calling any one from missouri

[jthornton]

Merry Christmas to all and only 16°F here in Swamp East Missouri this morning.

JT

 

[shawluvsbirds]

 

[SueT]

It warmed up to 34 here this afternoon....seemed nice and warm after such a cold morning.

 

[jthornton]

We never got above freezing here today... dinner plans changed from steak on the grill to home made chicken soup.

That will be a long list...


JT

 

[karenerwin]

@jthornton the bread was a big hit!! I've been told I am now officially on "make and bring bread to every event" duty!
Here is the recipe (my friend found it on the web, it was her 5th try at making bread. This one is definitely a keeper!):

Sourdough French Bread (Recipe from Taste of Home)

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
1/4 cup Sourdough starter
2 Tablespoons canola oil ( I just used vegetable oil)
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
4 1/4 cups all purpose flour ( I think I actually used more because I didn't measure after the initial 3 cups. I just quit adding flour when it got to the soft dough stage).

CORNSTARCH WASH:
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the Sourdough starter, oil, sugar, salt and 3 cups of flour. Beat until smooth ( I used a whisk). Stir in enough additional flour to form a soft dough ( I had to look that up on the web!
Turn onto a floured surface; knead gently 20-30 times (dough will be slightly sticky). Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours ( I put mine in the oven with the oven light on but the oven off, temperature set).
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. ( I took the dough out first!) Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each half into a 12 X 8 in rectangle 9 i think mine was bigger than that). Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch ends to seal. Place seam side down on 2 greased cookie sheets ( I put both of mine on 1 cookie sheet); tuck ends under. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
With a sharp knife, make 4 shallow diagonal slashes across the top of each loaf. In a small saucepan, combine water and cornstarch. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. (mine turned a grayish color). Brush some over the loaves.
Bake for 15 minutes. Brush loaves with the remaining cornstarch wash. Bake until lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

There you go! I hope you enjoy it!
Hey, JT, I just re-realized that you are in Poplar Bluff! We are buying a (super/ultra) fixer upper for my son and his family to live in (once it is more than just frame work! and actually has toilets and water and those kinds of things!). Then they will start paying us back while they live there. I guess this answers his question as to whether or not he can bring his 4 chickens with him. Actually, we will look into it a bit more because he will be right on the edge of town. (Park Avenue)

 

[SueT]

It's snowing! Heavily! but too warm to stick.....

 

[jthornton]

Hey, JT, I just re-realized that you are in Poplar Bluff! We are buying a (super/ultra) fixer upper for my son and his family to live in (once it is more than just frame work! and actually has toilets and water and those kinds of things!). Then they will start paying us back while they live there. I guess this answers his question as to whether or not he can bring his 4 chickens with him. Actually, we will look into it a bit more because he will be right on the edge of town. (Park Avenue)

I live about 10 miles from Poplar Bluff, Park Ave. is in the city limits and there are some real fixer uppers in that part of town. I'm not sure about the chicken rules in town but I just looked it up and from this page https://ecode360.com/28996258

Section 205.180 Chicken Pens — Size, Location.
[R.O. 2007 §7-37; Ord. No. 3205 §4, 6-15-1964; Ord. No. 5279 §1, 5-1-1989; Ord. No. 7165 §§1 — 3, 3-1-2010]
No person shall keep chickens or other fowl in any pen having an area of less than one hundred forty-four (144) square feet and the boundary of which is less than fifty (50) feet from the dwelling or place of business of another. No more than ten (10) chickens or other fowl shall be kept on one (1) acre of ground.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Sourdough French Bread (Recipe from Taste of Home)

Thanks for the recipe, now to find some sourdough starter... maybe I can trade some eggs to your Son for some starter.

JT

 

[SueT]

 

[jthornton]

My wife just left for work 1 1/2 hours late and said she is coming home early and she too a book with her so she is not bored to death on her very last day of work! I hope I can survive her retirement...

JT