The Feathered Nest

The softer side of MaisonBisson

Cinematic Inspiration August 12, 2009

TowerGirl @ 5:54 pm
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Going home
I read the book Julie & Julia, and I loved it. I loved the connection between food and self. I loved that it showed the hard work that goes into marriage. I like that it showed that the hard work is worth it.  I have a passionate relationship with books I love. I become fiercely protective of them. So, when Hollywood decides to meddle with one of my books I am wary.

Today I went to see the movie. I will now confess that I enjoyed the movie too. It was more really good mac n’ cheese than coq au vin. It was comfort food. It was satisfying. It combined the things I love: food, writing, commitment, and the celebration of imperfection. It served them up with a big ol’ side of hope.

I left the theater and went the grocery store. Right now, the house is filled with the smell of garlic and roast chicken. I don’t claim to be an expert on the cinema. I don’t really claim to be an expert on anything. All I know is I watched the movie and then felt an overwhelming need to cook. I give this film two thumbs up and those thumbs are covered in garlic-y, buttery goodness.

 

Focaccia August 5, 2009

TowerGirl @ 12:21 pm
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focaccia

I have not given up on bread, I have just been busy. This recipe is a keeper. I used the focaccia recipe from The Bread Baker’s Apprentice and divided it into three sections. I froze two of the sections and put the other in the fridge overnight. The next day I took the dough from the fridge and gave it about three and a half hours to come to temperature. I caramelized a bunch of Bermuda onions and cut stems of rosemary from my window herb garden. I cooked it on my new bread stone and the results were super yummy.

A few days later, I took one of the dough balls from the freezer and gave it most of the day to defrost and proof. That night, I baked it on the stone for five minutes in a 500 degree oven and then topped it with seasonal tomatoes, fresh basil, zucchini, onions, goat cheese, and parmesan. Then I stuck it back in the oven until everything was golden and bubbly. It made fresh and wonderful pizza. I plan on always keeping some dough in the freezer. This recipe knocked the socks off any prepared doughs I’ve used. Now, I just need to master the cool dough tossing thing. My attempts left me with a dough hat; neither hygienic nor attractive.

 

The Sweet Taste of Defeat July 13, 2009

TowerGirl @ 11:23 am
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cinnamon buns

It may not be possible to make a bad cinnamon roll. Sweet dough, cinnamon, and a gooey glaze: what’s not to like?  I used the recipe from The Bread Baker’s Apprentice and the results were sublime, even if I only baked them because I lost a bet. This recipe calls for a bit of citrus in the dough. I used lemon zest and it gave a nice freshness that lightened the sometimes oppressive heaviness of such toothache inducing confections.

I believe the hubby was satisfied with his winnings. He certainly had no problem consuming his spoils. I confess to eating my share as well. Sweet defeat.

 

Bread Update July 8, 2009

TowerGirl @ 8:05 pm
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Bread
“Good things come to those who wait.” I have found this wise old adage to be very true in baking bread. I hope it also applies to waiting for me to post about my bread making escapades. Above is a photo of specimen A. It is a classic white bread; good for sandwiches and toast. I am mostly pleased with the result. It came out moist and tasty. My one wish is that it came out a bit taller. I like my bread, like my men, to have some height. I let it rise longer than suggested, but it still isn’t the majestic loaf I wanted.

What I learned by this initial experiment is that you cannot bake bread if you are in a rush. It took most of the day. Of course, much of the time was waiting for it to rise or “proof” as my cookbook calls it. This allowed me plenty of time to give the house a good cleaning. I felt rather like a frontier woman, albeit a frontier women with plumbing, lots of appliances, and a terrific soundtrack to help the task along. Tomorrow, I continue my journey yeast. I lost a bet to the hubby. Since we share a bank account, waging money is an exercise in absurdity.  In our house, the stakes are much higher than mere dollars. We bet fresh baked cinnamon buns. I lost, I bake. I’ll let you know how things go. Update: here’s the Cinnamon Bun story.

 

Mission: Bread June 24, 2009

TowerGirl @ 8:41 am
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Bread
My vacation starts today. I have a glorious month and a half without having to go to work and perform all the other time consuming tasks of my profession. This gives me lot of free time to pursue an endeavor that I have long wanted to, if not master, then become proficient in. Dough has always been a struggle for me. It is too dry or too wet. It sticks or doesn’t come together properly.  Thanks to my food processor, I can finally assemble a passable pie crust, but I want bread.

There is something so comforting about fresh baked bread. It’s all yeasty goodness and love. It think there are few foods that are such a testament to time and care as a loaf of homemade bread. On a chilly winter afternoon, I want to be able to produce a warm pot of soup and a crusty loaf of bread.

Yesterday, I purchased a copy of The Bread Baker’s Apprentice by Peter Reinhart. I also picked up a selection of flours, yeast, lard, and my first food scale. I read over all the introduction and feel like I am ready to give it a spin.  I thing I will begin with a basic loaf of white bread. I will report back on my adventures as they unfold.

Thanks to Adactio for the lovely photo.