Week #32 - August Sunday kitchen tour

Our kitchen is the centre of our house both literally as well as symbolically. 

Dominated by a huge table made by our oldest son that can comfortably sit 10-12 people, there is always something going on in this room. In August, that is particularly true as harvest is in full swing and there is generally some food being cooked, dried, fermented or frozen. 

Today, for example, we have a few things in process...

-Fresh tomatoes, onions and peppers ready to be roasted for a new batch of salsa

-Apple/Peach pie filling simmering in the slow cooker

-My first batch of kombucha is bubbling along! 

-My sourdough starter is getting its weekly feeding (not shown)

-Ever present bins of produce waiting to be processed or packed into our CSA boxes.

.... and the obligatory pile of dirty dishes

What's cooking in your kitchen this week? 

The rewards of hard work...

FFF Photo a Day - Day 221

Today's lunch.... avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion with cheddar and goats cheese on sourdough bread. 

Delicious and satisfying given that all but the avocado and cheddar was grown, raised or made right here on the farm. 

Inching our way towards producing our total diet... now if we could only grow coffee!!

Our cup runneth over..

FFF Photo a Day - Day 195

A few months ago I created our own sourdough starter and have been using it for everything from breads, muffins, pancakes and even some naan. 

Not sure if its due to the hot and humid weather... but our starter has becomes extra-energetic lately! It regularly runs all over the place after being fed!

Breadwinner

Photo a Day - Day 61

A few weeks ago, I shared my success with making a sourdough starter. 

Over the past few weeks, I've been experimenting with different recipes from traditional sourdough bread to crackers, muffins and cakes. Not all things have worked but most have. 

This weekend I built on a previous successful recipe for sourdough bread and created a whole wheat version. 

I have discovered the secret to the yummy chewy crust is to mist the bread with water periodically as it bakes! 

Sourdough Success

My first sourdough starter!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 41

I've been wanting to get back into making bread with sourdough for awhile and this weekend I successfully made my first sourdough starter. For those that aren't familiar with sourdough baking, you need a 'mother' or a starter from which you extract a cup or so instead of using yeast in your baking. You must feed your 'mother' and maintain it in between baking sessions. 

I have a previous experience with sourdough baking that has made me a tad shy of the whole thing. About 20 years ago, a good friend gave me a tupperware container of starter, extolling its wonderful properties and possibilities. I dutifully put it in my car to take home....and forgot it there.... for days.... we brought the car to the wrecker later that summer - need I say more? Sourdough starter is not something you forget about!