things I have done today
Sep. 18th, 2011 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kindkit1) Read two entire Tintin comics in French. My brain hurts. The French isn't difficult at all but it's been a long, long time since I've read that much French at a go.
2) Written an angsty/slashy Tintin drabble, because I am that kind of person.
3) NOT worked on editing my XMFC fic, because I am also that kind of person.
4) Eaten bacon. Yum.
5) Eaten homemade carrot cake (made by me, the other day). Also yum.
6) Made biscuits (that would be American-style biscuits, which are like small non-sweet scones) and frozen the leftovers for consumption later.
7) Made bread successfully using Mark Bittman's recipe from How To Cook Everything. Last time I screwed up virtually every step and still got edible bread; this time, following the recipe more closely (I still used active dry yeast rather than instant, but proofed it properly) it turned out gorgeous and tasty. But it doesn't have the European-style texture I was hoping for--you know, the really light interior with the big holes? Instead it's got the even grain of sandwich bread. I now want to try no-knead bread, which supposedly produces proper European-style bread with almost no labor. But I don't have the right kind of pan, and the pan is crucial in this recipe because it produces the necessary steam-rich environment. Hmmm, I need to see if I can find a decent heavy covered pan or Dutch oven somewhere for cheap. This sudden attack of baking has also made me decide I need a rolling pin (which, admittedly, it's weird not to have if you bake at all) and one of those big plastic sheets that you put over your countertop to work/roll your dough. Not to mention, um, a stand mixer, because my arm got sore trying to beat the eggs sufficiently for the carrot cake. (I won't actually be buying a stand mixer, because they cost several hundred dollars and anyway I have nowhere to put one, but I can see the attraction.)
Apparently days like this are what happen when I can't go out because I have no money. (Overspent like a fool. Will be fine come payday, which is Thursday.)
Eep, all this talking about baking has made me want to bake something else. It's like an addiction.
ETA: Have started the next Tintin comic. Tintin is buying a present for Captain Haddock. Awwwww.
2) Written an angsty/slashy Tintin drabble, because I am that kind of person.
3) NOT worked on editing my XMFC fic, because I am also that kind of person.
4) Eaten bacon. Yum.
5) Eaten homemade carrot cake (made by me, the other day). Also yum.
6) Made biscuits (that would be American-style biscuits, which are like small non-sweet scones) and frozen the leftovers for consumption later.
7) Made bread successfully using Mark Bittman's recipe from How To Cook Everything. Last time I screwed up virtually every step and still got edible bread; this time, following the recipe more closely (I still used active dry yeast rather than instant, but proofed it properly) it turned out gorgeous and tasty. But it doesn't have the European-style texture I was hoping for--you know, the really light interior with the big holes? Instead it's got the even grain of sandwich bread. I now want to try no-knead bread, which supposedly produces proper European-style bread with almost no labor. But I don't have the right kind of pan, and the pan is crucial in this recipe because it produces the necessary steam-rich environment. Hmmm, I need to see if I can find a decent heavy covered pan or Dutch oven somewhere for cheap. This sudden attack of baking has also made me decide I need a rolling pin (which, admittedly, it's weird not to have if you bake at all) and one of those big plastic sheets that you put over your countertop to work/roll your dough. Not to mention, um, a stand mixer, because my arm got sore trying to beat the eggs sufficiently for the carrot cake. (I won't actually be buying a stand mixer, because they cost several hundred dollars and anyway I have nowhere to put one, but I can see the attraction.)
Apparently days like this are what happen when I can't go out because I have no money. (Overspent like a fool. Will be fine come payday, which is Thursday.)
Eep, all this talking about baking has made me want to bake something else. It's like an addiction.
ETA: Have started the next Tintin comic. Tintin is buying a present for Captain Haddock. Awwwww.
no subject
Date: 2011-09-19 05:34 am (UTC)I've had my eye on this recipe for a no-knead ciabatta with an 18 hour ferment: here. I haven't tried it yet, but I think it looks good. It's just that an 18 hour rise time takes organisation, blah.
I love my Dutch oven - I know people often pick them up second hand with much rejoicing because the pot is already seasoned, so maybe keep an eye out in the classifieds?
no subject
Date: 2011-09-19 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-09-19 06:57 pm (UTC)Did you write some Tintin/Captain Haddock? I've read excellent fic for them @ Yuletide.