Sour Dough: Michael Pollan's Whole-Wheat Country Loaf

I did a lot of cooking this past weekend. Over the two days, I made: Moroccan beef chili, couscous, roast chicken, scalloped root vegetables, braised red cabbage, chicken stock, eggless banana bread, and ginger bug (my latest science project, in which I try to catch wild yeast with ginger-sugar water, from which I intend to make ginger beer!).

Oh, and Michael Pollan’s Whole-Wheat Country Loaf. That’s right, people--my starter works! I successfully baked two loaves of whole wheat sourdough bread with it.

Anniversary Starter

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 marked 15 years since Nick and I kissed on our friend Jasmine’s back porch in Hyde Park, Chicago. We’ve been together ever since.

We had circled each other warily for nearly a year—dated, broke up, argued, kissed, avoided each other, hung out late and kissed again—and after a summer mostly apart, we were on an official date. Nick had declared his love and I had said I would go out with him. He was late to pick me up (he told me later that he almost didn’t come at all). We went to Jasmine’s party, but didn’t tell anyone we were on a date. We figured that it would probably end badly, again. On the way home, I threw up out of sheer nerves (I’d had about half of a drink). I guess I could tell that this was something big. Nick kissed me again, anyway. I know that doesn’t sound very romantic, but it truly was.

Anadama Bread

In which I explain the significance of Anadama bread, attempt, despite obstacles, to make it, and mostly succeed.

First Bake, First Write

Little Z in moby wrap.

Little Z was born April 7, 2012. That’s two weeks and one day ago, and today’s the first day I’ve baked since she was born.

I’m hot and tired and my back aches, but it feels good to perform such familiar tasks—ones from my life before Little Z. It makes me feel continuous, like a whole and single person, even though so much has changed now that I’m—wow, take a moment—a mother.

Thanksgiving comes early

Thanksgiving came early to our house this year.

It's all Jodi Foster's fault. She directed this totally charming movie called Home for the Holidays, which I like to watch every year around Thanksgiving. Last month I kept putting off watching my Halloween specials (Is it really Halloween without the Great Pumpkin?)--and as a result never got to watch them at all! 

So when the dark set in early last night (I hate hate hate it when Daylight Savings time goes away), I comforted myself with the movie equivalent of tryptophan, and started in on my Thanksgiving roster. For those interested, the rest of my Thanksgiving films include Hannah and Her Sisters, The Ice Storm, and The House of Yes. I would, by they way, love to hear any recommendations to add to my list. 

Whole Foods + Marc Vetri + Olive Oil

This one has to start with a shout out to Food and Wine, if only because that’s where the recipe came from. I subscribed to the magazine a year or so ago because of some ridiculous deal, and I was frankly pretty unimpressed. I planned to cancel when the deal ended. But then the past few months, the magazine has been really good. With, like, recipes that I might actually cook and stories I enjoyed reading. Way to turn it around, Food and Wine.

Total Fail - The Cinnamon Roll Debacle

When I rolled over in bed this morning and offered Nick the choice between gingerbread pancakes and cinnamon rolls for breakfast, I was not anticipating any problems. I just had a yen to do some baking on a beautiful, sunny, crisp fall day. Yesterday I made a pumpkin pie. I’m in baking overdrive.

He chose cinnamon rolls. Yum.

While I love yeast dough rolls, the kind my mother made for Christmas morning, if it’s actually morning and I’m just pulling out the bowls, I go for quick rolls, made with biscuit dough. Cook’s Illustrated has a terrific recipe for Quick Cinnamon Rolls with Buttermilk Icing. I made it with my delightful young nephews last Thanksgiving – so we’re not talking difficult here.

Or so I thought (foreshadow, foreshadow).