So tranquil in my little corner of the world..Only on the surface..
The beautiful skies of winter .
Thing is.. it's over before you know it.I wish something else was was also.
Time flies..and the older you get the faster the days go by.
And never ever bored.
I am grateful for that.
Time change affects me though..We just changed the time this weekend..3 sleepless nights.Why can't we leave things alone.My dear friend said it was like changing house..
These are baguettes you can make under two hours..
You can find the recipe @plantsbymichelle on IG
I made half the recipe..
And instead of one large baguette..2 smaller ones. I make these on repeat..Purists will say these are not REAL baguettes..like Paris..lol..Well we have REAL baguettes here in QC with many stellar bakers..some from all over the world.Paris included.
But I love baking fresh bread..with ings I know..with my hands..and these are delish.Crisp out of the oven..they do soften though.I don't care;) Toasted delish too.
PS if making these.. to shape..twist upon themselves to look like these..
Re the cute 3x3 paintings..I have time..just not inspired:)I paint smallish already this is making me paint even smaller..
So I'm just not inspired:)
I'll continue what I love painting best..People.
Lately..more Montreal people ..but I will resume the Riviera..Paris..Provence once I have left winter behind:)
I love inventing little stories about each and every one..
My art supplies like my baking and gardening supplies.. are my treasures..
I do love scents and cosmetics also.
Love as in big like not love like loving my family;)
If you want to try these baguettes..
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 tsp sea salt
Mix in a bowl
In a measuring cup measure 1 cup of warm water 115-120F add one rounded tsp of active dry yeast (I use SAF INSTANT)1 tsp sugar..Mix..and let rest 10-15 mins until it gets frothy add to flour..mix well if its a tad dry add a bit more warm water..not a lot.
Cover and let rest in a warm area for ap 90 mins..
Once doubled..shape with flour on your hands and board.. into 2 loaves.. and bake in a pre-heated 450F oven for ap 20-25 mins..
Enjoy.
Gardening wise..I've taken 1 dahlia tuber and plopped it in a baggie with earth..I follow Gardening Grant and he suggested this to see if viable etc..Ill proceed with my larger ones if it works well.
I cannot pot up all these tubers:)
I might start some seeds soon.Not too early..
No tomatoes.
Too many squirrels and chipmunks feed on them.I have enough pests on my flowers to contend with.
Have a good week.
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Oh, your Montreal people! They are a wonderful series I could see them in a printed book with your stories, one per page. So inspiring! And I must share the baguette recipe with the resident baker. Rick makes baguettes often but his recipe takes much longer. He usually ends up doing eight at a time and freezing them. When you use them for toast, they go pretty quickly!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of daylight savings time and unlike you, my sleep ever since has been simply wonderful. (And it really wasn't before -- for days, just going on five or six hours; now the full seven!). But it's always a very divided subject! Still, those long days are terrific. I get so much more done later (although that early morning gives a lot of doing-time too!)
Our skies are getting a little bluer; the birds are frequent visitors and the robins are back. That does not mean winter is over -- even though we're having a lovely few days, I'm not so naive as to think we won't have another snow. But it won't last. Have a glorious week, my friend.
A well divided subject! I love that! Last night was better..I eventually get into it..But I love to complain;)My people keep me painting..lots of failures of other things in between if I am not following a tutorial.The added tip for this bread is to twist it while shaping:)You too have a great week.My daughter looked at your London posts and was appreciative:) TY!
DeleteThere are so many mad things happening this March, most of them to do with you-know-who. Baking and gardening and painting are great activities for avoiding the news. Too much of that and I don't sleep. I don't like the time change either.
ReplyDeleteYour people paintings are always lovely and I enjoy the stories you create with them.
Thank you Lorrie..Anxious to see what unfolds here with our our government.I did enjoy watching the election..Ella Grace and Cleo were wonderful..And of course our departing PM is so very eloquent.Class acts:)Funny how we are all so different with the time changes..Take care..Elbows up:)
DeleteHello Monique! You are right--time is flying by crazy fast. My husband and I ask each other where the days go. I wonder if all of us or a certain age (I'm nearly 71) feel this way? It causes me to want to make the most of every day. Your Montreal people are wonderful, as usual. I'd like to meet the lady in the puffy red whose dog is sporting a red vest. And I know the woman pulling the child on a sled just has to be the best grandma around! Yes, those paintings and your entire post make me feel that the world is still a very good place. There is much controversy and many lives are being crushed and ended due to wars. I pray things will change--quickly. I want more blue skies (as you've pictured) for everyone. I appreciate the beauty you bring to us, Monique!
ReplyDeleteI am 71 now:). So we are so very very close in age if not spot on..And Jacques and I say that all the time.The story for the ref puffer lady and pet..She is a wonderful neurologist.Epilepsy is her specialty...However she treats migraines with Botulism Toxin injections and has bettered sooo many lives with this..Night and day.She also treats many other things..She is so human..so professional..and so kind.Never in a rush.Always listening.She is based on our neuro..However he is a man:)Thank you Pam..Have a great day.Peace.
DeleteThank you for the background story on the lady in red. She sounds like a wonderful person.
DeleteYou sound pretty wonderful too:)
DeleteLove your Montreal people and their sweet stories. It’s true, it seems like time is flying by so quickly. The baguettes look wonderful. I have made bread several times in the last week, so I shall try this recipe. It’s suppose to get colder today with more rain.☔️ I see so many blooms coming on. Happy midweek.
ReplyDeleteYou will be entering your most floriferous season.Spring is gorgeous isn't it? Twist those loaves..flour your hands:)You too:)
DeleteI share so many of your experiences including the difficulty with time change and the un-natural feeling of it, loving my painting practice but not always the results, the comfort of my beloved home and garden and fresh baked goods, especially the sweets! And sadly the unbelievable disruption and destruction that our current political leader continues to wreak on so many lives. I can never apologize enough for his vexing behavior toward Canada. Every single Canadian politician who has spoken to the news has been entirely reasonable in the face of insanity and reckless avarice and cruelty. Please know that nearly half or the US voters do NOT support any part of his behavior.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to anticipate each delivery of a new post and relish in your fantastic photographs, beautiful paintings and amazing stories. Your work brings joy at a time when it is especially needed. jeanette sclar
You made me tear up.You are such an accomplished artist..such a class act Jeanette.I think I mentioned to you..you share my mom's name..but she had two ns..She also was filled with grace and class.This whole situation is just so very sad.I appreciate your kindness. So very much.I hope you know that.And I hope the damages are not irreparable.
DeleteGood to know about twisting after shaping the baguettes. Yesterday morning I checked on all my dahlia tubers that were in storage and they appear good :-) It's true that it seems like time flies by so quickly, and like you I am never bored.
ReplyDeleteYou can watch her whole video:) Or his here..that I sent you via IG on a DM:) My tubers are in our cold room Ill check on more when it gets a bit warmer:)
DeleteMoi aussi, j’aime beaucoup les gars de Montréal. And I love fresh bread too. We have found a local bakery with wonderful bread and we are delighted!
ReplyDeleteOh I am happy for you!Merci David!
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ReplyDeletere the lady in the red puffer coat ... surely there can only be one female neurologist @ the world-famous Montreal Neurological Institute who specializes in epilepsy? surely this lady must be the distinguished dr. D.D. herself?
yes she is an extraordinary physician. Brilliant. Tireless. Devoted to her patients.
I based this woman..On my Male Neurologist:) I do know a very good Female one.. specialty Parkinson's..Not DD:)
DeleteYes time and days goes faster and faster for every year...strange. Maybe I get more and more lazy, hm...
ReplyDeleteI must try to bake the baguettes! Homebaked bread is the best :)
Your paintings is just fantastic, the way you catch the character of the people is so great. I hope you find the inspiration again soon....
Lots of love from Titti
Hi Titti..I am always painting:) There are some wonderful photographers of people on IG that let me use their photos:) I am grateful.Take care:)
ReplyDeleteTime is going too fast for my liking. Your paintings are beautiful. I love baguettes but can't eat too much because they give me indigestion ☹
ReplyDeleteI would avert too:). Have a wonderful time:)
DeleteI always struggle with the time change. It takes me weeks to catch up. As if we don't have enough to struggle with these days. Not mentioning any names. I am really struggling with that, although I try to ignore as much of it as I can. I love LOVE ALL of your people paintings. Montreal, Paris, wherever. I think they are all lovely. You are just so talented. And that bread. I keep telling myself I need to try it. Maybe one of these days I will! Happy first day of Spring!xoxo
ReplyDeleteThe same to you Marie:) IYKYK:) We know..:). I have never been so patriotic.That's a good thing. Thank you!
DeleteYour paintings look so lovely, I really like them. I wish I was as talented with my watercolors as you are; so far it's more playing around and trying things out than actually painting something "real". The baguettes looks super yummy. I love to bake bread and often do so. However, I am never able to re-create our beautiful German bread because the flour here is different. I've never tried to bake baguettes, but now having seen yours I'm tempted. The twisting method looks great, and tha's a very good tip. Do you actually need those special forms for baguette or would it also work on a regular baking sheet? I wonder.
ReplyDeleteHi :) I think the original creator and the link I put here said you can just put on parchment:) No form needed..Most of my baguettes..were not made with this twist method..It is fun.I hope you give it a try..I am going back to look at your watercolors but I remember thinking they were great!I have great difficulty painting Real..Such as landscapes..flowers etc..GREAT difficulty.
DeleteThe baguettes look delicious! I love making bread too. :) I love all of your Montreal people paintings...
ReplyDeleteI know you do and you have mastered it!I love painting them..A hobby I cherish..toys:)
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