My Sourdough Experience

I have been keeping a sourdough starter for a little over a year now. It has been fun (and frustrating at times) experimenting with different recipes and learning little tips and tricks along the way.

My family isn't new to eating sourdough. We eat sourdough breads on a daily basis (ordered in a great big box from a bakery) and I actually get an unpleasant reaction to normal supermarket breads so I like to stick to sourdough & organic breads.

So last year I decided I wanted to try making my own and my sourdough starter was born!

You might be asking, "what is a sourdough starter?" 

Sourdough starter is a fermented mixture of flour and water containing a colony of microorganisms including wild yeast and lactoacilli. 

This fermented starter is the rising agent in sourdough bread and also develops a wonderful flavor. 

Sourdough bread is healthier for you as well because it has a low glycemic index, making it easier to digest. If you want more info on the science behind sourdough, feel free to do your research, but for now that is my brief explanation! 

For my starter, I used the instructions on Lisa's blog Farmhouse on Boone(link).

I kept my first starter for almost a year, but at the beginning of this year while I was away from home, my starter was thrown away by accident so I had to start all over again.

Here is my current sourdough starter (my second one) that I have had for over a month.
It is happy, bubbly and active and I have made several breads with it already.
Now, I will note that I am by no means an expert! To be completely honest, I haven't had a ton of success with any of the breads I have made.
I am still working on getting it right and perfecting my technique. But with practice, I hope to bake a perfect loaf one day.

Sourdough bread requires more tender loving care than your normal yeast breads so be patient with it. It takes longer to make, rise and bake but it is totally worth it!

Like with a lot of things and especially anything worth doing, making sourdough bread at home takes a lot of practice. I know this first hand as I have made sourdough bread a significant amount of times and I still haven't gotten the technique down.

When it comes to maintaining my starter, I have been experimenting with feeding my sourdough starter and I think I have found what works best for me.
What I like to do is feed it 1/2 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of filtered water, then mix well. 
My starter lives next to the oven where it stays pretty warm. Temperature plays a key part in the well-being of your starter, so you want to make sure yours is kept nice and warm. 

I just place a little square of fabric over the mouth of my jar to allow for air to go through but keeping the bugs out. 

Rescources:

How To Care For A Sourdough Starter

The Best Beginner Sourdough Bread Recipe 

So that is a little glimpse into my sourdough journey so far. I'm still learning and I am by no means a professional!  But I enjoy it and that is what matters. 

The process, the journey, is what makes it appealing for me. It takes time but it is worth doing because of the result. 

Let me know if you try making your own sourdough starter!

keep blooming,

Afternoon Tea Book Tag

Hello darlings!

As usual I wasn't actually tagged to do this tag but I found it somewhere and thought it would be fun to do. And it is about time I did another one, which it was I always say!
I love that it combines food and books together because I for one do enjoy having a snack and a cup of tea while I read sometimes.

I think book tags are fun and also a great way to share books that I have read and remind me of books I should reread as you will see!

So, without further ado, let's begin!


Tea - a book you find comfort in

I'd have to say Little Women, and I happen to be rereading it right now. I always find the story so lovely and heart-warming so I love to return to it in movie or book form often!

Scones - something hearty/a big delicious book

I don't often go for big, thick books and this is one of the only bigger books I have read. But I wound't have it any other way because I really enjoyed this one and it even gave me a mini book hangover! Talking about it now makes me want to pick it up again soon...

Clotted Cream - a book you didn't like at first but ended up loving
For this prompt, I have to say a series instead of just one book and it may be a bit surprising!
I love this series now but at the beginning, Christy got on my nerves. But as I carried on through the books, she grew up and matured and I enjoyed them more. Now me and my sister like to fangirl about all the sweet or funny moments.

Finger Sandwiches - a book you like but that's not quite satisfying
I'm going to say Worth the Wait by Karen Witemeyer. I quite enjoyed the whole Ladies of Harper Station series (however cliche it may be!) and I was wanting a story about Ben and Victoria since I was first introduced to them. So when I discovered that there was a novella about them I was pleased.
Unfortunately, though I was glad to have at least a small story on them, it was so short that it didn't quite satisfy my reading appetite.

Jam - your favourite pair/characters who are just sweet together
This is hard! But I think I'm going to go with Mary & Jem from Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell.
Theirs is one of those love stories in which one of the parties has always loved the other but never confessed it. Jem has secretly admired Mary since they met as children and though their story has many ups and downs, I 'd say the ending is quite satisfactory and sweet.

Six Petit Fours - a favourite short story book
I am not sure if this prompt is meant to mean a book of short stories or just a short book. But I am going to say its the later because I don't often read short story collections.

An Eagle in the Snow by Michael Morpurgo is my pick for this prompt. Morpurgo's books are so wonderful yet so short. Yet he manages to write such compelling little stories that stick with you.
I must reread this one soon!

Strawberries & Cream - a dynamic duo
Using Little Women again...because for this prompt I think I'll say Jo & Laurie. I do think that Laurie and Amy make a good couple and don't truly believe Jo and Laurie would have made a good couple. But there is no denying that that have something special between them that is quite endearing.


Your favourite tea cup - a beautiful character too pure for this world
Beth...from Little Women! Sorry, but she was the only one that came to mind and I think we can all agree that her quiet spirit and pure, kind heart is simply beautiful.

What are your thoughts on my answers for this tag?
Do you enjoy eating and reading combined or is that a no-no for you?

keep blooming,

My Favourite Recipes to Make

via Unsplash

Hello darlings!

Something about me you might not know is that I used to not like cooking or baking very much. But earlier this year I began to get into it more and now I actually enjoy it and love trying out new recipes!

So today I thought I would do something a little different and share with you my favourite recipes to make.
In no particular order, I bring you my favourite recipe to make(so far)!


1. Amish Bread (Link to Recipe)
Bread is seriously so fun to make yourself! Yes, it is a little time consuming but it is also very rewarding. This recipe is quite easy and very delicious. You simply have to try it!


2. Chocolate Brownie (Link to Recipe)
I substitute the flour for ground almonds jut because I like the gooeyness it gives. These brownies are great if you want to put together a quick but yummy dessert or satisfy that craving for something chocolatey!


3. Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (Link to Recipe)
These are highly requested in our house and I have gotten a bit tired of making them but they are very yummy! It is a pretty simple recipe with delicious results.


4. Sourdough Pancakes (Link to Recipe)
You might think that this sounds strange, but if you like the sourdough flavour you will like these. I normally whip up a batch for afternoon tea and we enjoy them with jam and tea!



These recipes are mostly sweet ones so I suppose that says something about me! While it was short and sweet(see what I did there? hehe..), I hope you enjoyed this post and please try out at least one of these recipes!

keep blooming!

xoxo
Hannah

Happiness in a Bowl of Oats

When the mornings are fresh and cold, when you reach for your cozy socks just as you step out of bed, when your breath turns to a cloud, when you can't feel your nose, when your empty tummy growls...that's when it's time for a bowl of oats.

Serves 1

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup water or milk

a dash of nutmeg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cook until all ingredients are combined and the oats have a thick consistency.

Serve with drizzled honey, a splash of cream and sliced banana.

(Or however you like it :))

3 Yummy Scrummy Christmas Treats That We Make Every Christmas

Via Pinterest

Who doesn't love biting into a delicious cinnamon-y gingerbread, a sweet sugary shortbread or a rich, fruity Christmas cake?

Today I am going to share 3 traditional Swiss Christmas recipes. These are ones we make every year and they are so yummy.

So first up, Spitzbuben (sch-pits-bu-ben) or Scallywags.

Via Google Images

Spitzbuben are a shortbread-type cookie with a layer of jam sandwiched in between and dusted with icing sugar. Traditionally these cookies had three jam-filled holes to look like the face of a cheeky boy or scallywag, hence the name.

250g or 1 1/4 cups butter
                                          Stir the butter in a bowl until smooth.
125g or 1 cup icing sugar or granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla sugar ( vanilla extract and sugar)
pinch of salt
                                         add these ingredients to the butter, then mix until the mixture is pale

1 egg white
                                        beat lightly and add to the mixture
350g or 3 cups flour
                                       fold the flour in and mix until it holds together as a dough, cover the bowl                                             and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
Take the dough out of the fridge about 30 minutes before rolling it out. Put a portion of dough between two sheets of baking paper.
Now you will need two 'cookies for each cookie. One for the bottom with no hole through it and one with a hole cut in the centre. It doesn't matter what shape cookie cutter you use for the middle. A small circle, heart or moon shapes have worked for us.
Put the cookies on a baking tray lined with baking paper, chill for about 15 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 200 C / 400 F / Gas Mk 6 and bake for 6-8 minutes.

To assemble, spread a layer of jam (raspberry jam is best but any jam will do) onto the bottom halves of the cookies and place the tops gently on top. You should end up with a cookie jam sandwich. Dust with icing sugar.

Moving on to the Brunsli! My favourite ones!

Via Google Images

Brunsli, a speciality of Basel (where my Mother lived in Basel till her family moved to New Zealand), are chocolaty confections often described as Swiss brownies. Almonds, sugar, and chocolate are ground fine and bound together with egg whites to create a satisfyingly chewy texture, while cinnamon and cloves impart an unmistakable flavour of old-fashioned Christmas cheer.

150g or 3/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt 
250g or 2 3/4 cups ground almonds
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 knife point of ground cloves
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp flour
                                               mix all these dry ingredients together in a bowl
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
                                               add in and mix until blended
100g or 1/2 cup crumbled dark chocolate
                                               melt in a bain-marie stirring continuously
2 tsp Kirsch or Schnapps 
                                              add the Kirsch, or whatever you are using, to the chocolate, then mix                                                   with the other ingredients to form a dough.

Roll the dough out. Cut out the cookies in any shapes you have. Dip the cookie cutter in a bowl filled with icing sugar occasionally to be able to remove the cookies easily. We normally do Christmas trees and stars. Place all of them on a lined baking tray and leave out to dry for 5-6 hours or overnight.
Bake for 4-6 minutes at 250 C / 475 F / Gas Mk 9.

Lastly, Leckerli (lack-er-ly)....

Via Google Images

Leckerli were originally created by local spice merchants in Basel, Switzerland, over 700 years ago and is available all year round.

200g or 1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
4 eggs
                                mix in a bowl until it looks pale
2 tsp ground ginger 
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp mace
zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
60g or 1/2 cup chopped candied orange peel
60g 0r 1/2 cup chopped candied lemon peel
250g or 2 3/4 cups ground hazelnuts
60g 0r 1/4 cup butter, melted
                                leave the butter to cool slightly, then add and mix all the ingredients together
250g or 1 3/4 cups flour
                                fold in the flour until the dough comes together

Spread the mixture about 1 cm high on a baking tray covered with baking paper.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 C / 350 F / Gas Mk 4.

To make the the icing:
150g or 1 1/4 cups icing sugar
1 tbsp Kirsch or lemon juice
2 tbsp water
                              mix well, then spread on the Leckerli straight from the oven
                              scatter some chopped candied orange peel over the wet icing
                              cut into small squares. these will keep well and taste even better after 1-2 days.


I hope you enjoyed that. Let me know if you try making any of them!

My 14th Birthday!!

 Yay!

💮💮💮💮💮💮💮💮💮

Thursday the 3rd of August was my birthday.

My family brought me my presents in bed and sang 'Happy Birthday to you' to me. We always do this on birthdays in our house.

I opened them one by one and read my cards. 

Here are all my lovely handmade cards!

These are the things I got given:

My Aunty gave me Christy Miller Volume 2.

I love how fun,summer-y and bright the spines look together.

I got these from one of our neighbours. I think there are so pretty.

My little brother made the small cardboard thing,it's a camera. The chocolates were from my Mum and my younger sister made the little purple soap.

My parents got me this skirt which I really like because it is comfortable and simple.

The rest of Thursday was spent at home reading.

I chose Italian Cream Cake for my birthday cake. We had never made it before. I had heard about it when I read 'The Icing on the Cake' by Janice Thompson and looked up a recipe.
Here the link to the recipe we used: Italian Cream Cake recipe

I really liked it. It's fluffy, vanilla-ry,and the icing is lovely and creamy!
I definitely recommend you try it.


Questions:

What did you get from your most recent birthday?
How do you like to spend your birthdays?