Change, Adaptation

Purity has come and gone. I managed about 3 weeks on our “no wheat, no dairy” diet, and then I got a new job. That, as they say, was that. In a restaurant where there is staff meal provided every day, it is enough of a challenge to be veggie, let alone demand rice and no cheese. Staff meal is always meat based, even if the carb is a grain, they’ve likely cooked it with chicken broth. I’ve been grateful to be fed at all, really, so whatever the boys make especially for me, I eat. Currently, that means a lot of pasta! At home I still aim for quinoa, brown rice, millet and a hefty dose of legumes and tofu, but it is hard to miss out on cooking dinner, because I’m working from mid-afternoon until 10-11pm. Adapting to this new schedule is something of a sacrifice.

However, all that aside, I’ve been making sourdough regularly and loving it. A new bread book I have, Bread by Jeffrey Hamelman, is stupendous. So far the Vermont Sourdough (of course, my version is the Vancouver Sourdough) is the only one I’ve made. Three versions into the habit, I’ve decided a dose of buckwheat is a must, as is a milk wash and poppy seeds. The bread bakes up with a fantastic, crisp crust, and a soft but meaty crumb. I’m pretty ecstatic every time it comes out of the oven, and the family fan base is growing.

This bizarre looking treat was purchased at a local bakery as a sort of engagement snack. (Yes, M and I are now going to be married!) The bun, called a potato by the baker, was composed of cake scraps, rum and butter cream. The lady at the counter recommended the potato as one of her favourites, but it was the oddest flavour combination, far too sweet, and not to our liking at all. After one taste, the whole thing went in the garbage. Too bad! The mocha macaroon pictured behind the potato bun fared a little better, in that it tasted great, but was also too sweet. I actually managed to get a headache from its sugar content. Wow. I should stick to my instincts, and get fruit tarts or lemon squares at new bakeries. I think they are generally satisfactory, at worst.

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