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[exiledinpn]

Forgive me oh Kibo for I have sinned. It has been two weeks since my last update...

I've had a houseguest for the last nine days, which has put a cramp in my lifestyle, but they left this morning, so things are back to normal. I have a glass of acceptable red.

Comments

[exiledinpn]

Full recipe; I use half of this to make a ~25cm round loaf, which is plenty for three people.

1) mix 1Tbsp sugar and 1Tbsp yeast with 1 cup warm water and stick it somewhere warm until it gets puffy.

2) When it has frothed up, stick 1kg flour and 1 Tbsp salt ina large bowl. Add the yeast mixture and another 500ml water, and knead into a dough. Slap it around for a few minutes until it is smooth and elastic, then cover it with a damp cloth and stick it somewhere warm again until doubled.

3) When the dough has risen, punch a hole in it to release some of the air. The the fun bit: gradually knead in 75ml of olive oil (a few glugs) and some chopped fresh herbs (they suggest thyme, rosemary and oregano; you might need quarter of a cup, but its really up to you). When its done, seperate the dough in two (or more) and form it into loaves. I go for a round flat loaf, but you could go long and flat - up to you. Again, stick it somewhere warm to double. You can decorate the top with rock salt and more herbs if you want.

4) bake that sucker. Brush the top with olive oil, then 220 C / 493 K for 15 minutes; then reduce the temperature to 200 C / 473 K for another 20 minutes. Brush with water every 10 minutes to get a good crust.

5) Eat (do I really need to tell you this bit?)

All up you're looking at a three-quarters of an hour of attention over an afternoon, so not very intensive. And kneading dough is relaxing.

(A half batch is plenty for three breadaholics)

[giffydoll]

there is actually yeast already in my flat. I can totally do this, although I'm not sure we have a bowl large enough to deal with 1kg of flour!

[exiledinpn]

Again, use a half mixture. It's fine for three. I'm actualy thinking of downscaling further to a third if its just the two of us.

[giffydoll]

thanks for the dumming down for me :) I already added the post to my "memories" so that I can find it again later.

Oh, you remember when we came over and I was talking about aspiring to 50s housewifeness?

One of my friends I talked to about it, got quite excited and wants us to have a "club". I'm willing for us to make a website and badges. She was googling and found lots of sites from SaHMs and some stuff justifying being ladies of leisure, but we want something more to celebrate the skills that that they were famous for and us for wanting to have them (ie gardening, cooking, sewing, keeping the house) etc.
You keen on being in on this at all? Is just a bit of fun.

I already have a graphic designer who will make images and my uberkeen buddy has already roped an "award-winning knitter" in and she is willing to do some writing up for it.

I haven't got anything in particular in mind for you to contribute, (although gardening tips and recipes would be awesome) I just love the idea of having a guy in the club. :)

So far is mostly just an idea, but is beginning to gain momentum. Who knew me blathering about wanting to be a 50s housewife would actually resound with some people??

[exiledinpn]

Do we get valium?

It's essential to 50's housewifeness. That, and alcoholism.

[giffydoll]

Valium may be difficult to obtain, but I'm all up for the alcoholism!

[evie_fae]

I only aspire to some of the housewifely skills, (gardening, sewing) and I have no hope of being allowed to just stay home and ply them... How inclusive is this club?
I did aspire to cooking skills, but then Jarratt decided to have a try after watching me a few times, and it turned out he has a talent for it that I really lack. XD

[giffydoll]

Pretty inclusive. You would totally be welcome. Is more about celebrating the skills and the fact that people want to be good at stuff like that. Plus having fun with the idea of 50s housewifeness and the awesome styliness that is the 50s.

Jarratt would also be welcome :)

It's not like you don't *want* to stay home and ply them.

My biggest fear is that there are people out there who will take this whole thing too seriously and get angry at us for being unfeminist or something. meanies!

[ghetsuhm]

You may find you get more bang out of your fresh herbs if you do what I do with the rosemary - stick it in BEFORE you do the main rise. The warmth and time means (I think, I may be imagining it) you get a warm mellow rosemary flavour infused through the dough. Then I put more fresh rosemary on the top just before I bake it. I loathe dried rosemary though, it's like pine needles picked off the carpet in January.