Friday Food Porn

It was a gorgeous day, and I spent most of it outside in front of the oven.  I baked a few loaves using a recipe I found at Farmgirl Fare for Farmhouse White.  I love this recipe, and I'll be using it again very soon.  The bread is soft, chewy, and moist.  I also branched out a bit from my regular thin crust masterpieces and baked a Sicilian style pizza.

Getting her all fired-up

I love, love, love my new infrared thermometer.  It let's me know when my baby is ready to go.  Not too hot, not too cold.  It's super-helpful  See the tiny red dot inside the oven?  Neat, huh?

Bread goes in, door goes on

Loaf #1

 I couldn't help myself, and I immediately tore into loaf #1.  Delicious.

Check out that beautiful bread bottom.

Loaf #2 went to my favorite neighbor.

 This was my first try at Sicilian style pizza, and it turned out beautifully.  I put the sauce on top of the cheese, and it kept the thick crust from getting soggy.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic after I baked it.

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 This was dinner last night.  Ben's co-worker gave us a dozen eggs from his backyard hens (our chicks arrive in about 10 days!), so I made a special quiche.  Homemade crust, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, goat cheese, parsley, sage, rosemary, oregano.

On days like this, I dream of all the canning of tomatoes and drying of herbs I'll do this summer.  I didn't get a chance to put up much food last summer, but this year will be different.  We've been using our mud oven a lot lately, and we can really cut down our food costs by using all home-grown ingredients on our pizzas and such.  Also, it will just plain taste better.

Brand New Pair of Shoes!

And not a moment too soon.  I ordered a pair of green Birki's last week, and they arrived yesterday. 

Yes, I spent almost fifty dollars on rubber shoes, something I never thought I'd do.  But, I have no regrets.  Last summer, I destroyed a great pair of trail shoes after repeatedly weeding the asparagus field and harvesting blueberries.  Those "waterproof" shoes couldn't stand up to the intense morning dew.  The glue melted off of them in a matter of several weeks.  

It's supposed to rain today (50% chance) for the first time in ages.  We had a good amount of snow this winter, but all that moisture is long gone.  We need a good soaking.  It's also supposed to rain tomorrow (70% chance).  So, my Birki's I will wear.  I think they will hold up to the rigors of farm life.  They're just seamless hunks of rubber, I guess.  The best part is that I can slip them off, hose off my feet and slip them right back on without worrying about the moisture.

Since rain is in the forecast, I'll be baking today.  I usually try to get all my baking out of the way when there is no possibility of getting anything done out of doors.  However, when I plan on using the mud oven, I bake on nice days. 

The boys are almost out of treats, so I'll be baking some today.  Here's the recipe:

 Peanut Butter Morsels

1 1/2 cup oat flour (grind old-fashioned oats in a blender)

1 cup brown rice flour (grind brown rice in a blender)

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 Tb. honey

1 egg

1/2 cup water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Mix all ingredients

Moisten your hands and form 1" balls of dough

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and press the center down with your thumb

Bake for 20 mins. or until golden brown (I like to flip them over after the first 10 mins.)

Allow to cool completely and place in a glass jar with lid tightly sealed

These treats stay fresh and crunchy for at least a week if stored properly.  Miles Giles and Thurgood Morsel go crazy for them.  The recipe is easily modified.  I sometimes omit the vanilla and cinnamon and replace the water with some sort of meaty broth.  I also add a little mashed banana or sweet potato sometimes.  Have fun with it!  The dogs will be overjoyed that you baked for them no matter how they turn out.

Update
It's raining!  I just brought the boys inside, and they're having a good nap.  It looks like it will be a very peaceful day.

Miles Giles on the couch (check out that pouty lip)