there is no such thing as failed bread, just perfect toast :)
ReplyDeleteTandy I have done that more than once, especially with limited storage space in my Tiny Home, I simply do not have room for more equipment! And I do love toast!
DeleteI hear you about not wanting to cook in the when it's hot outside. I try not to have to turn my oven on. I always look forward to your kitchen updates.
ReplyDeleteThanks bunches for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend. I'm so happy you're here.
Paula I keep telling myself it is because I am tired due to working outside all morning long, which does play a part, but I really need to get a new case of creativity, my current box is almost empty, LOL. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
DeleteI think we all grew up on white bread and it is still tasty, but now I love a delicious multigrain bread and the more seeds the better!
ReplyDeleteLisa, me too! The healthier the bread, the better from my perspective.
DeleteYour July kitchen reflections are warm and grounded in real life. I appreciate your honesty about summer cooking motivation, and your focus on whole, nourishing food is inspiring. The bread journey and cucumber dish both sound like meaningful and delicious projects.
ReplyDeleteMelody, thank you kindly.
DeleteYour bread looks so good - your persistence with recipe testing has definitely paid off! I've never thought of cooking cucumbers and might have to give it a try. The gingerbread looks delicious. My Texan geography isn't up to much but I do hope you are safe and well and haven't been affected by the floods.
ReplyDeleteSammie, we are over 300 miles away geographically. Right next door emotionally. I don't know how I could survive this if it was my child. Thank you for dropping by, I appreciate it. Tomorrow is bread day, three loaves for my grandson of our standard Honey Whole Wheat Bread, and another go round of my Whole Wheat Sourdough, wish me luck!
DeleteI hope that the Texas floods hasn't affected you or loved ones, what an awful happening in the world. on a different note my grandma always stir fried her cucumbers and often fried them with day old rice, it really worked because the juice from the cucumber made the rice succulent. taste of my childhood stuff. also, your bread looks incredible and is such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteDOS, thank you kindly for taking a moment to stop and offer such kind words. We stayed in the flood area when we were exploring Texas before moving here, but did not settle in that area. It breaks my heart to see the news updates and yet, I feel I must honor those lost by taking a moment to stop what I am doing, to show respect. Ahhhh bread, my eternal pride and struggle. Thank you on that front as well, and the cooking tip from your grandmother is priceless. Have a wonderful month and I look forward to another "visit" at Sherry's!
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