MB: Having fun in the heat!

Super Easy and Yummy Bread!

For the past 2 months, we have been making bread at home and loving it! A friend recommended this very easy recipe and after trying it out and realizing that it is indeed very easy (no kneading required and very quick to make -- except for the time you let it rise), we make it often. I normally don't put recipes on the blog but this one is definitely worth keeping and sharing!

The first time I made it I took photos of the key steps for you to see! Hope you get to try it out and enjoy; you will not be dissapointed!

Recipe: No-Knead Bread (We double this recipe)

• 3 cups bread flour (NOT all purpose), more for dusting
• 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast (straight from the fridge is fine)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed (just flour is fine too)

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, (room temperature is fine) and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
 

This is what the bread looked like after about 12 hours, the first rise.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it (we use the cotton towel mentioned below); sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice (see video for technique - link below). Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover and let rise for about 2 hours.

When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

After second rise

3. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

4. Now cut and enjoy!

Recipe here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html?ref=dining

Article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU

For a whole-wheat version of the bread:
http://leitesculinaria.com/21678/recipes-no-knead-whole-wheat-bread.html

Our Sweet Ninja Boy!

OK Loved Ones, this is the last blog post for the day (it's been good to catch up)!

This one is just to have a record of our sweet Ninja boy. Daniel is so into Karate and pretending to play Star Wars and Transformers. He is so good at pretend-playing; he's got such an active imagination it's so wonderful to watch and be part of his created world.

What a sweet boy he is; he is such a joy to have around! We love you so much Nani!

My 35th birthday!

I really had a wonderful time celebrating my 35th birthday the weekend of June 22nd. We went out to dinner twice; once with Nena to a lovely Peruvian restaurant and then with some friends to a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant. We also went to a water park and Daniel enjoyed going under water for the first time (he had been scared to do so but since then, loves it!). I'm thankful for the fun-filled weekend we had!

Spot the shrimp in the air; he caught it!

Water Park!

First Sleepover!

Daniel experienced his first sleepover recently with our Brazilian friends, Larissa and Daniel and their sons Alex (7) and Dylan (3). The boys were SO excited and fell asleep at about 11 pm and woke up at 5 am to play!!! Us adults played buraco (Brazilian card game) until 2 am. On the next day, we got home before lunch and slept all afternoon! It was so much fun and we can't wait to ave the next sleepover in August.

Larissa is such a sweet friend. Since my birthday was coming up, she made a cake and the family sang Happy Birthday to me! Daniel's birthday (the father) is a few days after mine so we also celebrated him!

Amigos, estamos todos com saudades de voces, volta logo!

Pocomoke!

A month ago, we spent a wonderful 24 hours with our friends Jessi and Paul (I have known Jessi since I was 11, when I lived in Sri-Lanka!), their two sons Dylan (6) and Lucas (2), and Paul's parents Rose and Paul in their home in Pocomoke. Jessi and Paul were visiting from Hawaii and we stayed with them at Paul's parents' home, which is right on the river -- so beautiful! We spent a lot of time on boats; either cruising down the river (night and day), fishing, speed boating, and water skiing! It was a very fun and full 24 hours together!

Night view from the boat!

Yummy breakfast prepared by Rose -- what a wonderful host!

First time fishing for Daniel!

Jessi water-skiing -- she's a pro!

My turn water-skiing -- it had been about 19 years since the last time in Singapore!

Jonny water-skiing for the first time ever!

Yummy asparagus!

Thank you Jessi and Paul for all these wonderful memories!