Spent Grain Part I: No Knead Bread

So, Bill is the bread master at our house. I can make it, and it’s good, but it’s his joy and he’s phenomenal at it.

Mostly, he makes the basic recipe in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.1 This year, he’s decided is the year he’s really tackling bread-making.

He’s experimented a bit over the last couple of years with the basic recipe. Amusingly, mostly experiments that his imagination has come up with. I don’t believe we’ve ever made a recipe that’s from the book beyond the basic recipe.

This was no exception. Except that it’s 100% my fault. Mostly because I got into brewing beer again while you guys weren’t looking, and I now have brewer’s spent grain (BSG) around the house. I wanted to save it for baking, but one and only time I’ve brewed so far was right before we went on a work trip.… Continue reading →

Thawing

We’ve had a bit of a warm snap here in Chicago. I’m not sure how long it’s been going on. For me, it started yesterday. It was glorious. And distracting.

It feels like very early spring. The snow, which was rather deep, completely melted off our balcony. There’s enormous puddles all over town. I’m wandering around in a relatively light jacket.

It’s all a lie, of course. Winter will come back soon enough. Two days, I think, before the daily high temperatures drop below freezing again. But there’s no snow predicted for the next ten days, which I deeply appreciate.

Days like yesterday and today, I just have to get outside for a long time. They feel like little gifts. Even if, occasionally, I wish for an ice bridge between the crosswalk and the sidewalk, given I can’t leap the puddle I’m staring at.… Continue reading →

Bramble Rye is Memories. Those Made and Those to be Made.

The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, is an opportunity once a month for beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. This was supposed to be up last Friday, but I missed. You can have it today. The host this month, for #84 is Oliver J Grey and he asked for “alternative beer reviews.” This is mine. Even if you don’t love beer, you may enjoy this review.

I have never had a chocolate covered raspberry. I feel they must exist, somewhere. But I’ve never had one. And, frankly, I’m fine with this. I adore chocolate, but raspberries are generally not my thing.

Blackberries, on the other hand, I will eat like the world is ending.… Continue reading →