So far I’ve successfully made a pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce.
I’ve mixed up the dough for whole wheat bread and am waiting for it to rise. Meanwhile, I’m seasoning a terra cotta bread bowl that my brother and sister-in-law gave me a few years ago but that I’ve never used. I, having never made yeast bread before (except from starters of Friendship Bread), have no idea how this bread will turn out – yummy or wasted, expensive ingredients. I enjoy doing new things, so I am. More later.
Edit 1: Bread dough is rising and smells wonderful.
Edit 2: It baked into two round loves. I should have kneaded it longer and made the balls more regular. Knowing how it tastes is yet to be. Also, I got directions from Mummy on how to candy the sweet potatoes.
Edit 3: The bread tastes good but isn’t not baked long enough.
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November 21, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Jana Allard
Sounds like fun. Homemade bread sounds particularly yummy. Hope everything turns out wonderful and your Thanksgiving blessed.
November 21, 2007 at 10:42 pm
helenl
Thanks Jana. The bread will definitely be better next time. It’s a good recipe. I just need a bit of practice.
November 21, 2007 at 11:26 pm
writeathome
Hi Helen,
Sounds like you’ve been busy. I’d be curious to know how your whole wheat bread turns out. I have a recipe for whole wheat bread that I make once in a while. For Thanksgiving, I make my French bread, because all the family really likes it. I need to go downstairs and make it, but I’m taking a break right now. Today I’ve made deviled eggs, Florentine lasagna and a vanilla Praline cheesecake. Jen made English pea salad and tomorrow she’ll make her cranberry sauce. My oldest sister is doing the stuffing, turkey, and sweet potatoes. Well, it’s time to head back to the kitchen. No rest for the wicked. LOL
November 22, 2007 at 2:28 am
earthpal
It sounds yummy Helen. There’s nothing quite like the smell of home-cooking.
Wishing you and yours a very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving day.
November 22, 2007 at 8:13 am
helenl
Hi Carol, The bread is good but the texture could be improved by kneading bit longer, and the oven time needs to be increased because it’s not cooked in the middle. Bill and I ate some last night with apple butter. We just threw away the center. It was good but will improve as I learn what I’m doing. It’s definitely worth trying again. And it’s still fun, not a chore.
Hi Earthpal, Today I’m going to candy some sweet potatoes, mash potatoes, cook a turkey, and heat some green beans. And it looks like there might be only three of us here. LOL
November 23, 2007 at 8:53 am
Valerie MacEwan
thanksgiving lesson #231
Do not add cranberries straight from the bag when concocting a smoothie. Especially refrain from doing so when you are using the last two scoops of Breyer’s vanilla ice cream (the kind with the vanilla specks in it). You will extremely disappointed in the outcome.
Also, taste at least one segment of the navel orange before adding it to the smoothie. But embrace your Oster Fusion. It was doing the best it could.
Computer geeks say: Garbage in, garbage out.
Cooks says: Tart in, tart out.
-vmac
November 23, 2007 at 10:07 am
helenl
You know, Val, I don’t make smoothies but have thought about it. We used to make milk shakes – vanilla, chocolate, coffee, mocha.
November 25, 2007 at 8:29 am
Shirley
Hi, Helen–
Just now catching up on others’ Thanksgiving since I was so busy with my own the past few days.
Sounds as though you’re on your way to success with the bread. I think you’re right that it just takes a little practice. Is your elevation high? I know baking for me is a little tricky when I’m in Crestline, which is 5000 feet. Some things bake exactly the same as when I’m at a lower elevation; others need adjustments.
Onward to Christmas…:) my favorite.
November 25, 2007 at 10:11 am
helenl
It seemed to rise fine but wasn’t baked long enough. I don’t really know how much longer it needed. It smelled great, but who wants to eat bread dough? . . . . and yes!!! Christmas. I haven’t decorated yet. Bill hurt his back, and others have been bust so decorations are still in the attic.
November 25, 2007 at 10:15 am
helenl
Hi Shirley, The bread was under-baked, and I’m not sure how much more time it needed. It smelled great, but who wants to eat bread dough? And yes!!! on to Christmas. I haven’t decorated yet. Bill hurt his back, and the others have been busy, so decorations are still in the attic.