Fallen a bit by the wayside in keeping the blog updated. My excuse is that I decided Mak' Bread needed to be on Facebook and I've been getting lessons. Yes, I know that's silly but I couldn't get to grips with it at all. Today was the day to put all the tuition into practice. I also thought I'd make a cranberry and pecan nut sourdough loaf. Here is a tip - it is not a good idea by and large to mix baking and Facebooking! Got so wrapped up in pressing the right buttons that I took my eye off the oven and the loaf is now browner than it should be. Still I'm sure it'll be fine with a bit of cheese!
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Jim has cleaned out his beer barrel ready for brewing up another batch. He started this lot back in the summer and started drinking it in September. He rationed himself well and made it last but now what was left had lost it's oomph and he wanted to empty it all out and start again. He filtered out the sediment and gifted me the remains. Then he sat back and waited to enjoy the beer and fennel rolls that popped out of the oven. They tasted rather good. Pity I'll have to wait six months to get another batch! Beer and Fennel Rolls
500g strong flour 5g dried yeast Tablespoonful of crushed fennel seeds 350 ml warm beer Mix everything together and knead for 10 minutes until smooth and silky. Leave to rest, covered, until double in size. Divide into 10 pieces, shape into balls and roll out to flatten. Brush with an egg white wash (use the yolk to make cookies) and leave, covered, to prove for 45 minutes. Brush again with egg white wash and cut a cross into the top. Bake at 210C for 15 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool for 15 minutes before eating. Oh the vagaries of our weather! This morning I was out walking with a friend in glorious (and warm) sunshine, this afternoon we have snow! Had a lovely few days in Cumbria and the Lake District last week. They had sunshine and surprisingly little rain despite the storms battering the rest of the country. Lovely to see things beginning to grow 'though. Snowdrops are everywhere in the Lake District but little sign yet of Wordsworth's daffodils. His house in Grasmere was worth a look instead . 'Spring must be around the corner', she says, hopeful that this afternoon's snow is just a wee glitch. |
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Hello, I'm Marianne. I live in Central Scotland with my husband, Jim, and an occasional rabbit. Glad you could join me :) Archives
November 2017
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