cider walnut bread

Wasn't this a blog about food and crafts once upon a time?  Even though the cooking and crafting still transpires (perhaps not at the some rate or with the same vigor), I can't seem to find time to share any of it.  It probably doesn't help that Jonas is way more photogenic than a loaf of crusty, wholesome bread. 

I spied this recipe in my Macrina Bakery and Cafe Cookbook and have made it twice since.  I cannot pass up a good walnut bread recipe and the addition of cracked wheat and apple cider was appealing.  The result was quite impressive and enjoyed by all. 

I formed my loaf in a banneton, which is completely optional, but makes for a very handsome loaf.  The original recipe called for using a loaf pan, but this was a massive amount of dough to fit in a standard loaf pan in my opinion.  I also like the rustic quality of a boule.  I think rolls would be another easy way to shape the dough (just adjust the cooking time to 15 or 20 minutes). 

Cracked Wheat Walnut Cider Loaf 
adapted from Macrina Bakery & Cafe Cookbook

3/4 cup cracked wheat (bulgur)
1 c boiling water
1 & 1/2 cups walnuts
1 & 1/4 cups apple cider
1 & 1/2 tsp yeast
2 T honey
1 cup + 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
2 & 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp kosher salt ( or 1 tsp table salt)
1/2 cup canola oil

Place cracked wheat in bowl and add boiling water.  Sit uncovered for 10 minutes to let water absorb.

Toast walnuts in a 350 degree oven. Careful not to burn the nuts -- start with 5 minutes and cook until fragrant. Chop medium, and set aside.

Warm cider on the stovetop, then add to mixing bowl.  Sprinkle yeast on top and add honey.  Let sit for 5 minutes until beginning to foam. Add the cracked wheat, 1 cup of the whole wheat flour, the all purpose flour, salt and oil.  Using dough hook on a stand mixer, mix for 10 minutes on medium speed. (If you prefer to do things the manual way with a wooden spoon, mix dough until it comes together and then knead for 10 minutes).  Once dough has formed a loose ball in the mixing bowl, add in walnuts. Continue to mix until walnuts are distributed.

Give dough a first rise for 2 hours (or until doubled) in an oiled bowl covered with plastic.

Deflate dough and shape into a loaf or round. Place formed bread into a greased loaf pan, floured banneton or on a baking sheet dusted with flour.  Cover and let rise for another hour.

Heat oven to 385 degrees. Dust proofed loaf with the extra whole wheat flour and bake for 50 minutes.  Loaf will be a light brown and sound hollow when thumped.  Let loaf cool well before slicing. 

winter roundup

Somehow we've started a new year and my baby will be one year old in a few short weeks.  Just this time last year I was finishing up my work days and getting ready for my guy to be born.

Life has been busy the past month with holidays, visitors and outings.  Jonas was an excellent sport for all the hubub of Christmas and although not too interested in present opening himself, decidedly interested in playing with all the new toddler toys.  Favorites are a dump truck, Duplos and the toy musical instruments.

 Toys still take second place to general exploring of the house and stairs.  Jonas is an expert stair climber now in both directions.  His favorite drum is the toilet seat, especially since it is forbidden. Sometimes he gets a quick session in (note the glee on his face).

He also delights in being tossed in the air by careful (and strong) arms.  During a visit from his Nonno, we had a rare sunbreak and went to the backyard for a tossing session.  This outing also resulted in a small fall on the deck and a badly scraped nose.  Learning to stand is tough work.

After a particularly dry December, we had a week of heavy rain so this past weekend Nick, Jonas and I ventured out for a family snowshoe trip.  There were some hiccups along the way, and at our turnaround point Jonas became very upset.  I was worried that the 4 & 1/2 miles back to the car were going to be extremely long, but he recovered and we had an enjoyable return trek through the snow, stopping to look at the winter streams flowing along the trail. He also tried out a little snowshoeing himself.

I think we'll be back for more snow play again this season. Jonas discovered that snow is fun to play in AND edible.  Maybe we'll serve snowballs instead of cupcakes at his party next month.

sneaky

Someone is starting to become quite mischevious. 

We had the classic baby/parent scenario play out this weekend.  Parent thinks baby is happily playing with toys in the other "babyproofed" room.  Baby becomes suspiciously quiet.  Parent comes in to check on baby and finds him eating dirt from a potted plant that used to be safely hidden behind a barracade of sorts.  Parent stiffles amusement and tries to be stern with the baby for getting into trouble.  Baby thinks everything is hilarious. 

I was too busy picking dirt pieces from Jonas's mouth to take any pictures of the hijinks from this weekend, but these photos from some time outside capture the essence.

He also has started to get a little perturbed when he doesn't get his way.

We have yet to experience any full blown tantrums, but I don't think that day is far away.  He definitely has opinions and preferences at this point and one is foolhardy to try to convince him otherwise.  If he doesn't want something, he is quick to throw it off of his tray or move it out of his way.  He's a busy guy and doesn't have time for things that don't interest him. 

His first year of life is quickly wrapping up and I've been getting rather nostalgic about his birth and first months.  But when he gives me a belly laugh, waves goodbye to Dad or sleeps for 8 hours at night without a peep I'm pretty happy with things-as-they-are. 

We've been having busy weeks, with me back to work a few days out of week.  The days are chilly and short and we try to make the most of them.  The weather is perfect for making warm soups and baking bread.  Jonas gave me the treat of taking an hour long afternoon nap this week which gave me enough time to get a Cracked Wheat Walnut Cider loaf going.  Then he entertained himself in the recycling while I made lentil soup.  We've been enjoying that meal all week and hope to share the bread recipe with you soon. 

taking flight

Jonas and I recently took a trip to Wisconsin.  This flight was not his first, but it definitely had a "first" kind of feeling to it.  Taking a highly mobile 9 month old on a 2-leg trip by myself seemed quite different than our first flying experience to New Mexico on a direct flight as a family.  I feared that Jonas was going to sprawl all over our neighbor as I tried to maintain some modesty while nursing inflight.  I feared we wouldn't have the right toys/snacks/distractions.  I feared a screaming baby who, by the way, was also cutting his top teeth. 

Luckily those fears were unjustified and I had a pretty content (and sleepy) guy for most of the travel. We set down in Madison on a bright, leafy afternoon and made our way to Richland Center where our friends Jamie and Eric have 90 acres of land, a 18 month old girl, Robin, and a brand new baby.  We certainly made use of every square foot of their house and Jonas had a fine time watching Robin, crawling around in the yard and being in the midst of a boisterous clan.  Some afternoons, with 3 kids in the backseat all on the verge of one kind of meltdown or another, Jamie and I wondered what Chaos we had brought on ourselves.  It is certainly a challenge to run errands witih 3 children under age 2.  Mostly we enjoyed watching them interact and savored a few adult hours when the bigger babies were in bed.  Ice cream was in order for the nightly celebration of surviving another day. 

It was great for Jonas to have a large yard to roam in and I was happy to see him do so much exploration without trying to eat every leaf, stick and clump of moss.  Robin tried to get him to follow her through a cardboard tube one afternoon.  They both enjoyed climbing and pounding on the overturned kayak.  Coming back to Seattle, the ground is a little more soggy, but we've been getting outside anyways trying to conjure some adventures.  I do think Jonas misses the companionship. 

Baby Elise was a great little baby -- not at all fussy and often content to lie on the bed and watch all the commotion around her.  We look forward to a visit with all of them in Seattle (hopefully this spring).  Jonas will most certainly be walking by then and I can only imagine the fun that they all will have. 

Jonas measured up well at his 9 month visit.  A little slow down in the length (a mere 29 inches now!) and maintaining a nice heft at 21 pounds.  He's a solid little guy, can pull up on just about anything and is making all sorts of sounds and noises these days.  I'm lucky to have a great little traveler who can be thrown into a new situation and be happy as a clam. 

hand over hand

We're in trouble now.  Jonas has arrived in full-on crawling and exploring mode.  Today, in no particular order he: splashed in the cat's water dish, plucked a stale Cheerio off the floor, ate dirt from the potted plant, pulled up on the railing in the kitchen and tumbled down the small set of stairs into the living room. The latter accident was unfortunate -- usually he stops at the top of the stairs, giving me a minute to make sure he doesn't fall. This time he really went for it, but very gracefully and was less upset than I thought he would be.  Lesson learned: they make baby gates for a reason. 

Despite the extra stress for me trying to keep him out of harm's way, crawling and cruising have been great milestones and have made Jonas so happy.  He has little interest in his toys for the time being.  The old catnip mouse under the couch is a much more interesting prize.

Rainy weather has set in and we've taken on a few new activities to keep us busy this winter.  Today we went to our weekly swim time at the community pool accross the street.  It is a very casual swim "lesson" and we mostly focus on developing water skills and enjoyment of the pool.  Jonas has finally warmed up to the water after a month of our classes.  Today he splashed and kicked and gave me lots of smiles. We shared an apple on the walk home in the sprinkling rain and he took a very peaceful 90 minute nap.  I can't think of a more perfect afternoon.

We also attend a cooperative preschool run by one of the community colleges.  It is a structured play time for parents and their babies (we're in the infant group) with some parenting topics discussed on the side.  There are ball pits and mats and lots of older babies to watch.  We sing songs and eat snacks at tiny tables with tiny chairs.  Jonas loves it.  I love it too and it has become the highlight of my week.

Our dance card is rather full these days as well.  One of my major worries about having a child and being home with him was that I wouldn't make any friends and feel very isolated.  Quite the opposite has happened and I've met some very lovely women in this city.  Sometimes I find myself having to plan outings a few weeks down the road because we have so many friends to spend time with.  Not only do I like getting to know these women better (and their husbands too!) but I love to watch their children grow, develop and interact with my guy. 

Eight months have rolled right by and I'm back to work a little, playing a lot and feeling very content with our little family.