One of my favorite no-knead variations…. This version of no-knead bread uses steel cut oats in the dough to yield bread that is denser than the traditional no-knead bread. It is a great choice to use with a slice of cheese or a bowl of soup. Steel Cut Oats No-Knead Bread 2 1/4 cup all…
Tag: photos
Philadelphia Flower Show
This year I served as a volunteer Horticulture Barrier Aide at the Philadelphia Flower Show – that means I stood behind the judges holding one end of a plastic rope to keep people away from the judges as they were judging the flowers. We followed our group of judges through may different classes including container…
Chocolate Nut Cherry No Knead Bread
Yet another variation of the no-knead bread baked in cast iron at high heat… This version uses cocoa to add a chocolate flavor. I also added some sugar to make it a little sweet and chopped nuts and dried cherries. For my first loaf, I used two tablespoons of cocoa which yielded a mild chocolate…
2013 Great Backyard Bird Count
This weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. The four-day count is an opportunity for bird watchers from all over the United States and Canada to submit a list of the different species visiting their yards. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes…
Fastnachts (German Doughnuts)
Today is Fastnacht Day here in the Pennsylvania German area of Pennsylvania. I have copied my post from last year about fastnachts below. Happy Fastnacht Day! There are two different traditions in my life related to the German yeast doughnuts known as fastnachts or fashnachts. My German mother-in-law made fastnachts on Good Friday because they abstained from meat…
Parmesan Garlic No-Knead Bread
Here is yet another variation of the no-knead crusty break baked at high heat in cast iron. This is a good choice to go with any type of Italian food. For more variations on no-knead bread, click here. Other no-knead recipes coming soon include chocolate cherry, cinnamon not and steel cut oats so make sure…
Water for the Birds in Winter
A source of clean fresh water is essential for the birds. During much of the year, they can find natural sources but as winter hits in many areas, the creeks and puddles become frozen. During the winter, a birdbath will be very popular with the local birds. If you live where it drops below freezing…
Very Berry No Knead Bread
Another variation on the no-knead method of baking bread in cast iron to yield a bakery-style bread with crusty outside and soft inside. This variation uses dried berries to make a great breakfast loaf. Very Berry No-Knead Bread 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon yeast 2 tablespoons sugar 3/4 cup…
Two Sparrows
There are two different types of sparrows sitting in our discarded Christmas tree (Christmas trees make great cover for the birds during the winter. After we remove the decorations, we move it to the patio for the birds). The upper sparrow is a song sparrow and the lower is the easily identified white-throat sparrow. Here…
Blackberry Cake
During the summer, I picked 19 pounds of blackberries at our local orchard. This winter the frozen berries have been wonderful as pies and cobblers. This recipe is a cross between a cobbler and a cake and a very good way to use some blackberries. Blackberry Cake 1/2 cup butter, cut into chunks 1 cup…
Muesli No-Knead Bread
This variation of the no knead bread baked in cast iron uses 10 grain cereal to make a breakfast loaf with grains, dates, seeds and raisins. Baking the moist dough at high temperatures in the cast iron yields a loaf with crusty chewy exterior and soft tender interior. Muesli No-Knead Bread 3 cups unbleached all-purpose…
Goat Expressions
“I am having a good day, chewing my hay and waiting for judging at the Farm Show.” “Forget about that other goat, I am pretty confident that I am going to win first place.” “Grrrrr… Step away from the goat pen!”
The Pileated Feeder
The pileated woodpecker is a large, shy woodpecker that does not normally frequent feeders. Although, it usually stays in the woods, we are often treated to the sight of a pair of pileateds that live in the woods behind our house as they come to the edge of the tree line to feed. Though not…
Swedish Cinnamon Ring
When I was in high school we had a Swedish high school student live with use for several weeks through the International Farm Youth Exchange program. Gunilla gave my mother a Swedish recipe book before she left and one recipe that we made many times over the years is a cinnamon yeast dough that can…
Frosty Morn
With temperatures hovering around freezing, it was a frosty morning for the horse pulling the Old Order Mennonite buggy. (The Mennonite buggies are black while Amish buggies in this part of Pennsylvania are gray.)
Tractor Square Dancing
Tractor Square Dancing at the 2013 Pennsylvania Farm Show
Whole Wheat Multi-Grain No Knead Bread
This variation of the no-knead bread baked in cast iron is one of our favorites. It is denser than the traditional no-knead. It uses one cup of whole wheat flour in addition to the unbleached flour. You also add 1 cup of 10 grain cereal (uncooked). The cereal can be found in health food stores…
A Bit of Butter
The 2013 Pennsylvania Farm Show just completed a week-long celebration of agriculture in Pennsylvania with exhibits, lots of food, animal exhibits and judging (over 6,000 animals), special events and then there is always the butter sculpture. This year’s butter sculpture focused on Pennsylvania’s products. The PA Farm Show is the largest indoor agricultural event in…
Filled with Joy and Peace
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Jalapeno and Cheddar No Knead Bread
My fascination with baking bread in cast-iron using the no-knead method continues. Using a covered cast iron pot to bake the moist dough at a high temperature yields the type of bread you purchase in a bakery with a crusty, chewing crust and soft interior texture. This is a variation that adds one cup of…
Nature and Life Notes 