Sluggish sourdough and a birthday...

Remember how I had fed up my starter on Saturday?  I fed it again on Sunday and by the evening it seemed good and bubbly so I made a high hydration loaf, following 

The Life of Clare's recipe

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It was very cold overnight and when I checked the dough on Monday morning, it had risen a bit but not to the top of the bowl like it usually does...

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I gently flipped and folded the dough (I had halved it into 2 bowls) and left if for a while, sitting in a warmed oven which had been turned off...just to get it going.  Then I just left it for the rest of the day while I went to work...

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It had risen when I got home so I made a focaccia with one and a loaf with the other...

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Oh, wow! It turned out great!

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Nice open crumb and it tasted delicious!

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The loaf, maybe could have done with a few minutes less but it was fantastic also!

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Celia from Fig jam and lime cordial said when sourdough is a bit sluggish you just have to wait...which is what I did.  She said this loaf looked 'burnished and grand'!

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The weather has been cold the last few days and we are in for a cold snap tomorrow and Friday...

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We are south of Adelaide and its colder here so I may need to whip up this little number to keep me warm!  Lol!

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Today is my beloved's birthday so I whipped up a chocolate cake to take to work and share with the staff at smoko time...

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This recipe makes the fudgiest chocolate cake without it being a mud cake.  Throw all the ingredients into a food processor, blitz and you are done!

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Dana's chocolate cake (cupcakes) - scroll down a bit for the recipe.

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Perfect bundt cake...

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Frosted to perfection!

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These are a few pics from my archives of the last leaves on my silver birch trees...

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I hope you are keep warm wherever you are in the Southern Hemisphere and cool in the Northern.  I hear California in parts, is reaching 48C which is ridiculously hot!  That is not a problem where I am at the moment, we are going for 13C tomorrow and 11C on Friday.  Providing the wind stays away, it is bearable!

Cheers - Joolz xx

Sister birthdays...

Two of my sisters had birthdays last week so with Brianna home I thought it would be nice to host a lunch for them.  I made Melting Moments...

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...sandwiches...

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Janine made toasties...

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I made sausage rolls...

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My niece brought the birthday cake. We also had fresh fruit salad and icecream.  All in all, a lovely day.

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My other two sisters couldn't attend on Monday but were free on Tuesday so we went to our local Indian restaurant.

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We shared all the dishes and it was yummy...

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My beautiful roes from my garden.

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I think it was Wednesday when I was out watering the garden. It was so peaceful and quiet apart from the birds twittering.  I grabbed a glass of wine and sat just listening...

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We enjoyed lovely salmon for dinner, expertly cooked by my huz, I did the salad, salsa and potatoes..

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Joolz xx
 

 
 
 
 
 

First bloom...

This is my first rose of the season, a beauty that I wish I could remember the name of!

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I have an app  called Waterlogue which turns pictures into water colours - clever!

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Brianna is coming home for the weekend then she flies back on Tuesday. I am hosting a birthday lunch on Monday for my sisters who's birthdays are on Monday and Wenesday. I'm making sausage rolls, mini quiches and a hot cob-loaf dip. Someone's bringing cake and some toasties (rat bait). Should be yummy!

Cheers - Joolz xx