I was having a conversation with my friend ML the other day. She was bemoaning the fact that she felt DRY as a writer, and devoid of interesting thought, and ideas. I laughed silently (sorry, ML) because she is not usually, at loss for words or short on the ability to pen her thoughts and opinions! She is warm, engaging and quick to compliment.....So, I said to myself: She must be feeling the same way that I am sure many of us do: We are afflicted with the winter blues. The nasty thing about winter is that this feeling of emptiness creeps up on one....Slowly. It produces a feeling tantamount to having a best friend move away, or losing something of tremendous sentimental value.....The sense of loss is palpable. It produces a sense of melancholy, not like the one that spurs an author to pen epic works, but instead a stifled, vapid , airless vacuum of inability to express even the most basic of emotions. I , fortunately can take solace in my occupation, and attempt to work thru my quandry, by creating foodstuffs. It never fails to lighten the mood, and somehow , allows me to push the clouds of despair and demoralization.....Aside. Perhaps, it is because I view my occupation as more of a hobby, and less toil and ardor. I am blessed and fortunate in that regard.....I believe it keeps me sane, although lately by my video clips......I'm beginning to wonder! I know that my friend ML will brush away the cobwebs of her blues, and be back in fine form in no time. In the mean time, I will seek to provide her with some pictorial inspiration, and perhaps a laugh or two....At my expense , of course. Here are a few random images and clips from last eve's endeavors: Some whole wheat (Campagne) dough, that has just gotten a fold....I always like to soak my raisins, otherwise I find they turn into little charred crusty orbs of burnt sugar!
The bread, just off the hearth....Some nights, I fashion my doughs close together, if I have a lot of other product to make, just to save oven space.
A blueberry/almond coffee cake.....Fresh out of the oven.....Gimmee a fork, no a spoon , and a quart of Hagen-dazs....Like now!
A pause for nutritional reflection on this past year's indulgences! Download VIDEO0072 I happened to have a moment of lunacy, just the same last night: Download VIDEO0073
I made up these puff swirls, using butter puff dough, and some twice-baked potato stuffing, (from earlier in the week)....They smelled, in a word, otherworldly good...Finally, this bad boy was made up using some fresh apples, and leftover cake crumbs from my snack cake production: I leave you now, as my beagle is huffing and puffing at me, whilst glaring with those big browns, because it's time for his WALK! Download VIDEO0074
