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Friday, October 14, 2011

Winding down and winding uP.

I get all happy on Friday.  I AM TGIF!  I get in my little Ford Focus Wagon and say, encouragingly, "Sweetheart!  It's Friday!  Only one more round of commute for the week and then you get some time off!"  Of course we both know that we only get one day off.  Saturday is a commute of another nature, with just as many miles logged.  Then we drive up the mountain to deliver eggs to our weekly egg customer (this week they had to settle for a half-dozen chicken and a half-dozen duck).  I also get to visit their dog (sweet Georgia, who knows I keep treats in the car) and their two Nigerian wethers, Roger and Wilbur.  More often than not, I am slightly the worse for wear by the time I get back into my car to head to the office.  Good thing there's no wardrobe checker at the door.

Since this weekend is going to be a mixed bag, weather-wise, I will split my time equally between my outdoor lists and my indoor lists.  Some day I will have to go back and re-read these Friday posts.  I am sure they are good for a laugh.  I've tried to get some of my weekend errands done during the week so I can have more usable time on Saturday.  Besides cleaning the house (I swept up a groundhog-sized hair ball this morning! - everyone's shedding!), I want to complete some of my UFOs.  I mean, really, how long will it take to weave in some ends?  I seem to have a real problem with actually finishing these things.  But, the holidays are coming up, I am going to 'do' a craft fair with Sylvie in November, and I want/need to get more on my Etsy site.  So there.  I have such lofty aims, don't I? 

Last night I managed to make a Queso Blanco AND make dinner at the same time.  I guess those fish oil capsules are paying off!  I made the poached salmon with the carrot pilaf and it was great!  Of course, it took longer than 20 minutes because I used long grain brown rice.  And I didn't put toasted pine nuts in the pilaf, I used some chopped sultanas in their place.  Yum!  I am also going to try my hand at some gluten-free baking this weekend.  So far, I have had very mixed results in finding edible food replacements (read: bread/bread products) that are gluten-free.  Glutino's Pretzel Twists are wonderful, but pricey.  I wrote them a nice email telling them so and they sent me coupons!  Cool beans!  But, on the flip side, last weekend, out of sheer desperation, I dropped $6 on a King Arthur Flour Gluten Free Bread Mix.  Here is my description of the outcome:  ick.  I should have heeded the warning bells that were set off when I read the directions on the outside of the package - 3 eggs.  I find it almost impossible to describe the texture of this non-bread product.  Pudding?  Bread?  Pudding Bread?  Even though I hate-hate-hate waste, and especially hate wasting eggs that are few and far between of late, I could only choke down a third of the so-called loaf and gave the rest to the chickens.  THEY loved it.  So I am going to try my own gluten-free baking.  I believe, however, I first must have a stand-up-and-testify moment and acknowledge that there is NO such thing as gluten-free bread.  There.  I've said it.  But, hope springs eternal in this bread-lovin heart.

11 comments:

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I know there is an ethopian bread that is like a pancake and made with teff flour, so gluten free:) they roll it up and use the bread like a spoon to scoop up the food. Hey, desperate times call for desperate bread.

Unknown said...

I so enjoyed reading your post. I liked the delivery of eggs and your description of Wilbur...love that name. Shedding and moulting, gosh when it rains it pours. You have me hungry for salmon now. I hope your weekend is fun (not cleaning) and your lists git shorter ;-)

Susan said...

Jane - Now, that is BREAD. That's what I need, something with a 2000 year history! And what the heck is teff? It sounds cardboard-y. No?

Nancy - The two boys look like bookends - with Wilbur being slightly more golden in color, and I think he's cuter. But don't tell Roger. I have to say that I enjoy my lists more than my job, but the one pays for the other, so there you are.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for chickens. Mine have saved me from wasting food many times. And, I don't think half a dozen duck eggs is settling at all. Lucky customers (hope they liked them!) :)

Susan said...

MF - I think duck eggs are my favorite eggs. I don't understand why some people are so hesitant to try them! I try and tell them that a dozen duck eggs sell for over $6 in the City!

judy said...

And how much does it cost to buy them in the country? Tell me nonya-my daughter does all the time nonya-none of your business-lol there is a smaller food market [ by that I mean it is still a grocery store ] but they have a whole line of gluten free products-I should buy one and see if Becca notices the difference---[choke,cough-she would ]I KEEP TELLING HOW MUCH BETTER YOU FEEL SINCE YOU STARTED THIS AND i SO ENVY YOU .I WISH I COULD BE MORE SELECTIVE AND MAKE ONLY SPECIALTY MEALS FOR MYSELF,THAT WAY I COULD EAT HEALTHIER, HAVE A GOOD ONE

Susan said...

Judy - I would hate to think how much each of those eggs cost me! I usually don't sell them because I use them myself.

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

Susan, Teff is a tiny little brown grain. Our co-ops and health food stores have it and if not, everything can be found on line. The bread is called Injera and here is a recipe if you like
http://chefinyou.com/2010/02/ethiopian-injera-recipe/

Susan said...

Jane - Thank you so much for the information! I will see if I can find teff flour in our co-op. I am a little leery about the "stink" part - have you made it? I've bookmarked the recipe and will try it. A comment led me to Staffordshire Oatcakes, too. Hooray!

Jenyfer Matthews said...

I have the impression that Injera is an acquired taste - you either love or hate it. Here's hoping you love it :)

Candy C. said...

Good luck in your quest for gluten-free "bread!" Most people tell me it does taste more like cake or pudding.
Yeah, we *really* don't want to know how much our homegrown, free chicken and duck eggs cost now do we?!? LOL!!