VETERANS DAY 2025

 

No words of gratitude will ever be enough, but

thank you to all our Veterans.

Forever grateful!

(Comments are off for today)

MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - NO-KNEAD ARTISAN BREAD - SERVES 4

I found my recipe from ‘The Recipes of Home’ hosted by Lauren. I don’t bake bread very often but this was delicious. The original recipe can be found here. I am happy to say it was a 10 out of 10 and thank you Lauren for this no-need recipe. 

Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread - serves 4

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp active dry yeast

1 ½ tsp sea salt

1 ½ cups warm water (around 105°F)

 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, active dry yeast, and sea salt. Stir the dry ingredients together, then slowly add the warm water.

Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to mix everything together until it forms a rough, sticky dough ball. Don’t worry if it is shaggy as this is exactly how it should look.

Transfer the dough to a clean, lightly greased bowl.

Cover it loosely with plastic wrap, then place a moistened kitchen towel over the top.

Let the dough rise at room temperature in a draft-free area for 18 to 24 hours.

By the end of this slow rise, the dough should have doubled in size and be filled with small air bubbles—this is the secret to its chewy, airy texture.

About 30 minutes before you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C).

Place your Dutch oven (with the lid on) into the oven while it preheats. This ensures the pot is piping hot, which gives the bread its beautiful crust.

This is a photo of a Dutch Oven similar to the one I have had for many years.

Flour your countertop generously and gently turn out the dough onto the surface.

With floured hands, shape the dough into a loose ball.

Don’t over-handle it—this dough loves to be treated gently.

Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven (use oven mitts as it is obviously extremely hot).

Gently place the dough into the pot.

Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes.

Then, remove the lid and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the top is a deep golden brown and the crust sounds hollow when tapped.

I have added several of Lauren’s tips for success:

Water temperature matters:

Ensure the water is warm, not hot. Around 105°F is perfect to activate the yeast without killing it.

Use parchment paper for easy transfer:

Place the dough on a sheet of parchment paper before lowering it into the Dutch oven. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier. (Denise’s note: Mine slightly overlapped and it was easier to take the bread out to put on the cooling rack, using great care to prevent burning fingers. I have oven mitts that look like a thick pair of gloves.)

No Dutch Oven? You can use a heavy oven-safe pot with a lid, though a true cast iron Dutch oven gives the best results.

Store: once cooled, wrap the bread in a clean kitchen towel or store in a paper bag. Avoid plastic wrap, which can soften the crust.

Best enjoyed within 2 to 3 days.

Reheat: to revive the crust, place slices in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes or toast in a skillet.

More notes from Lauren:

Baking bread at home doesn’t have to be intimidating. With this Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread, you get the satisfaction of homemade artisan bread without the effort of kneading or fancy equipment. It’s rustic, hearty, and soul-warming—the kind of loaf you’ll want to make again and again.

Serve it with a pat of butter, a bowl of soup, or just on its own. However you slice it, this bread is a timeless classic that brings comfort to your table all year round.

Bake crusty, no-knead bread in a Dutch oven! Just 4 ingredients for a simple, hearty artisan loaf.

My notes: I was delighted that it turned out but have to admit, after only four hours rising time. It had doubled in size and I decided to go ahead and bake it. I will follow the recipe exactly next time (let rise for the 18 hours). I am curious if that will make such a big difference as the result of this loaf was great.

One night we cut 2 slices to use for cheese toast. We found one slice cut into two pieces was enough for each of us as each slice is quite large. To those we  added a mixture of grated Gruyere and Mozzarella. It was what we had left from other recipes and thought it would be a good idea to see what this bread would be like toasted. It didn't disappoint. Very yummy! Sometimes we have cheese toast with tomato soup for supper. That seems to be a combination that many of us enjoy.

I served it with the ground beef stew which I shared on last Monday’s recipe post at this link. They went very well together. Coming back into the house after stepping outside, we were greeted with this most amazing aroma.

Full address for the bread recipe is below, for those who prefer to copy and paste instead of using the link above.

https://recipesofhome.com/easy-dutch-oven-no-knead-bread/#google_vignette

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day everyone.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - ANN'S THANKSGIVING CARD

 It's another lovely card Ann, thank you so much!

You can visit Ann at Ann's Snap Edit Scrap. She does all kinds of wonderfully creative things for you to see. Her link is here.

Thanks again Ann for putting those much-needed smiles on our faces.

And thank you for visiting everyone.

Happy Sunday!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - ALL ABOUT MIGRATING

The Dark-eyed Junco has returned.

The little House Finch had a few words.

The Chipmunk wasn't feeling it somehow, but one of the Froggies 3 was being kind. The other two were still confused.

The male House Finch decided to join in as a show of support.

And that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Thanks for flying in and listening to this week's groaners.

Have a great weekend!

For our international friends to translate.

1st Photo:

"Hello, I'm back. It took me ages to fly here. Would anyone like to hear my great joke?

"No? Did you get it. Would anyone like to hear 'migrate' joke?"

2nd Photo:

"Oh boy! That bird is a real chirp off the old block."

3rd Photo:

"There's no talon what I can do. I can keep this up all day."

4th Photo: 

"Please don't!"

"???"

"I like them."

"???"

5th Photo:

"Egrets...he has a few..."

"but I flew in my way."

MY WISH FOR YOU - POSTED BEFORE BUT WORTH REPOSTING

 

"May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand.  

May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.  

Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone.  

May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace.  

May a kind word, a reassuring touch and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.  

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.  

Teach love to those who hate, and let that love embrace you as you go out into the world.  

May the teachings of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them.  

Remember, those whose lives you have touched and whose have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.  It is the content of the encounter that is more important than the form.  

May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.  

Find time each day to see beauty and love in the world around you.  

Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way. What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future.  

May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.  

Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.  

May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on another's judgement of your accomplishments.  

May you always feel loved."

~ Sandra Sturtz Hauss~

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE

I can't remember where this bouquet came from, probably a birthday. I really enjoyed the simple color combination of green on white, with yellow here and there and a touch of lavender in the wrapping. It was with other more colorful bouquets and those were lovely too, but this particular one really caught my eye.

The name Queen Anne's Lace, comes from an 18th-century legend that Queen Anne of England was so fond of lace, that she challenged her ladies-in-waiting to create lace as beautiful as the flower.

Another version of the legend says the queen pricked her finger while sewing, and a drop of blood landed on the white lace flower, which is why many blooms have a single dark purple dot in the center.

Queen Anne's lace is the wild ancestor of the modern, domesticated carrot (D aucus carota). The first-year root is edible when young but becomes woody and unpleasant over time, unlike its domesticated cousin. The roots of the plant smell like carrots.

Thanks for looking and wishing you all 

A Happy Thursday!

FLOWERS OF THE SEA

These are from my archives, a trip taken to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, in 2009. In some ways it seems like yesterday. I enjoyed looking through my photos again. 

Sea Anemones are beautiful sea creatures and yet are a soft-bodied predatory marine animal. It resembles a flower but is related to corals and jellyfish. It has a cylindrical body with a mouth at the top, surrounded by tentacles that contain stinging cells to paralyze prey. 

While often stationary, attached to surfaces by a foot-like base, they can also slowly move or even "swim" if necessary.

Sea Anemones are found worldwide in oceans from shallow intertidal zones to depths of over 30,000 feet, with many species preferring warmer tropical waters.

Sea anemones can live for many decades, with some species living 80 to 100 years or more. Some species appear to be biologically immortal, living by constantly replacing their cells and avoiding age-related decline. 

Factors like predation, disease and overcollection in the pet trade are the main reasons they die in the wild, not old age.

One of the most unique symbiotic relationships of the marine world is the one between boxer crabs and the anemone, Triactis producta. The boxer crab carries these highly venomous anemones in its claws to use as a deadly 'boxing glove' that it can use to defend itself against predators. You can see one at this link.

And now I know! I had a fascinating time learning about these interesting creatures. I hope you did too.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your day.

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - MURALS

 This was one of my two favorite murals I saw that day. I am sure I missed many but before I go again, I will find out where they are.

This is at the entrance of the US Naval Academy.

The ships were on the wall hidden by the car.

Veering away from murals for a minute, on the grounds of the academy is the statue of a goat, which is the United States Naval Academy Mascot. Its story on how it was chosen as the mascot can be read here.

The following murals were in various places heading home but on the outskirts of town, in a more industrial area. 

The next four photos of a mural painted on a wall, were done by local teenagers and they called it 'The Garden of Inclusion.' I couldn't find much about it except for a fleeting glimpse of a local newspaper article, before a pop-up appeared blocking everything and asking that I buy a four-month subscription to read it. I didn't want to do that so let it be.

"Tener Felizidad" according to google translate means "Have Happiness".

It must have been done some time ago as it seemed worn and faded.

There were good messages painted all along that wall, such as "Be Happy" and "Nosotros Somos" - "We Are".  

This was very nice but hard to photograph for one complete photo.

I missed a panel, but this was at the end and was my other favorite.

A mural map can be found here of the following.

There is a YouTube at this link explaining the art, and these murals are seen.  I looked for ID and didn't find them all. This one of the young girl below is called "Girl & Angler Fish", by artist Vermelho. It can be found on the Capital Teas HQ building.

I didn't know this until searching online for info on the murals, that we were actually in the Annapolis Design District, in an industrial area bounded by West Street, Chinquapin Round Road, Legion Avenue and Forest Drive. The photo below is a painting of a fox.

What I found: "Brazilian-born artist Roberta Pardo, is the force behind this particular mural collection. Roberta, an Arundel County resident, created Urban Walls Brazil, an arts residency program that brings young, international street artists to Annapolis. 

Thanks for looking and I hope your week has started well. 

EASY AND DELICIOUS GROUND BEEF STEW RECIPE - SERVINGS: APPROXIMATELY 8 (ABOUT 2 QUARTS)

I have several beef stew recipes on this blog but I'm not sure I have one made with ground beef. I found it at Creations by Kara and the original recipe is at this link. This is a delicious recipe and I recommend visiting Kara's website to see everything she has to offer. Though I try to add her tips below, I may have missed a few. Kara also has many wonderful recipes to try. Not only is ground beef more economical, but it cooks much faster than classic beef stew. This can also be cooked in a crockpot/slow cooker, instructions below recipe highlighted in red. I have highlighted it because I'm likely to make it this way on another occasion, and it will be easier to find.

Easy Ground Beef Stew Recipe

Preparation time: 15 minutes (though it took me a heck of a lot longer than 15 minutes as I go slow)

Cooking time: 35 minutes

Total time: 50 minutes

 

1 pound lean ground beef

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (plain flour in the UK)

4 large carrots, sliced

3 celery stalks, sliced

1 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and cubed

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

2 1/2 cups of beef broth (or beef stock) - I add 1 cup of red wine to all my beef broths - we both think this adds a delicious new depth of flavor. Then you can pour yourself a glass with dinner if so inclined.

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp thyme

1/4 tsp rosemary

Wash and chop all of the vegetables, get all ingredients ready. It is a big help once the process gets started.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until the meat is completely brown. 

Drain off any excess fat.

Add the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds. 

Add the flour and stir until all the meat is coated.

Stir in the carrots, celery, potato cubes, diced tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary.

Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. 

Stir occasionally and add a little water if the stew is getting too thick.

Serve with a crusty roll (I made a very easy, no-knead artisan bread which I will be sharing next week.)

 

Kara's Notes:

Each serving is about 1 cup

Calories per cup is approximately 227

Storing leftovers:

Like most soup, this ground beef stew tastes even better the next day after the flavors have time to meld together.

You can store it in the pot, but I like to transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

Reheat the soup in the microwave in a small bowl, or in a saucepan over medium heat. If it seems a bit dry, you can add a little bit of water or broth.

The stew can also be frozen for 2-3 months, just keep in mind that the vegetables soften as they thaw, and russet potatoes tend to get mushy if you have used those.

Variations: 

Chopped green beans are a nice addition. If using fresh green beans, add them during the last 10-12 minutes of cooking time. Canned or frozen green beans can be added at the end and just heated through.

Frozen peas, corn, or other frozen vegetables can be added during the last minute of cooking time.

I have also made this stew with yukon gold and peeled russet potatoes. All are delicious, so use whatever you have on hand.

You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef if you are so inclined.

Don’t have beef broth on hand? Feel free to use a tablespoon of beef base or bouillon and 2 1/2 cups water.

Can I make this stew in a slow cooker?

Absolutely! Simply brown ground beef and onion in a skillet, then transfer to your crock pot. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Denise's notes:

I think the only addition I would make to this is mushrooms, for our own taste, maybe. Gregg thought the stew was delicious as it was, and so do I but I'm curious about adding the mushrooms.

I doubled the recipe as I knew we would want leftovers. 

I did not double the ground beef (we only had the one packet in our supplies) and found it more than enough. I wouldn't bother adding extra beef next time I make it.

I added a cup of red wine. A favorite is Meiomi Pinot Noir. It's nice to add a glass with our meal and goes well with this stew. 

I have added Kara's whole website address for this recipe below, just in case you would like to copy and paste instead of using the link above.

https://www.creationsbykara.com/ground-beef-stew/

I think that's all I can think of. If you have any questions, I can answer them in the comment section.

 

I often get asked how I make my signatures. I put it together in Paint Shop Pro today, an old program I have had on my laptop for years. No other graphics used except my photo, and I have several fonts to choose from already included in the program. It's a fun hobby and a fun way to pass the time.