A Perfect Loaf

    I have really got away from baking since I have been cutting back on carbs, but today I needed some bread so got out the bread machine. Last time I used it, it had been making a terrible rattling noise. I actually thought it was on its last legs. However, I managed to remove the paddle and cleaned some gunk out from under it to see if that would help.

   First off I discovered I was all out of bread machine flour. Nothing daunted I resorted to all-purpose flour. Then I had to gouge out some crystalized honey (does this happen to other people?) and melt it down to a liquid as it is one of the ingredients in my recipe. Not a very promising start. However, the machine worked like a charm and, three hours later, had produced this very satisfactory loaf. 

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

The Snowbanks Are Rising

   No new snow today but more shovelling to get the driveway cleared. It was a sunny but cold day so that helped. Further north of us had extreme cold but here we were positively balmy at -8C with no wind. It was quite pleasant to be out in the sun.

As you can see the snow is beginning to accumulate where there would be grass growing.

The street was plowed yesterday so I had to clear the windrow. It wasn't too bad. That will be my exercise for the weekend.

Still More Winter

   The tire seems to be holding pressure but we had more snow overnight so I was out shovelling again this morning. Plus my winter boots have sprung a leak. No way am I buying another pair until next Winter. I will have to make do with my spare pair which are decidedly out of date but at least keep my feet dry.

   We are in for some chilly weather tomorrow, -9C and that's the high for the day. It should warm up after that to -3C but I don't have anywhere to go over the weekend so might just hunker down at home until the weather improves.

A Difficult Drive and a Scare

   Just the usual number at Book Club this afternoon and we had a lively discussion followed by treats and coffee. The book for this month was "Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate, a fictional account of a very real situation - baby stealing, kidnapping and cruelty at  Tennessee orphanage in the 1920's.

   Digging out from another snow storm and more is forecast for tonight. I managed to get my car out onto the street this morning and had a fairly easy drive to my tennis game. The main roads had been cleared and well salted. We are very fortunate to have our sidewalks cleared by the city (not all parts of the city are) so that was one less thing to do. However, tennis and snow shovelling was more than enough exercise for one day. I had a small scare on my way to tennis as my "low tire pressure" light came on and the last time that happened I had to replace the tire. I managed to inflate it and will wait until tomorrow to see if it holds the air. Otherwise it will mean a trip to the dealership to see if they can fix it. New tires are expensive.

   I am having a couple of meatless days. Yesterday was roasted veggies and bean casserole. Today I made some savoury muffins which I will have with the rest of the beans. Having said that I just realized I had some smoked mackerel an hour ago while the muffins were cooking, so not entirely meatless.

They are mostly carrot and cheese with a little flour and just one egg.