More Cookbook Challenge, more bread, some fiber

We're back on the cookbook challenge. DH picked out Alice Waters The Art of Simple Food for June. Today I cooked cream scones, and added pistachios and cranberries to them. I accidentally ate on while it was still warm... it was pretty good. I'll look for something healthier to cook from it...

I made some greek/greekish dishes from the internet and from the Sea Salt and Honey cookbook (which is due back at the library). I made a beet and orange salad, served over some Mizuni and Arugula from the garden; Fava (a spread similar to hummus but with yellow split peas), and shrimp saganaki; the first day we had it with homemade crackers (1/3 whole wheat), the second with homemade whole wheat sourdough, both nights with a nice bottle of Sclavos Robola of Cephalonia (in celebration of Penelope and Odysseus).

The whole wheat sourdough boule did not work out well.  It seemed to have plenty of structure; it got a lot of folding and stretching; the first rise went well, I shaped the loaf and put it in the fridge overnight... It may have been overproofed when I got around to it the next day, but something happened and it just deflated right before it went in the oven. You could even see a little fold at the edge where it fell. I was devastated. However it tasted great and the texture was fine, it was just flatter than expected and it overflowed the dough sling I'd bought just for this purpose. I also used the stock pot because I forgot we had a dutch oven, although I doubt that was the issue. I'll be baking again this weekend to see if I can figure it out!

I used the Clever Carrot's light whole wheat recipe, with the starter named Krusty. https://www.theclevercarrot.com/2014/01/sourdough-bread-a-beginners-guide/)

For the next loaf, I'll use S's instructions and her starter "Hermione"; it's already fed and out of the fridge. I also need to replenish the crackers; I'm going to try a sourdough discard recipe

• Work on the table: Nope. And still looking at other ideas for the pool deck.
• Make 2 runners: Thread is here. I need to wind a warp.
• Bronson Lace: I'm threading.
• Test the Seamwork Hansie pattern: It's done. It's a little baggy on the back of the arm. I'm thinking about how to fix it. This might be related to the fact that my shoulders slope more from neck to arm than they do for the average person. Or it could be that I have a rounded upper back from years of slaving away over a computer screen. Meanwhile, I've decided to use an old pattern that I've used for two sleeveless tops for the Bronson. It'll be fabulous.
• I did a small amount of spinning on the fiber I started at DH's gig.
• I'm knitting on the Invito.
  

I do have some concerns about the Invito fit. It's a top down raglan with a high front v-neck; I should be able to try it on as I go to check the fit. Basically you're increasing along the raglan lines I think until the armpits. Looking at my body shape, I notice a distinct drop off from my shoulder to my arm when my arm is hanging at my side. So... doesn't it make sense that it wouldn't increase as fast once you hit the shoulder? Maybe I'm suppose to wear it standing akimbo? I asked my knitting group and I don't think they understood my point... I'm going to have to either a) think on this a bunch or b) trust the pattern.

I have no photos today so here's one of the mister playing at his gig. It was fun to say "I'm with the band"!

Toast!

The last time I posted (mid May), I seemed to have some momentum... but it feels like it's faded. But one of the reasons I keep this blog is to prove (to myself) that things are not as lazy as they seem!  I've annotated the list I made last time:

• Finish Shiny: Yep! It's done. Although it fit PERFECTLY off the needles, it grew about an inch in every dimension after a quick blocking. Wah. I'm going to wear it a few times before I shorten sleeves or look at other options.
• Work on the table: Yep! I worked on the table! I cut 20 or so more leaves but still need another 20 or 30. I'm looking at ideas for the poolside dining table.
• Make 2 runners: We picked one out! And I ordered fiber! So that's progress.
• Finalize decisions and set up the Bronson lace for weaving: Decisions are made. It's wound. I just can't seem to get the energy to get it on the loom
• Test the Seamwork Hansie pattern: Nope. No progress here, but since I'm waiting on the Bronson lace fabric, yeah, that's okay.

The DH played keyboards at a Jam Session at a local brew pub one Sunday; I walked there (yikes! 10 miles, the last 3 with blisters) but then spent the afternoon spinning on the Nano and listening. I started a blue/green merino/silk/bamboo.

I started a very basic sweater in Invito and I'm pretty excited about it.

You may see a loaf of bread but 
I see Toast and Sandwiches

On the cooking front, I found a wheat that doesn't hurt me!!!  I now have a bread journal; if you're reading this (and you're not me) and want to look at it, send me an email. I currently have 2 sourdough cultures going (should I combine them?).  I've made two loaves of plain white sandwich bread (easy) and one loaf of sourdough sandwich bread using this recipe. I'll admit the sourdough is more interesting, but the plain white bread was pretty good too!  There was also an 18 minute plus baking exercise in Matzo, and some seeded crackers (seeds didn't stick). Still yummy.

I also cooked the stuffed peppers from Tsakiris's Sea Salt and Honey cookbook that I picked up at the library, using leftover turkey from the freezer, quinoa, and some rather interesting spices.  It's not the right cookbook if you want to cook classical greek food, but it's an interesting Greek-ish cookbook with lovely commentary and some interesting dishes!