Baguettes

Way back in the early 1980's, I got into some serious bread baking.  I was totally enamored at that time with the Williams-Sonoma catalog.  It would be years later when I would finally enter a Williams-Sonoma store.  It was love!!

Back in 1981, The Trout and I belonged to a "Wine Group".   We were 5 couples who became friends through the local Newcomers Club.  We started out so 'good,' meaning, we would blind taste 5 or 6 wines and only eat a slice of bread to cleanse the palate.  We would try to meet once a month at someone's home.  Just let me say, very quickly, the slice of bread to cleanse the palate made way to some really nice gourmet dinners.  We also took the brown paper bags off of the wine bottles, and simply enjoyed the evening.

During these years - we stayed together in our group for 12 years - I kind of started 'my specialty' which was my recipe for Williams-Sonoma recipe for baguettes. 

Above you see the double metal pans that I purchased so many years ago.  You simply formed your loaves and baked them in them grooved pans.  They held the dough nicely, made a very crisp crust and kept the loaves at a small, petite baguette size.



Well, today was one of those days and I felt I had to revisit the old days, so I baked the baguettes.  I only wish our dear friends were here this evening to enjoy with us a glass of wine and a slice of bread.  We have scattered, as it happens.  So for Gene and Peg, Jim and Laurie, Mark and Kathy and John and Melva....a toast to the good old days.

Williams-Sonoma French Bread (Baguettes)

In a large bowl dissolve 1 envelope dry yeast, 1 Tbs. sugar and 2 tsps. salt in 2 cups warm water.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Stir in about 4 cups all-purpose flour, and turn out onto a floured surface.  Using a pastry scraper, lift and turn the dough, which will be very soft, until it coheres enough to knead.  Add more flour if necessary and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic.  Put in a clean bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for 45 minutes in a warm place.

Dislodge dough from sides of bowl with a rubber spatula and turn out.  Gently pat flat, dust with a little flour, and fold in half to form a half circle, and then again to form a quarter circle.  Return to bowl and let rise for another 30 minutes (the rising develops the full flavor and ultimate lightness.)

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, pat flat and fold in half.  Cut into four equal pieces, form into balls and let rest for 5 minutes.  Flatten each ball into an oval and roll up like a jelly roll.  Form into a loaf almost the length of the pan by rolling back and forth.

Line baguette pan with a pastry cloth or coarsely woven cloth and place formed dough in the furrows.  Cover with a clean towel and let rise again until almost double.  Pull the pans out from under the cloth and gently flip the loaves onto the pans which have been brushed with butter.  Use the cloth to help you, pulling the loaf towards the pan.  Brush the loaves with well-beaten egg mixed with a little water, and slash each loaf diagonally with a bakers' blade or razor blade.  Bake in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.  (I have always reduced this to 425 degrees because my ovens have always seemed very hot)

I have not checked if these pans are still available, but I suppose you could free-form these loaves as well.  Enjoy.

Small town in Montana

The small town of Philipsburg, Montana, is steeped in mining and ranching history. It was a busy mining town in the late 1800's and today the buildings are all beautifully restored in the downtown area.

Philipsburg lies in the Pintler scenic loop and is located at 5280 foot altitude. It is a lovely town to visit, shop, and dine in. Our friends, Jim and Laurie, came to visit and this is where we took them. Jim is an expert photographer and he has agreed to let me show the photos he took that day. I give him all the credit for showing us all the gorgeous restoration that has taken place in this quaint town.

A favorite creek and friends

While our friends were traveling out West, they made a turn and decided to spend a couple of days with us. This thrilled us as we have been friends for almost 30 years. The Trout took Jim to his favorite creek while Laurie and I went shopping. Sounds like a fair deal, right?

Jim was very happy with his catch of the day. Though the weather provided showers off and on, the fish were still biting.

The beauty of this stream, with only the sound of the babbling water flowing over the rocks, makes this a very favorite of the Trout.

Here he is showing off one of the beautiful trout that was quickly released back into the waters. This is a "catch and release" stream only. It is a beautiful way to save the fish for future generations.

But, while the Trout was lake fishing the other day, he did catch a good sized Rainbow which he smoked with good results. Years ago, we had a terrific recipe for a marinade, but through our moves, it was lost. It is now put together with memory and turns out pretty good. Perhaps a little more brown sugar or maple syrup next time will perfect it.

I found a special website

The year was 2005 and the Trout and I were traveling in Provence. The gite we were renting for the week was not the best. In fact, in all the years of renting vacations homes in Europe, this was the only time things were not as they should be. What saved our week was the lovely view of Mont Ventoux and these dear people in the picture, Rolf and Ana Maria. They lived across the street and treated us like family. They showed us how to find the best markets in Provence, befriended us and on our last evening in the area, they invited us to a typical Provencal cold evening spread. What you see on this table is only a part of our feast.

Ana Maria had prepared meatballs and cornichons, eggplant sauteed in garlic, zucchini in garlic, chicken wings cooked in 3 garlics (raw, baked and roasted), omelet with lots of vegetables, cheese course of goat cheese and for dessert, creme brulee topped with strawberries. Needless to say, everything tasted marvelous. We had such a wonderful time together. They both speak several languages and this wonderful evening we were speaking English and a little bit of German.

Through the years we have kept in touch at Christmastime, and just this week the Trout emailed them telling them we are hoping to be in Provence next spring. We are hoping they will be in France at that time and that we will be able to reconnect. What I find so exciting, is that dear Ana Maria now has her own Mediterranean cooking website. I have just posted it on my blog list on the right. Chez Basilic is filled with wonderful recipes from the Mediterranean countries. I do hope you check it out. Having eaten at Ana Maria's table, I know every recipe is wonderful.

A friendship is reunited again!

Our friends Dieter and Heidi from Germany

left to right-- Susan, Dieter, Heidi and The Trout

In 1978, we were living in Coldwater, Michigan. We had a Sister city program with Soltau, Germany. We got involved immediately. After living in Heidelberg, Germany, 1968-1969, we had developed a real love for the people of Germany. The fact that I learned to speak German before English was just an added bonus.

In 1978, we hosted Dieter and Heidemarie in our home when Soltau came to the USA. We had lots of fun and we started a good relationship. In 1979, The Trout and I traveled to Germany and stayed in Dieter and Heidi's home. There were several more visits back and forth and phone calls on birthdays and always, always, a call from Germany at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Though Dieter does not have a great love for the Internet, we do correspond this way and Skype each other also. It is still easier for them to phone us. This past Christmas Eve, we told them about our plans to spend 3 days in the Black Forest of Germany. Immediately they responded that they would like to meet us there. And so the plans began.

We found a bed and breakfast in Gutach, Germany, in the Black Forest, named Joklisbauren Hof. I will speak of this wonderful place in my next blog.

The Trout and I landed in Paris, went through customs and caught the TGV, the bullet train, right at Charles de Gaulle airport and headed for Strasbourg, France. There we rented a car and drove for just a few hours and arrived at the farm where we were staying for 3 fun days. Ten minutes later, our friends from northern Germany arrived by car. It was quite the reunion, blessed with a toast of beer which was very appreciated for our parched throats. We caught up right where we left off after seeing them the last time in 2001.

We had 3 days of sightseeing and eating meals together. My talks with Heidi revealed how much we had matured since our first meeting 32 years ago. We have two daughters and they have a son and our children are all married now. We compared those growing up years, retirement, and just living each day with fun and laughter.

Of all the great experiences in this world, my favorite, by far, will always be reunions. I love meeting with old friends and reconnecting. Tomorrow I will tell you about some of good things that happened while in the Black Forest.

Crepes with Strawberries

Recently I chatted with a childhood friend, Rosalie, and she commented on how her mother would make crepes for her and her sister for breakfast when they were children. It was a quick "on the run to catch the bus" breakfast, and the tradition has been carried on in their families.

Rosalie's family has ties to the Alsace Lorraine region of France which was once part of Germany. Thus, the crepes have continued to be a part of their family tradition.

Lina's Crepes

3 eggs

1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup milk

Put a pat of butter in a skillet, pour in a small amount of batter, swirl around, flip, brown the second side a little and then roll with sugar or fruit.

MONTANA PEOPLE AND PLACES - IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT!!!

How did Trout ever find and fall in love with Montana you may ask?? Way back in 1981 or 1982, my brother Gordon called me and invited me to go elk hunting in Montana! He had been buying cattle through a rancher-broker in Drummond who invited him to come out!! Above is his cattle lot where he ships many 1000's of feeder cattle each fall to feed lots all over the country!
This is Garry Mentzer, the owner operator of the lot. Along with his sons, Gerry and Greg, they are about the hardest working ranchers in the Flint Creek Valley, home of the "World's Biggest Bullshippers!" They were great hosts and invited me to come out some summer to try fishing! Well as luck would have it, I was in Tacoma, WA the next summer so I called Garry and he made plans to pick me up at the MSO airport and back to his ranch. He supplied me with a trusty ranch pickup and son Greg to guide me!! It was a great time and one to be repeated many times over the years to fish and hunt with them. I hope I have not worn out my welcome with many stops over the years to bunk up with them. I feel about as contented and full of spirit as I can get while out there with new adventures every day in search of the wily trout!

My heart felt thanks to the Mentzer family and I wish you the very best!!
Garry had some 60 acres on a trout stream that Greg showed me! Below it was a beautiful valley where the stream ran clear and full of cutthroat trout. Its owner, Grace, was a very interesting lady in her 70's. She loved the mountains and used to leave her husband in control of the family as she took a couple of horses and headed into the mountains in search of trophy elk. She taught many men how to elk hunt and her husband shot a bull elk that is in the TOP 10 trophy bulls ever shot!

Every time I was in the area, I would fish her wonderful stream until she died. I had heard her family would tie up the stream for their own use so I left it alone for a few years until I got up the gumption to stop and ask if I could fish. Well I got a good look over by her son, Harold, who gave me the OK after promising "catch and release" fishing. I gave him a couple of beers to keep cool while I fished as a peace offering!

Well, upon my return to his home, I noticed he had set up 2 chairs in the yard for the two of us! Over those beers, we learned a lot about each other and solved the world's problem. By the time the beers were done, I had an open invitation to come back and fish anytime!! I have done so many many times and Susan and I have enjoyed Harold and Alvina's company each summer for evenings out!

These are just two of many great acquaintances I have made in Montana. I have felt most welcome by all but two landowners, to enjoy their resources! My thanks to you all and God Bless!
TROUT

IMPORTANT MONTANA PLACES AND PEOPLE - SERIES 1 by TROUT

After retiring in 1999, I had more time for summer getaways to Montana. The first year found me bunking with the Mentzer boys as I had done many times since 1982 when their dad first invited my brother and me out to do some elk hunting. (more on this great family another time.) That was the summer I entered the Helmville rodeo trying to make some worm money on bareback bucking horses!! Off I flew on the first try and the old boy turned and gave me a good stump on my right ankle for being dumb enough to try rodeo at age 55!! That was the story I told some old bank workmates along with picture of a real cowboy I took at the rodeo. THEY BELIEVED IT!! Actually I stepped on a tippy rock while fishing and took a real dandy fall. My mile long journey back to the car was rather painful but I made it! The fall produced a badly broken ankle that now sports a plate and 6 screws.

The next 2 years saw the wife and I trying the RV route and a travel trailer later. This was a lot of fun but rather cramped and a pain to set up and take down properly. I forgot to unhook the electric cord early on and I left a campground dragging the cord merrily behind us. I thought how friendly the other campers were as they gave us a big wave send off but they were really trying to tell us "You Dummies" forgot to unhook!!

So, I decided in early 2002 to try locals realtors to find a long term rental. Months went by and no replies so I decided to call them in hopes of a rental. As luck would have it, a young couple from Missoula had stopped in one office that morning to advise them that their cabin just may be available for the summer. The realtor gave me their number and I quickly gave them a call.

This is Bill and Sandy, owners of the cabin, at our anniversary dinner last Thursday. Bill is an environmental engineer and Sandy works in a dental office and have 3 great sons all in college and headed for great things! They built the cabin several years ago with logs which later was sided for better weather proving. The picture was taken during an early September snow fall! The interior was rustic but charming we thought and very homey. There was a lovely field behind the cabin with cows, horses, coyotes, etc. for a real western feel.

Bill even left us with a real nice bottle of wine to "get us started right!" For the next 5 years we spent a lot of our Montana summers in the Cabin with much joy as we shared it with many friends.

But now Bill and Sandy and the boys have more time to enjoy it themselves, for which we are glad. We had and have a great relationship with this family and we thank them for their friendship and hospitality.

I never left this place at the end of our summer stay without sobbing grateful, but sad tears.

I have been captured by Facebook

I think it has been over a year now that I have been on "Facebook". I asked myself, "why would someone my age want to be on Facebook?" I slowly sneaked in at first. I knew both my daughters were on, so I thought I would be able to see family photos and such. And then it started.

Someone "found" me and asked to be my friend. I still was hesitant, asking myself if I really wanted to get involved. And then, "why not?" So, I have a few friends. Certainly not the number that some have. I mean, if you have over 100 friends, how many of these people are really important friends?

This is what "Facebook" has done for me. It has reunited me with a former high school teacher which has been a wonderful memory booster. We discuss situations and people we knew in high school and it just is a refreshing relationship now that we are good friends. Would you believe I still have a slight hesitancy calling him by his first name?

I also am in contact with my nieces and nephews and son-in-laws, grandchildren and the most fun has been being in touch with friends I was in grade school with. Now that is a real friendship.

I have just connected with "children" who lived in our neighborhood over 30 years ago. These children have certainly grown up and have started their own families. There is no way, other than "Facebook" that we would have reconnected. I am so enjoying it.

I have become friends with many other bloggers since I started my blog Schnitzel and the Trout last fall, and even a blogger from Europe is one of my friends on Facebook.

And then, there is the addiction on "Facebook"...the crazy, crazy games. There are many games to choose from. The one that has me mesmerized right now is "Bejeweled Blitz". Do not, I repeat, do not get involved unless you have a couple of free minutes a day. The game only lasts one minute....it is the repeat games that get you!

And the last thing that gets me are the crazy quizzes. They are so silly and in no way could possibly bring out personality traits, but it is so funny and strange when the answers to these quizzes describe you right on. And, your friends even recognize you in your results.

And NO, I will not get involved in Twitter. I do not have that much time. And, who cares what I am doing minute to minute. I will say, if I were much, much younger, this would be an excellent networking option in finding a job and so forth.

Cinco de Mayo

It is May 5th--Cinco de Mayo, and we celebrated simply but we had fun. Several couples got together and had a cocktail hour this evening. We had Sangria which was wonderful, with lots of fruit and shrimp cocktails and black bean salad with chips.

It was also a farewell for one snow bird couple that is heading back to Wisconsin for the summer. We vowed to do this on a regular schedule next winter because we really have a lot of fun together.

Here's a laugh for you!

Just a touch of humor today. I have been hesitating posting this for some time, but then today I thought, "hey, there are a lot of senior citizens out there, some more senior than others, and sometimes you just have to laugh at your life."

Let's clear something at the start, this story is not about me. Now, that that is in the open, let me tell you a true story of 3 ladies in their 70's. They had not seen each other in quite a few years, so two of them flew down here to Florida to visit the other one living here.

I have had two friends, in the past, come down here and do the same kind of visit. We laughed continuously and had a great, great time.

Anyway, back to the story. These 3 ladies went to the movies and got a large container of popcorn to share. Pretty soon, one of the ladies had a corn husk caught in her upper denture. She worked at it and worked at it and finally with a simply flip of her fingernail, the upper denture went flying under the seats in front of them.

So, now you have 3 ladies in their 70's, a dark movie theatre, and they are down on their hands and knees searching for an upper denture in the dark. Needless to say, the giggling started and as we can only imagine, one of the ladies wet her pants because of the intense laughter that they were trying to stifle.

The denture was found, a sweater was found to wrap around the second casualty and they giggled their way out of the movie theatre.

They get home, and husband finds out the story and he cannot keep it to himself, so soon it is spread all through the neighborhood. You know, the incident is not as funny as the fact that it could happen to anyone in those senior years!

Occasionally, I think of this story and it just makes me laugh and laughter is the best medicine in the world. Have a good day!

Jim and Laurie

Late last evening, our friends, Jim and Laurie, from Wisconsin, arrived for a week's visit at their time share at Disney. They came to see us first and spent the night. We have known them since 1981 when we met at a Newcomers meeting and have been fast friends since then.

We slept in this morning, had breakfast and talked and talked and then we had a traditional corned beef and cabbage and red potatoes dinner with them. I had also baked some Artisan Bread and we all thoroughly enjoyed the meal and friendship we shared.

Now they are off to Disney where we will meet them to spend all day Wednesday with them at Epcot. I have been to Epcot once many years ago and the Trout has never been there, so we are looking forward to a fun day.

Enjoy your week, Jim and Laurie, and we'll see you on Wednesday.

Fingers crossed, the Discovery shuttle should be launched this evening but right now it looks pretty cloudy.

I had such a great afternoon!

Amazingly, since my high school class reunion last August, it has been 7 months of renewing old friendships and I am so enjoying it. Today we had a visit from the Canadians. A childhood friend, Marianne and Bruce stopped by on their way to visit Bruce's mother in eastern Florida. I had not seen Marianne since high school, 45+ years. A year or two ago, we did contact each other by email. (Once again, that amazing computer.)

The short time we had together today, we spent talking about our families and growing up in Iowa and the Amana Colonies. Marianne told me we are related through three genealogical branches which is something I did not know. I knew of two branches. She has me more enthused about getting more genealogical research onto paper.

I apologize for the lack of clarity of the photo, but I just had to post this because this day meant so much to me. We hope to someday visit them in Canada as there is so much that still needs to be talked about and there is so much I need to learn from her regarding my family tree.

It was a very pleasant afternoon and Marianne and Bruce, thank you so much for stopping by to see us. We are both so fulfilled with the day we had.

A Writer?

I received an e-mail this week from a cousin. I always considered her a cousin even though we are distantly related. Her grandmother and my grandmother were sisters, so that makes us cousins, right? She has been reading my blog from Canada, where she lives, and tells me she is enjoying getting to know me again. Many years have separated us.

But, she really blew my socks off when she called me a "writer". A writer? Not me. I just put words on a computer. Besides, I have always thought that a writer was published, at least somewhere. Then, with more thought, I guess I am published, even though I am doing my own publishing and I am being critiqued, if only by myself.

In high school, I always dreamed of being a writer and publishing a book. Being editor of our high school yearbook was the closest I ever came to putting a book together and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was the most amazing learning experience. The deadlines! How well I remember the deadlines. That you Mr. W for being there to guide us all on a total revamp of the previous yearbooks. Talk about CHANGE! We really threw a surprise into the system. But, it was good. Even now, on occasion, I will get out the '63 Bugle and remember the experience as if it was yesterday.

So, perhaps, without even realizing it, this outlet of blogging has fulfilled that teenage dream. I don't need to be concerned about sales of the book, not making the NY Times Book List, and having my book being praised or blown away by critics. I do look forward to seeing comments at the end of each blog. It is confirmation, reassurance and it is sort of like "selling my book."

Old Friends

I have always enjoyed reunions--meeting again with old friends that many years have parted. Tonight was one of those reunions. Back in the 70's, we lived in Michigan and our neighbors were Connie and Dave and their two children. We moved away, thought of them infrequently, but remembered them well. Because of Facebook, our daughters reunited and they in turn reunited the parents. Little did we know that these friends wintered in Florida, very near to us. So tonight we had dinner together in a favorite restaurant of ours.

It was so strange, talking about people we knew 30 years ago. When you get our ages, you find out that many have died, divorced or just remained the same. I have always loved stepping back into the past for a little while. It was a great evening of memories and hopefully we can get together again before the snow birds leave.

Moules Frites

Tonight we indulged and had a favorite meal we enjoy when in France. Moules Frites. It is by far the most tactile meal to eat and we just simply love mussels.

My childhood friend, Larry, who lived in Belgium for many years would tend to argue that the best Moules Frites come from Belgium. I just know that every time I ate them in France, and especially Normandy, they were wonderful.

This tasted very good this evening, but it must be the atmosphere that was missing. Perhaps someday soon, we can enjoy Moules Frites in France again.

Friends as visitors

I've been away from the computer as we had guests from Wisconsin. Unfortunately, they arrived just as the coldest weather of the season hit Florida. Still, it was warmer than Wisconsin. We even managed to play 9 holes of golf in the cold yesterday. We've known Dale and Sharon for 25 years and it is always fun to reconnect. They are on their way further south for the rest of the week, so they should be running into that perfect weather by tomorrow. Safe trip back home.