It's Saturday but it doesn't feel like it. Only the fact that Jordan doesn't have to go work sets it apart. I guess that is the peril of not working a regular job!
I made a French omelet for breakfast. Very simple with just some diced prosciutto and Parmesan cheese in a rolled omelet. Very quick and easy. I have started making bread again. I really like the No Knead method that Jim Lahey started with his book called "My Bread". Original name, yeah, I know. The bread comes out great every time! Just mix 3 cups of bread flour (bread flour contains more gluten), 1/4 tsp yeast, 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt and 1 1/3 cups of water (the temperature does not seem to matter as long as it is not hot water) in a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it sitting on the counter, unattended for 12-18 hours. By that time, the dough will have risen to double or triple in size and the surface will be covered with bubbles. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. The dough will be very sticky. Use either well-floured hands or a scraper to shape the dough into a round or oval shape. Set the dough on a non-Terry cloth towel dusted with cornmeal (so it doesn't stick to the towel) and let it rise for about an hour. In the meantime, take a Dutch oven (ceramic or ceramic coated cast iron works best) and place it in a cold oven. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Once the oven is heated and the dough has risen, take the Dutch oven out of the oven, remove the lid and place the dough into the very hot Dutch oven (I usually just roll mine from the towel into the Dutch oven-the cornmeal makes this easier-being careful not to touch the pot as it is VERY hot). Replace the lid and put the Dutch oven back into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the lid but continue to bake the bread at 475 degrees for another 20-30 minutes. Remove the Dutch oven from the oven and remove the bread from the Dutch oven using a spatula. Cool on a wire rack. Do not cut the bread, as tempting as that may be, until the bread is completely cooled. If you cut it any sooner, the bread can be "doughy". Perfect Artisan bread every time!
I had lunch with Janell at Olive Garden. The food is pretty good, the breadsticks were dry though. We did a little shopping, then came home. We went over to Kasia and Gary's house tonight for dinner. It was to celebrate my birthday. That was very nice of them! We had roast pork, polenta and asparagus. Dessert was a chocolate cake with shortbread cookies in it that apparently Price William is having made for his wedding in a week or so. Wow, huh? It was very rich and very chocolatety. Good food, good company.
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