Rosemary Flax Baguette

For this HBn5 assignment I chose to do the Rosemary Flax Baguette. I always have flax meal and wheat germ on hand. The rosemary came right out of the garden. So, no new ingredients to buy. The texture of this dough was really nice, and after I mixed it up..the aroma...outstanding, very earthy and robust. Rosemary has that quality. Then during baking, I think I was transported by the smell. As they say in the south, good enough to make you wanna slap your Grandmama!

I took the baguettes and sliced them diagonally, rubbed the slices with garlic, topped them with freshly harvested tomatoes, basil, and some Parmesan. Popped them in the oven until the cheese was melted and tomatoes soft. One bite and well...look out Grandmama.

Head over to Big Black Dogs to see what the other bakers did with these breads.

Until our next baking adventure.

Our Sophie

Sad news, last Wednesday our 12 year old lab Sophie got sick and after several trips to the Vet, we discovered she had cancer of the spleen. We scheduled removal of the spleen, but she didn't wait around for the surgery and died in her sleep on Saturday morning. Sophie (named after Sophie Tucker) was your typical lab, energetic and addicted to attention. She was a wild woman and never met a ball that she didn't like. She will be sorely missed by me, MJOL, and her doggie sister Sadie.

A Poem

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent. Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Jalapeno and Basil Bread

This time around for our HBin5 challange, I made the Mesquite Bread. Really, that is probably a misnomer, because, even though I looked high and low, I couldn't get my hands on any mesquite flour. I substituted WW and it worked fine. I imagine I lost some flavor, but all in all I thought the bread was quite good. Since cilantro is not my fav I substituted basil, fresh from the garden. The jalepenos were also right off the plant. I used two, and took out the seeds and veins. Great flavor, with just a little heat. This bread is definitely a make again. Go on over to Big Black Dogs and check out what the other bakers did with this challange.

Today I went down to the garden and picked some eggplant and okra. The rice cooker is loaded up with brown rice and now the eggplant, okra, and onions are in the oven roasting to be added to the rice. A little dressing of lemon juice, and balsamic...yum.



Till our next baking adventure...