a little red hen

Bread making in time of pandemic

Because I have a new project for this blog, it seemed a good idea to check in.  Get familiar with being here--  talk about recent bread making.  Sourdough bread making, specifically,

Four years ago I found a very useful book at Bob's Red Mil where I buy flour and grains.  Just a few shelves, like an afterthought, behind the bulk flours.  Two Swedish guys Goran Soderin, "renowned baker and pastry chef," and George Strachal, amateur baker, authored "Baking Sourdough Bread."  Only 85 pages, what made it purchasable were the five, simple recipes for making sourdough starters.

Three of them-- rye, whole wheat (or spelt), and rolled oats--use grated apple and water.  The potato starter, only honey and tablespoon of spelt flour--no water!  Finally, there's a starter using green lentils for just one recipe.  Instructions for each is only half a page where  most starter recipes have lengthy details.  Been using the rye starter since I bought the book for all sourdough breads I make.  Rye flour is most reliable in my experience.  I've made several recipes from the book, including this Levain, "France's classic white sourdough."

This is a deceptive photo--looks good with sprinkle of nigella seeds, but.

Because white flour cannot be found in stores right now, I decided to replace some with a little Malted Barley Flour, from an unopened bag sitting in the freezer for years.

Result:  inedible.  We tried--toasted the first couple of pieces but the Barley flour appeared as undone areas.  Into the compost.

Still, bread had to be made.  Always ready to try a new one, discovered recently that the Washington Post has recipes!  One loaf 

 half the Due Pane recipe from March 2020 was my choice.  Mostly bread flour, small amount of whole wheat--perfect though a little plain.  Next time I'll use something like the Feasting at Home site suggested for seed additions--1 tsp fennel, 1/2 tsp caraway, 1 Tbsp chia.  There's also a sourdough starter recipe; I appreciated the concise instructions in the Sourdough Starter recipe for refreshing a starter when making a loaf.

 

 

 

 

 

Smart women & men avoid World AIDS Day?

Six years ago, posted, as I do every year,about this day.  So did these far more courageous people.

Seven AIDS activists, women and men, preempted John Boehner by appearing unannounced four days before the designated Day.  Without clothes, decorated with painted messages on their bodies.  (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

"Budget cuts are really rude. That's why we have to be so lewd," they chanted.  The men eluded police but four women were arrested.  This gave them the "opportunity" to give more details about funding cuts.

Since December 1, 2007, when my other blog, Knit a Condom Amulet began, I've wondered about its usefulness as a  message about HIV awareness.  But when I check my stats on how many times people click on it, seems still relevant.  Featuring for 2018  pink Condom Amulet as Bra by the spectacular knitter Lisa Daehlin.  [Happy Birthday, Lisa]

There's a darling little pink Breast Pouch...if you're into coordinated HIV awareness outfits.  Knit on, women.

 

 

A 85, continue to make bread, promote feminism, now weave instead of knitting.

Rebecca Traister, in historic feminist tradition traveled west...

Last night the nice women of Portland, Oregon, were encouraged to show anger by a feminist writer from New York.  How did it go?  Powell's Books authors' room was packed.   

Copies of Rebecca Traister's bright, shiny new book, Good and Mad, were in many hands.

My fragment of notes...so much got exposed in past weeks about what Republican party willing to do.  Call protestors names...27 years since 1992 and Anita Hill and they had no trouble "treating women like shit."  Our work now, "...no more tuning out.  Pick your form of engagement."

When we hear the pundits, "Oh the country is so polarized," that takes away the actual questions that need asking.  Traister emphasized importance of raising the fact that this country was built on minority rule.  "Full participation is our work--women, have shown that the powerless can exercise power--if we are angry enough."  As happened with men toppled from power by the MeToo movement.

Our problem maintaining a women's movement from one breakthrough to another?  "We all have men in lives, means disrupting dependency relationships...been surprised the rage has been maintained."  Using herself as a model--great phrase maker--she encourage us to use humor and laughter...Samantha Bee is good example.

So much more.  You, if you live in Portland, should have been there!  Had a couple of good conversations.  While we waited, woman in front of me encouraged listening to Traister interview on Chris Hayes' podcast.

Do it...almost as good as the room last night.   

 

 

Old Jewish Woman's startling discovery: herself as person of color!

Consider, please.  Halfway into my eighth decade, an unexpected discovery.  Those better informed about the history of white nationalism, chide me.  Of course, the more historically astute point out, American racism has always seen Jews as not-white.  Like all the others--blacks, of course, Chinese, Japanese, and on and on.

Native Americans too?  Confounding dizziness requires sitting down.