I knead a man

My fiesty 83 year old Bulgarian Grandma is an amazing cook. 83 years is a long time to perfect the skillz. She's the kind of cook who can take some beans, carrots, a few onions, garlic and with a swirl of her magic finger, the most humble ingredients turn into something that will melt your face off. I know from experience; I am still scraping my face off the dining room floor from last night's meal.

She was here this week for Rue's birthday and today she showed me how to make bread. She has shown me before but this time I was the one making; she was supervising and inserting her very poignant comments. Of course no one could do it perfectly [like her] but I kept making away regardless. She kept interrupting my knead to show me the 'Korekt' way of doing it. Try to imagine her strong accent. 'Lesss feeengers, moorrRe hend'

[which interprets: 'stop kneading like a fool woman-child! Must I do everything for you?]

Well G-ma, if you don't try, you can't learn. And learnt I did, and HOT DAYUM, the bread 'twas DIVINE. It rose like a champ and baked perfectly. My house smelled like an old world whole in the wall bakery. [ok, that's a bit over the top...but you can smell it can't you!?]

Would you like the recipe?

Goes a little something like this:

Yana: Gma, how much flour?

Gma: [shrugs shoulder and tosses hands in air flippantly] half bag.

Y: Half bag?? Okay.

G: Add the YEASTER with Varm vater, nacht too hot

Y: How much water?

Gma: ah leetle.

Gma: now add more vater.

Y: How much?

Gma: [same shrug, then grabs a tupperware container and fills it up half way with the perfect temperature water] Deese much Vater.

Y: HOW THE HECK CAN I MAKE THIS AGAIN? DON'T YOU KNOW I CAN'T SHARE QUANTITIES SUCH AS 'deese much vater' ON MY BLOG??

Gma: now you Meexe it. Slooowly, slooowly, Geeentle. Then you take-it out and Kneeeeed. One hundred times.

[as I mentioned before I didn't knead it right, she intervened, and then I got it. Or at least she pretended I did.

Gma: then, you let him rize.

Gma: then, you bacon him.

Gma: then, you let him rest.

Gma: then, you eeeat him!

Ladies and gentlemen, I let him rize, bacon, rest and then I ate him. The most beautiful bread-man I ever made. And most likely never to be repeated again.

new baby [in the oven]

No no, I haven't gotten to my #5 resolution yet, but I do have a new baby in the kitchen.

Kitchen gadgets [especially pretty ones that I've been drooling over for ages] totally get me all geeky an' stuff.

I'm swelling with pride:

She is currently simmering a chicken dish that I made up. If it tastes as divine as it smells I will share the recipe. Yum!!

I haven't fallen into a black hole in case you were wondering

I'm baaaaaaaack!

My brief blogging hiatus was not intentional. No...I've been suffering what is called 'my6montholdMacdiedandthebatterywon'tcharge' syndrome. It's been quite severe and as you can well imagine it was painful. But, with some patience and a christmas miracle she came back to life. So here I am!

I missed it! My blog, and friends, and comments, and your blogs. I will need a few days to catch up on everything that has happened in your ya'lls blogospheres.

Christmas has come and gone but the good memories stay. Baby's First Christmas was a success. But frankly I don't know why I bothered to buy toys...I could've wrapped my tupperware and he would've been fascinated! My in-laws showered him with gifts of course, but thank goodness nothing sings/lights up/plays annoying songs. My sister in law Amy and her husband Mike [along with their tiny yappy chihuahua Bella] where here to share the holiday with us too. It was a full.house. But it was fun. We ate, and ate....and ATE for 5 days straight. My skinny jeans look painted on now. Cue 2011 New Year's Resolutions [Pilates]

But back to the food - I made the infamous Pumpkin Cream Pie and Spicy Molasses Ginger cookies all by Pioneer Woman. DEEEEELISH. And Ina's Engagement Roast Chicken [shaaa-mazing]. Ohhh and I can't forget to tell you about Christmas morning breakfast : Bourbon French toast & pepper bacon. Uh huh...yep. I was redic-ulicious!

Our tree was packed with presents, our bellies were full, our fire roared, & our house was cheery. It was indeed a good holiday and a wonderful end to a beautifully strange year.

2011, I can't wait to see what you have in store.

7 foods even farmers won't eat

I am a bit of a granola. I might not look like one or smell like one, but I do pay attention to what I put in my body. I love to cook as much home grown, farm bought, fresh and natural foods as possible. I am always looking for little things I can do to improve mine, and my family's health.

Since I'm not made of money, I can't buy everything organic, but I do what I can.

I recently found an interesting article '7 foods even a farmer won't eat'. My interest was piqued and I checked it out. No surprise, microwave popcorn was on there. But canned tomatoes?

It's definitely worth reading!

Have you heard of the 'dirty dozen'? It's a list of foods that contain the most pesticides when non-organic.

12 Most Contaminated

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Pears
• Grapes (Imported)
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

12 Least Contaminated

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn (Frozen)
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas (Frozen)
• Kiwi Fruit
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Papaya

Also, I heard that buying organic coffee is a must-do!

Found both lists here.

Hope this helps you to deicide what foods you should buy organic, and what you can afford!

Happy shopping!

xo, Y

Brink Family Farm Update

So far: Tomatoes, Waxy Hungarian peppers, Basil & Yellow Squash are a success!

Bell Peppers: The verdict is still out...

Mint: death by weed whacker. [Thanks neighbor!]

Cucumbers? also dead.

My tomato plants are all about 5-6 feet tall! I can't believe it. I had to tie them up to a post because they were bending over and nearly breaking. Hooray!

Barefoot Contessa

my favorite tv chef, Ina Garten has impressed me once again! I made her Company Pot Roast this weekend, and OH MY HOLY STARS it was to die for.

It was my first attempt at making pot roast and if I do say so myself, it was impressive with a capital I.

I highly recommend it. For the record, I omitted the cognac and added potatoes. Delish!