another try on bear scat

I would rather be sitting in front of a fire crocheting right this minute.  It is where I am feeling the most creative.  I have a shawl in my head I am trying to translate into reality.  But the boyos need snacks.  I tried another version of bear scat.  This is more bear bark then scat but still not quite right.  

It starts with a layer of bittersweet chocolate.

Then a layer of peanut butter mixed with white chocolate.

The peanut butter layer and the chocolate layer really worked.

Then, I chopped gluten free pretzels and salted cashews for the scat.  I doubled the amount of these the recipe I was following called for.  I should of doubled it again maybe.  Or added more salt.

I dropped the cashews and pretzels on top of the chocolate layer.  Drizzled more chocolate and peanut butter mixture over it.  It still needed more stuff.  So either another cereal or double the pretzels and cashews.  With the cashews, I might add a touch of salt as well.  The flavor was not quite strong enough. 

The boyos are eating this but because it is not as easy to grab a handful, it is not being eaten as fast.  I will get to the right combination and have a recipe at some point!  But the boyos like the variety of trying different things.

experimentation continues: yeasted flour tortillas

I had a wonderful long weekend in the Pacific Northwest.  It smelled good.  There was sun and rain.  There was family, conversation, laughter, and tears.  I bought too much fiber, yarn, and fabric and have plans for every bit of it.  Going back to work this morning was very hard.  Getting my thoughts together to write is difficult as well.

Koda Bear says I need to make my pennies by making yarn.  Maybe I should listen to him.  Quilts?  Sewing?  Then I could live wherever I would wish to.  I keep planning a travel trailer in my head.  Tiny with room for a twelve foot surfboard.  My longest is only eleven and my favorite 9' 6" but travel trailers do not plan for surfboards, snowboards, or skateboards that are close to six feet long.  Part of the plan.  Maybe it will be parked often where Koda and I can go walking and playing.

Right now, most of my projects are long term.  There are a few experimentations like these flour tortillas but most of what I am making needs time.  I used my sourdough starter as part of the dough.  Even left them to sit and rise before baking.

They are not quite right.  The flavor is good but they puffed too much, like a pita.  Maybe I should get out my lefse rolling pins.  I also want some char marks.  I might need a different pan combination.  But I still wanted to show them off because most of the time flour tortillas crisp up and become crackers.  These did not.  The addition of the sourdough and the baking seem to make them more similar to the mjurstat.

Not perfect, but soon.  More experimentation will happen when I get caught up with bread.  How can this household be out of bread?  Scones were made because there was not yeasted breads or cakes.  Very yummy but still a sigh.

Normal baking is going on right now.  Soon I will get back to these.

the quest for excellent homemade doughnut holes

I have been on a quest for the perfect homemade doughnut hole for us.  Koda Bear thinks that doughnut holes are the best thing in the world.  I would like to have a go to recipe so we do not have to go out.  A go to recipe for when the doughnut shop we like is closed.

There is another bit.  I am becoming more and more of a hermit and most doughnut shops do not have good tea.  Homemade means I can have an excellent cup of tea and not have to deal with people on the rode or interestingly strange people in the shop.  I am the anti-social hermit though so those people may be just fine.

These doughnut holes are sourdough and half whole wheat.  Which is why they are so dark.  I adapted Paul Hollywood's recipe I had found.  It was a simple dough and were good but not what we were looking for.  But be aware, that even though they were not right, they did not last two days. 

I think I need more of a brioche type dough.  Heavy on the butter and eggs.  My favorite doughnuts taste like brioche.  I also want to try a potato doughnut.  

I am getting better with frying too.  I am thinking I might tackle fish and chips soon.  It may mean one more reason not to go out.

experimentations with magic salve

It is finally time to make more magic salve.  We actually wish to give some away this time.  We are also trying to extract more from the herbs we are using.  My thought is that we need to keep the oil warm longer but I did not wish to leave this on the stove.  Our new crockpot has a warm setting so we are trying it to infuse the oil using it.  We will see.

I am thinking about taking a small bit and making it warm.  Infuse some cinnamon, ginger, and possible a pepper in it.  I am thinking cayenne but maybe ancho pepper.  Small Mister likes to eat ground ancho so he would like it.  It is a good thing that magic salve is edible.

the infusing has begun!

Monday night, my Beloved, a friend, and I went out for dinner.  We went to a place that was known for its tacos and infused tequilas.  El Bad Big.  Their tacos are yummy. Their vegetables are fabulous.  And their tequila!  It is wild.  They actually store all the infusing tequila in a three story case so you can peer at it all.  So fun!  But it gave me ideas, especially after having a margarita made with infused tequila.  

The boyos and I went to lunch at the liquor store that also has a gourmet grocery and a deli.  I bought tequila for sipping, margaritas, and infusing.

I decided I was going to infuse all of this:  tea, blackberries, coffee, grapefruit, orange peel, ginger, and habanero.  

Three days to four weeks.  I get to see how this tastes.  It is how I make my own vanilla but I use rum and vanilla beans.  My sister uses vodka and vanilla beans.  She made some at Christmas and I am excited to try it.

Patience.  I just have to have patience.