WANNA MAKE BREAD WITH ME ?

MARDI GRAS COUNTDOWN = 122 DAYS

45. BREAD MAKING SCHOOL IN FRANCE (FRENCH BREAD TO MAKE CRAB CAKE PO-BOYS, SWEET JESUS!)


WORD OF THE DAY - SOFT-SHELL - sometimes abbreviated to just soft-shell, is a seafood delicacy with the entire crustacean capable of being eaten, a result of catching and cooking crabs shortly after they molt their hard shell.
The exact species used as soft-shells varies from region to region. In the United States, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is used typically, although the use of the mangrove crab in Asia has provided another source for this seasonal food.
As these crabs grow larger, their shells cannot expand, so they molt the exteriors and have a soft covering for a matter of days when they are vulnerable and considered usable. Fishermen often put crabs beginning to molt aside, until the molting process is complete in order to send them to market as soft-shells. Crabs should be kept alive until immediately before cooking by the customer or restaurant so that they are fresh. They begin to rebuild their shells after that, and when eaten, have a thin shell developing. These are often referred to as "papershells" or "tinbacks" and are more crunchy when eaten, making them less desirable to many people.

A MUST HAVE TO GO ON THE BREAD MADE BELOW !

TODAY WE WERE MAKING PRETZELS AT WORK. THE BAKED, SOFT, BIG KIND. WHAT A JOB !
DURING THIS PROCESS IT OCCURRED TO ME HOW TRULY WONDERFUL IT FEELS TO PLAY WITH DOUGH. IT'S WARM AND A LITTLE STICKY, AND VERY MALLEABLE. IT IS SO SEXY AND FUN TO MAKE BREAD. IT TAKES TIME THOUGH.
YOU START WITH DRY INGREDIENTS, ADD LIQUIDS AND YEASTS, MIX TOGETHER WELL AND LET RISE. IT IS SOOOOO HOT TO THEN KNEAD THE DOUGH. IT'S ALL WARM ON YOUR HANDS, AND STICKS TO YOU A LITTLE ! WHEW ! CALM DOWN CLYDINE !
YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR BIG STRONG HANDS TO KNEAD THE DOUGH JUST RIGHT. AND THEN SHAPE INTO WHAT YOU WANT. IF ONLY LIFE WAS SO EASY. JUST LIKE LIFE THOUGH, IT IS HARD TO MAKE PERFECT BREAD. IT TAKES YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE, MAKING BREAD, PIZZA, PRETZELS, ETC IS THE PERFECT DATE NIGHT. YOU CAN HELP EACH OTHER GATHER AND MIX THE INGREDIENTS. THEN YOU CAN BOTH KNEAD THE DOUGH. MORE WARM AND STICKY HANDS. IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, THEN YOU SHOULD GET FLOUR AND DOUGH ALL OVER EVERYWHERE. WHILE IT'S BAKING, YOU CAN CLEAN EACH OTHER UP. YA KNOW. YA KNOW. WHAT'S SEXIER THAN HOT BREAD WITH WARM, GOOEY, MELTED BUTTER, AND MAYBE A LITTLE HONEY ! THEN FEEDING IT TO EACH OTHER ! THEN CLEANING UP AGAIN. WOW ! WHAT FUN.
ON A NON-ROMANTIC NOTE, THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THE CHILDREN. WHAT A TRANSFER OF LOVE. HELPING THEM MAKE THEIR VERY OWN BREAD ! I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT BISCUITS. I AM TALKING ABOUT REAL BREAD. CRUNCHY ON THE OUTSIDE, SOFT AND WARM ON THE INSIDE. OR PIZZAS. THEY ARE VERY INDIVIDUAL, BUT TEAM ORIENTED, LIKE SOCCER. SOCCER IS THE MOST INDIVIDUAL TEAM SPORT ON THE PLANET.
ALL THIS HAS GIVEN ME A DESIRE FOR A FUTURE ROMANTIC GETAWAY. GO SOMEWHERE WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE, OR MIGHT LOVE, AND STAY AT SOME INN OR CHATEAU IN SOME LITTLE COUNTRY TOWN IN EUROPE. MAKE BREAD TOGETHER, BREAK BREAD TOGETHER, AND THEN MAKE LOVE. WHEW !
DO YOU GIRLS THINK THERE IS A SPOT AVAILABLE FOR MY ROMANTIC NOVELS LEFT ON THE WAL-MART, CVS, OR DOLLAR GENERAL SHELF? YA KNOW. RIGHT THERE AMONGST THE HARLEQUIN'S? C'MON, I KNOW A BUNCH OF YOU READ THEM.

THE MAIN REASON FOR MY TOPIC TONIGHT, IS THAT TODAY, WHILE MAKING BREAD I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT SOME TRULY SMALL THINGS ARE IN LIFE. GETTING DIRTY WITH DOUGH REQUIRES YOU TO WASH YOUR HANDS. NEXT TIME YOU WASH YOUR HANDS, TAKE A MINUTE TO ENJOY THE SOOTHING FEELING OF WARM WATER AND SOAP, CARESSING YOUR SKIN. SO SIMPLE. SUCH AN EVERYDAY TASK. BUT, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS. WE SHOULD ALL SLOW DOWN OUR LIVES A LITTLE TO REEXAMINE WHAT'S TRULY IMPORTANT.

WHAT LITTLE THINGS ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME? (THIS IS ALSO LIKE THE THINGS I AM MOST THANKFUL FOR)
I WILL GO FIRST TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE YOUR OWN LIST (IF I WANTED THEM TO BE IN ORDER, I WOULD HAVE NUMBERED THEM; EXCEPT NUMBER ONE)

KNOWING MY MAMA LOVES ME; WHEN I FEEL LIKE NOONE ELSE DOES, I KNOW SHE DOES (DON'T CRY EARLY)
BEING ABLE TO TRULY SHOW MY LOVE FOR SOMEONE ELSE
BEING ABLE TO MAKE SOMEONE'S DAY BETTER, JUST ONE PERSON'S, EVERY DAY
BEING NICE, NO MATTER WHAT; NICE GUYS FINISH LAST, OK WITH ME, LAST BETTER THAN NEVER (VERY TOUGH)
EATING WITHOUT THE PHONE RINGING, OR BEING BOTHERED, ESPECIALLY DURING SUPPER
WASHING MY HANDS REALLY WELL, REALLY FEELING THE SOAP AND WARM WATER
TAKING A WARM AND SOAPY SHOWER
BEING ABLE TO ENJOY A BUBBLE BATH EVERY NOW AND THEN
A VERY COLD, DRAFT BEER
WARM FRENCH BREAD WITH BUTTER
A GREAT NIGHT'S SLEEP
A WARM BED WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, WITH NOTHING TO DO THE NEXT DAY BUT WATCH MOVIES
COOKING WITH SOMEONE, OR PREPARING A FABULOUS MEAL FOR SOMEONE
WATCHING A MOVIE, WITH SOMEONE IN YOUR ARMS, WITHOUT THE PHONE RINGING
BEING ABLE TO FISH WITHOUT SOMEONE IN YOUR &*^#$&% SPOT
SUNDAY NAPS
CHILDREN. NOTHING BUT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
OLD CATHOLIC CHURCHES
KNOWING MY GRANNY IS MAKING ME A QUILT
KNOWING HOW MUCH MY FRIENDS LOVE ME
BEING ABLE TO CRY IF NECESSARY
WANTING TO BE SUCH A GREAT PERSON
SECOND CHANCES
THE ABILITY TO LEARN FROM THE PAST AND DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE
MY WONDERFUL BRAIN
MY ALWAYS OPEN AND LOVING HEART
GOOD FRENCH FRIES

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE LITTLE THINGS I LOVE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE. I KNOW I WILL.
T REE