BREAD.........You gotta love it.

Don't you just love bread? Every Friday I'm in the kitchen baking bread and sometimes I add a batch of buttermilk biscuits. Now that spring/summer has finally arrived I'm itching to try some new recipes. Of course local farms are always a great place to get ideas to use local produce. With the sun shining and a mission on my mind I headed out for Brookford Farms in Rollinsford N.H. in search of kefir and Camembert cheese. They had sent me a new recipe for rolls that was oh so interesting. I just could not resist giving them a try. I've never used kefir for baking but, I hear it can be used anytime buttermilk is requested. These little rolls are stuffed with mash potatoes and chive and the Camembert. The cheese was so wonderful that it's a miracle it made it in the rolls.

I don't usually make my dough using all whole wheat flour but, I was following their recipe for the first time and certainly wanted to have it their way before I would even think of changing anything. Straight whole wheat requires a longer rising time. I'll have to work that in. Once the little rolls were stuffed with the mash potatoes and the oh so delicious camembert(drool here) They had to rise for another 1/2 hour. Don't they look like little baked potatoes? I'm waiting to hear from Mary before I post her recipe. Let you know when she says yes.

Here they are in all their glory. I really think these are worth repeating. If you are a hiker or camper these are just the right thing to bring along when you need a pick me up. No, we don't do either of those things but, we love eating outside in the summer and having these with a little wine and maybe some pate, if it's been a good week, will be my go to evening break for this summer...........Just heard from Mary at the farm, she thinks it would be fine for me to give out the recipe She's the best........................said the hobbit

This recipe makes about a dozen and a half small breads, or fewer if you want 6" rounds. the dough: 3 1/2 cups whole wheat bread flour 1/2 cup kefir 3/4 cup warm water 1 teaspoon dry yeast a dribble of honey 1/2 teaspoon salt a beaten egg mixed with a little water sesame seeds or oats as optional topping the filling: 1/2 round of Camembert cheese, sliced 2 cups mashed potatoes 1/2 cup chives or scallions salt Mix the warm water, kefir, honey and yeast. Stir together the salt and flour, and then pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture. It is OK to add more water if you need to, but you want a fairly stiff dough in the end. Knead the dough for 10 minutes by hand, less in an electric mixer. Let the dough rise in a warm spot for two hours or so, until doubled. Meanwhile, cook and mash the potatoes, and stir in the scallions and salt. When the dough has risen, punch it down and cut it into 12 - 18 pieces. Form each one into a ball, and then roll it out to a thickness of about 1/2". Place a slice of Camembert in the center of each round, and then drop a spoonful of potatoes on top. Paint the outside of each dough circle with water to make them sticky, then draw the edges closed like a drawstring purse. Turn each dough ball over so the sealed side is down, and flatten them on an oiled baking sheet. Paint the flatbreads with an egg beaten with a little water and allow them to rise for about half an hour. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, until brow

Summer in Bloom

Summer came yesterday. I was absolutely smitten and couldn't wait to get out there. Hubby couldn't wait to get on the road and drive, drive and have a nice lunch.

So off we went to do a little shopping and eating. I spotted a local woodworker who was selling wood cubes. I had visions of my porch having these dressed up as tables/eating areas and I quickly ordered 2. I don't have them yet but, I'll keep you posted as to the actual turnout. Then it was off to the Maine Coast and one of Jiggy's favorite restaurants.

THE MAINE DINER ......I quite enjoy this restaurant but, as with all diners the portions are more than I can eat. Jiggs had his favorite SHE CRAB SOUP while I sipped on an ice tea.Then we shared an appetizer of fried seafood and a side order of potato salad. When the appetizer came I thought she was bringing us someone's seafood platter. Really it was that big.We took our time eating and had just enough room for a huge (of course) strawberry shortcake. Now I'm really stuffed and it's time to move on to a farmers market. Hubby is really trying but market to him is

TRADER JOE"S That's ok I know by now what he really needs is a cart to help him walk and I don't make a fuss when we drive right by 2 fresh and local markets. No carts at the eat local and he still has a hard time with uneven ground. The new knee still needs to be babied. Don't tell him I know. We bought all the treats that he loves and can not buy "locally" Dried fruit for his granola pistachios for watching baseball and Canadian cheddar and crackers to root for his beloved Bruin hockey

Meanwhile I'm dreaming of the porch and how I would like it to look. Last year I went to a Quilt Shop in Cornish Maine and this was her porch.

Not perfect but, so welcoming. I thought it was time to dress up our porch and as taking inspiration from hers.

A closer look show a grouping of totally unnecessary items but in just the right colors to make for good eye appeal and fun conversation. My favorite thing was her Nasturtiums.

I immediately went home last year and tried to duplicate these. Starter plants were all gone so I planted seeds in a pot much smaller then hers. Of course I had blooms for about 2 weeks before a frost came. Her pot was a huge cobalt blue about 24 in across at the top. I checked these out at the garden shop and it's a little pricey for me. Besides you can't even see the pot or the crumbled pieces that the UPS man had just made when he hit the pot while backing up. So today is not sunny and gorgeous. A perfect day to work outside,however, the lawn has gotten out of hand and not only does it need to be cut,it also needs to be raked. Really it's that high! Luckily I've learnt to take one day at a time so maybe tomorrow I'll be in the garden.....................said the hobbit

It's a Bittyful Friday

OK,I've got her pinned down.............she won't get away again

THE KNIT-ALONG IS MOVING ALONG!!!!

Wow! Things have been crazy busy around here and I've been struggling to meet all the demands on my time from people that I can't and should not say no to unless I'm on my deathbed. To make matters worst I have tried to post 2 times in the past month only to discover when I pushed the publish button that blogger was in reader mode only till further notice. I hadn't even realized there was a problem. But enough with the excuses, everyone out there is up to their eyeballs in things to do so I just need to get better organized if I want to keep up with this blog.

I need to touch base on my knit-along. Have you forgotten. Just go here for a reminder and leave a comment if you want to join in the fun. The square is made up of 4 rows that you repeat till you have a 7x7 square. It can be done on 4 needles changing to a circular if you feel it's too many stitches. I used double pointed needles and marked my first stitch with a little safety pin See it there on the left hand side?

Hard to believe this will be a square when you finish. Looks like a flower doesn't it? This one is done with leftovers as are most of the squares.

I cast off the stitches on one needle here so you can see the corner and how it appears seemingly out of nowhere.

New squares keep coming in and I've given much thought to where it should be sent. I decided to make the afghan into as many stroller blankets as possible and donate them to my town's Running Nuns. That's right I said Running Nuns We have an orphanage in this town that takes in children while there families try to rebuild their lives. They are a young active and motivated group of nuns that you can see on a daily basis running through our city streets always pushing a carriage and accompanied by a dozen or so runners that the nuns have in"training" for things to come. Although this could be a most trying and difficult time,when you see them out there running and smiling and oh so focused on the task at hand, you just want to do something.It is for that reason that I've decided to make the mini-quilt to cover the little one in the strollers so they can sit back and enjoy the ride even when the weather is a bit more brisk. So take a minute to read their story and send me a square so we can help continue the good work......said the hobbit