I received two new cookbooks for Christmas. The very best gifts are something you love that you could never buy for yourself.
My sister gave me Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day which made the rounds on blogs about a year and a half ago, I think. She had no idea that I wanted it and I never expected to have it. I tried out the first recipe yesterday and the result was amazing. The bread is the best I've made and I've been baking a long time. Furthermore, it's a great solution for a smaller family because it is possible to make a small amount. The biggest problem I have in baking is that if I bake an entire loaf of bread I will eat an entire loaf of bread - so I don't bake as frequently as I'd like.
Warning: When the book tells you to preheat a boiler tray for steam do not foolishly grab a pyrex casserole dish. These are not interchangeable as I found out when I poured cold water into the preheated pyrex dish and watched in horror the epic and deafeningly loud explosion of pyrex which sent glass shards flying all over my kitchen. My husband was standing beside me. Far from thinking I'm even more absentminded than he thought (because, of course, had I given it a second thought I could have predicted this explosion) he just thought it was really cool.
My mom and dad gave me Martha Stewart Cookies. It's wonderful and includes packaging ideas as well as recipes. I made the double chocolate brownies on Saturday for a party and melted peppermint bark on the top which may have been gilding the lily but was also super yummy.
We played Sorry! yesterday as the snow fell (again) and I knit by the fire. I'm still very happily wearing my pajamas and have switched the tune in my head from the pre-December 25th loop of Oscar the Grouch's "I hate Christmas" to the post December 25th loop of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". I've finished three books since the 25th. I'm also slowly planning our spring studies. It's oddly comforting and I would like to thank Seton and Memoria Press for sending out new catalogs last week.
I've done that with a glass baking pan.
Whoops.
(But it really is quite cool to witness).
Posted by: Ellie | December 30, 2009 at 08:07 AM
What a lovely post.
I'm trying to slow down too but will be in headless chicken mode, I'm afraid, until I get the last of my packages mailed.
Then I'll breathe easy!
PS. It is so funny to hear you say, "We played SORRY as the snow fell."
Posted by: Margaret in Minnesota | December 30, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Glorious days. Such beautiful pictures. Merry Christmas, Jenn!
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | December 30, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Well I'm glad no one got hurt. But I had to laugh at your husband! They never grow up, do they? :-)
Your days sound wonderful. And that bread photo - at first glimpse I thought it was cake, and my heart started to tremble, and then I saw it was bread, and it looked even more delicious than cake.
Posted by: sarah | December 30, 2009 at 11:00 AM
That bread looks so GOOD!!! I have wanted that book too. Also I have done the same thing with the glass. It is heart-breaking!
Posted by: Amy Caroline | December 30, 2009 at 01:43 PM
It's always so cozy at your place! I wish I could knit by the fire with you! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Carmie | December 30, 2009 at 02:10 PM
I thought Pyrex wasn't supposed to explode? But I'll take your word for it---that's just the kind of thing I would do.
Posted by: Sara | December 30, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Yikes, I have done that as well! Another little tip is not to use your good baking sheet for that steam thing either. Mine got seriously warped and it is a good heavy pan. I switched to a foil metal pan. But I agree, I don't bake bread often because, well, we eat it!
Posted by: Butzeballchen | December 30, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Also, I love your green yarn. My boss is bringing me some yarn from La Lana Wools in Taos, I can't wait!
Posted by: Butzeballchen | December 30, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Lovely post. And I've done something similar that resulted in a pyrex explosion - it was very traumatic and sent me straight to a fancy restaraunt dinner.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Sara | December 30, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Did you burn one of your knitting projects in that middle picture? If not, what ARE you burning there? If that's part of the knitting learning process, that's just another reason I don't want to learn.
I am glad you liked the book. You can thank Marlena--she bought it first.
Posted by: Middle Sister | December 30, 2009 at 05:51 PM
I want the cookbook! I also want that yarn. I think I will give up coveting in the new year.
Posted by: Chrissie | December 31, 2009 at 07:19 AM
We love that artisan bread book! Our favorites are the Brioche and the Broa.
Posted by: Love2learn Mom | December 31, 2009 at 12:06 PM
It's SUCH a drag to burst pyrex in the oven, I'm an expert and it ;-) It's delightfully cozy there, can you send us some snow??? Happy New Year to the Cozy gang! Love,
Posted by: Meredith | December 31, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Hi!! I'm so excited...I just found your blog today (from Betty Beguiles) and just love it! I love the pictures, the bread, the knitting, the candles...sigh. If I knew you in "real life" we'd be best friends.
Posted by: Elisa | January 01, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Great looking bread - inspires me to maybe make a loaf (although it wouldn't be from that recipe book - which sounds great!).
Posted by: 12ontheinside | January 03, 2010 at 02:40 PM
Thank you Elisa! How sweet. And thanks everyone for commiserating on the pyrex explosion. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | January 03, 2010 at 06:28 PM
I love the cozy feeling in this post -- mmmm snuggles! that bread is beautiful and looks amazing. I should look for that book...
Posted by: lolly | January 04, 2010 at 07:02 AM
The bread looks perfect. Also, you win the best pictures award for a blog. Very well done. I buy my daughter a cookbook every Christmas.
Posted by: francis shivone | January 05, 2010 at 05:28 PM
Aw, thanks Francis! I love the idea of cookbooks as gifts. My husband used to give me cooking magazines and circle all the recipes he wanted me to make for him.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 05, 2010 at 05:51 PM