Sunday, February 20, 2011

Winter Grilling and Woodstove Cooking

Flat bread on the grill begins with a basic pizza dough recipe. Yeast, water, flour, salt and olive oil. Rise about three hours then roll out thinly with parchment between each bread. Heat the grill. Ask husband to change propane tank because first one ran out. Reheat grill.


 Place dough directly on grill. Close lid and cook for about a minute. Check bread to avoid burning bottom to a crisp.

Reposition over lower flame for another thirty seconds or so. Poke any bubbles to deflate.






Flip over and heat another thirty seconds to minute with cover down.








Meanwhile back inside, dig dutch oven from the depths of the woodstove oven. Here we have goat loin stewed in a quart of this summer' tomatoes and a quart of this fall's chicken stock along with various spices. The sauce really cooks down over time in the oven. Be sure to have plenty of liquid in the dutch oven. It cooks down quickly into a thick savory sauce...that can turn into burnt crusty goat jerky in no time at all if you don't keep enough moisture in the vessel.


While I was at it I baked several dozen of my ginger oat kitchen sink saucer-sized cookies. I had an order of two dozen to fill and our own cookie jar was empty. I did these in our conventional oven as the cookie sheets don't fit in the wood oven.









Lastly, I made some peanut pumkin soup which starts with a roasted pumpkin in the wood oven followed by a long slow stew of sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin and stock on the wood stove.



I don't have to cook for a few days.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Fiber Group

Today we had a "Fiber Group" meeting. A few of us ruminant lovers get together from time to time to craft a bit whilst we chat. The topics generally comprise of some sort of craft or cookery that we are interested in. Our hope is to bring a few more into the fold and exchange ideas and resources...at the very least we make progress on our projects.
 Jen demonstrates drop spindling. I love the color of the fiber she's using. She sells her work at markets here in the Upper Valley. You can check out her etsy store for a selection of sheep fiber and such.








Linda brought some knitting as well as a lovely rug hooking project. Both Linda and Jen spin fiber and serve as knowledgable resources.

Anne joined us today with thoughts of learning to spin and acquiring some tools and materials. I hope our group will continue to meet as it is a great time to catch up, see what others are doing and keep momentum going.

Its satisfying to connect with folks who have varied interests in crafts. I never get bored with all the choices at my fingertips. I only get frustrated that I have just one life with this particular skill set and opportunities and not enough time.

Poor me.
; )

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

It's Been Too Long...

I love trees and my son and I made an alphabet tree.











Complete with snake...









which he felt should eat the yellow apples.