Is so random!
Here in the ‘Burgh we have had winter for a hot minute but all that changes this week as we are looking at temps soaring into the 50’s… sigh. That means all the snow we got will melt… we had some melting yesterday which turned the steps to get outside an icy danger zone… that was so delightful for my jaunts outside with Sherman… NOT! More ice chipping will be happening shortly to hack back last nights re-icing.
I have baked two higher hydration (85% hydration) sourdough loaves and the results have been delightful. Yes, higher hydration dough is stickier… but it is not unmanageable… especially when you dip your hand in water! Yes… dough won’t stick to a wet hand. It’s an ingenious trick for baking! The crust is thin and so crisp and the interior dough is soft! I think 85% is the “winter sweet spot” for baking… so I’d like it to remain winter for just a bit longer! LOL
Yum!! I wish you could hear it singing!
The other great thing about sourdough is having an ever-replenishing supply of sourdough discard… and last week I stumbled upon the PERFECT discard recipe. (Thank you, King Arthur Bakers!) I made Sourdough Crumpets twice last week and oh my gosh! So so so good! Added bonus… so so so so easy! You do need Crumpet Rings… or something similar. But really… all you sourdough bakers out there… you must try these!
I also want to share some incredible wisdom from a post that Ailbíona McLochlainn shared in her newsletter last week. I wish this was advice I had heard decades ago (long before I stopped worrying about “being in fashion” and just began dressing how I wanted… what I liked… how it made me feel…) but her words are so spot on. And… I think that adorable vest might be my next project once I have the Great Cabled Sweater finished.
Finally… I have a new project that I started last week, one I am doing in connection with my word this year. It is a 100-day project… which intrigued me when I stumbled upon it last year in the midst of the hundred days. I began last Thursday and the idea is that I will spend no more than 15 minutes a day stitching on my pages. Day One I spent a bit longer than 15 minutes (20-ish) because that appliqué “pot” was a bit of a challenge to get stitched down. Rather than just “free stitch” along with Ann, I signed up for her Stitch Club, which just might be the best part of all! As you can imagine, it is an international community of very creative makers who share, encourage, and inspire. I am enjoying the 15 minutes of additional stitching each day… and I am really enjoying the community!
It’s is amazing what one can do in fifteen simple minutes a day…
And with that, I bid you a very good Monday! I have ice to chip and laundry to wash… see you all back here on Wednesday!
Cute new stitching project Kat – I like it! And your sourdough bread looks yummy. Glad you have discovered the “sweet spot” for making that. Still a day for bundling up today, but we are supposed to be on a warming trend too with rain later in the week (at least the cars should get clean!).
Mmm … crumpets! Your bread looks delicious, and I’ll have to remember that water trick for dough. I was stretching pizza dough last night and it was a sticky mess. Your stitching is great, and I hope to see more!
golly does that loaf of sourdough look good! And crumpets…another food I want to eat. I do love the stitching project 🙂
I don’t know what it is about it, exactly, but stitching brings its own kind of joy. Different than so much other making, if you ask me. And I love hearing about yours! Ann’s images are a rabbit hole I’m always glad to get lost in — though so much of what she makes is teeeeny tiny, and my fingers feel so big!
Yum…crumpets ♥
Yes to high necks for those as want them, and YES to that bread which looks outrageously delicious.
Love, love , love your stitching project. Hope you share progress with us a lot. The bread looks yummy.
Your sourdough loaf looks fantastic! I’ve made those crumpets and they are awesome. The popovers are pretty good, too! Enjoy your 100 days of stitching.
That bread looks so good and I’m sure the crumpets were delish! I really do want to conquer sourdough this year, and I’m guessing it’s not quite as complicated as I’m making it out to be in my head. We’ve had the same issue with ice coming down off the roof and making things slippery and messy outside, but at least that should all melt this week!
The stitched piece is so cute.
As for necks ………………I don’t know whether mine is short or avg. I suppose it leans toward short since the rest of me is somewhat short. I’ve always worn turtlenecks. I love them. If you don’t like the way I look in them…. look another way. LOL
Your bread looks delicious and I bet the crumpets were a treat. I admire your persistence with sourdough. Today we finally got above freezing – 35 degrees after 12 days a bitter cold. I am also intrigued by your 100 day project. I can’t wait to see more of that.
I don’t think I’ve ever actually HAD a crumpet, but they certainly sound wonderful! And your bread looks divine! We are FINALLY warming up to nearly freezing today — with rain. Ugh. My least favorite weather = rain-on-snow. But a bit of a thaw will be welcome! Love the newsletter piece — and that vest is really cool. I’m looking forward to watching your stitch book evolve over the next 100 days. XO