Flax Seed Bread

I learned how to make bread from the Tassajara Bread Book close to 7 years ago. I took a nearly 4 year hiatus as life changed and I became frustrated with the bread turnout. Recent trips to the grocery store have shown how I can make bread cheaper at home, so I gave it a try again. What’s different this time is that I know what to look for in my bread making. So, for the past 8 weeks, our little family has been eating more home-baked things.

Edward Espe Brown calls for whole wheat flour, but previous experiments in bread making show that bread made solely with whole wheat flour is much too dense for the untrained mouth. For those of us who grew up on white bread, at minimum, bread must be made with a mix of your basic baking flour. I use unbleached white flour. This go-around, I also wanted to see what bread looked like in a simple form. So, this is what my bread looks like without whole wheat flour.

Michelle’s Flax Seed Bread
Makes four loaves. I use a 16 Q stainless steal mixing bowl and a wooden spoon, with additional appropriate liquid and dry measuring tools.

Ingredients
12 cups unbleached white flour + enough for kneading
6 cups lukewarm water
1 cup whole-ground flax seeds
1/2 cup oil + enough for bowl & pans
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons yeast

Directions
For the Sponge

1. Pour 6 C lukewarm water in bowl
2. Gently stir, with wooden spoon, 2 T yeast until dissolved
3. Add 1/2 C brown sugar to yeast and water, stir until dissolved
4. Add flour one cup at a time, gently stirring in clockwise rotation, until mixture is consistency of thick mud
5. You will use about 6 cups of flour
6. Beat 100 strokes until mostly smooth
7. Cover with damp towel

Let rise for 60 minutes, or until double in size. To speed rising put in warm place, like on top of a warmed stove.

The Second Part

1. Add edge of bowl: 2 1/2 T salt, 1 C flax, and 1/2 C oil
2. Fold into mixture
3. Add flour, one cup at a time, gently folding into itself until dough pulls away from bowl
4. Begin kneading in bowl, ensuring hands are floured along with dough, still adding one cup at a time
5. Once dough begins to look more like kneading dough and is less sticky, put on floured surface, preferably a wooden surface
6. Pour about 1/2 T of oil into bottom of bowl once emptied of dough
7. To knead, use both hands and pull rounded mound towards you, push out with your the heal of your hands, turn 1/4 turn clockwise, repeat until dough is smooth and not sticky
8. You will have used another 6 cups of flour
9. Round dough and put in oiled bowl, turn over so entire mound of dough has a thin cover of oil
10. Cover with damp towel

Let rise for 50 minutes, or until doubled in size.

The Third Part

1. Dough should be doubled in size
2. Punch down
3. Cover with damp towel

Let rise for 40 minutes, or until doubled in size.

The Fourth Part

1. Pour dough onto floured surface
2. Quickly knead back down to size
3. Cut into fourths by scoring round
4. Oil four bread pans
5. Knead with one hand each loaf
6. Roll into slight log, pinch bottom seam together, place in bread pan, repeat until all four are in their respective pans
7. Spread dough out with backs of hands until dough touches each side, mold slightly
8. Cover with damp towel

Let rise 20 minutes.

The Fifth Part

1. Cut three 2-inch slits in each loaf
2. Put in 350 degree oven
3. Bake for 50 minutes or until golden brown and has a hollow knocking sound when the top is gently knocked
4. Let cool for ten minutes
5. Remove from pans and put on a dry towel, cover with another dry towel
6. Enjoy!

Synopsis
You may be wondering why I have categorized this as ‘family’ and ’sustainability’. I believe people can be brought closer together by sharing food and one of the most basic elements of food is bread. So, we are brought closer together as family by breaking of bread. In regards to sustainability, whenever we get closer to a process instead of taking the steps and burying them, we get closer to sustainability. One aspect to sustainability is knowing where things come from, buying locally, and understanding the process of the thing. By making my own bread I control the ingredients and understand and know the process, which then makes me and my family more sustainable.

Some thoughts on plastics

Some folks, when discussing ‘going green’, emphasize the extreme holistic side of going green. They would like everyone to stop what they are doing and convert most everything away from anything deemed harmful. For example, plastics are a big no-no to these folks. Granted, much can be said about the evils of plastics, such as the creation of PVC. For example, Judith Helfand does a fantastic job describing the intricate lifestyle of vinyl in her documentary Blue Vinyl. In this film, Helfand raised some interesting and poignant questions such as, “What’s the Average Joe supposed to really do to get out of these vicious cycles?” The green folks who would like us to abandon plastics all together often don’t seem to address these types of questions well, if at all.

Plastics, it is argued, are bad for us, for our environment, and our psyche. But, we must contend that plastics are here and we do need to do something with them. So, if we’re not to use them, then what? A very important part of ‘going green’ is closing the loop on our production and consumption. If we abandon one side of production in favor of another, we must close the loop on the abandoned side and ensure a closed loop system for the favored side. So, although folks may feel plastics aren’t for them, we still have a larger societal wide concern with what to do with those pesky plastics.

One way to close the loop on production systems is to remember the quaint coined phrase, “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.” First, we must reduce our impact on the earth, which means simply not wasting as much as before. And, if at every level we are continuously reducing our waste, we won’t be satisfied until we get our waste as close to zero as possible. Second, we must reuse what we have until it is no longer usable. In the case of plastics, many of us have become accustomed to using plastic for things like food storage. Reusing means reusing that same Ziploc container over and over until it can no longer store food or anything. If certain greenies desire total abandonment of said Ziploc container, that should raise a red flag about their true intentions. Lastly, the 3Rs instruct us to recycle that which we have not reduced and is no longer suited for reusing. Previous posts direct Portland residents where to recycle these pesky plastics. And, rest assured, when recycling with the Master Recyclers, many of the plastics to be recycled are turned into wood-composites suitable for fences, benches, and other household improvement projects.

The moral of this diatribe is to close the loop on our systems so we are not impacting the earth more than we already are. If we take from what is already extracted, we won’t have to extract more from our limited and prescious resources. If someone, then, suggests to you to abandon all your plastics, remind them that the 3Rs come first and once your loop is closed you will find alternatives should you desire them.

Seeing a Legend, Live

The bad news is the concert only lasted an hour and a half. The good news is that it was Willie Nelson, live. And, I would assume, much like the Neil Diamond concert my mother attended less than a month ago, it was mixed with many different generations.

We had great seats, no doubt about it. We were in the front row of the middle section, in about the middle, exactly where I wanted to be, and Peter had no complaints. Yes, we could definitely see the stage. I even took two terrible mobile photos. Three people sat to our left, age range between 50 and 60. The gentlemen seated next to Peter, to our left, had a certain Gerry Garcia look to him. To our right, the couple was teetering 80. The woman, presumably his wife, did not look like she was enjoying herself. He made a half dozen trips to the stage, and I think he even got his record signed. Behind us, were the pretentious 30-somethings, the closest folks to our age range. They were the classic Portland-Yuppie-Hipster. Despite their disposition, they were perfect concert goers – singing, clapping, standing at all the right moments.

The music. He came out on cue immediately following the sponsored KUPL remarks, and began with Whiskey River, followed by another oldie and Beer for my Horses. I was disappointed in the crowds reaction, but Peter reminded me the age range of attendees. I mean, people, we have a legend here! This is Willie Nelson! He’s been performing for upwards of 40 years! Let’s show some enthusiasm that the guy still has it in him to perform for us! He did receive a unanimous standing ovation at the end when he closed with Whiskey River and then two encore songs, the last being a protest song encouraging us to Take Back America.

This is the first concert I have attended since 1996 when I saw the Smashing Pumpkins play at the Breslin Center at MSU, walking distance from my dorm. And now, I am really excited about the possibility to see Willie again with Merle Haggard April 2009 with the Green Train. I can’t wait to see more legends.

Faith in Politics

The last several political elections have been interesting. There has been a deeper divide between urban and rural interests, and there seems to be overarching dissatisfaction with the politicians who are running to represent our interests. A discussion with a friend last night led to the idea that there is no faith left in politics. The overwhelming feeling is that we have no hope left in the way the system currently runs. The thought that we have no power and that we are powerless seems to be seen throughout. The idea that either candidate is the only choice, but neither mainstream candidate truly represents our interest, but I will do my civic duty and vote anyway, so I might as well pick one winning team over the other. Because many of the issues that may be dear to us are not represented, many find themselves voting on one issue like abortion or the environment. Obama, for example, appears to represent the environment ‘better’ than McCain. McCain on the other hand, seems to represent the ‘Right to Lifers’ better than Obama. So, if you have someone who cares deeply about the environment, yet they are adamant that abortion is unethical, s/he will most likely vote for McCain.

The question posed in our conversation was centered around the idea that the political parties have molded their platforms every few decades. Compare, for example, the Republican Party of Lincoln versus the Republican Party of Reagan or that of today. We have a very different platform and set of beliefs that reign. Nixon remains to date our most environmental president, for example. Yet, which party currently claims to have more environmental interests? Not the Republican Party. For that matter, neither does the Democratic Party. If we were to truly vote for the environment, for example, the Green Party should probably be the first on the list. Yet, which parties receive attention from the media? Not the Green Party. Obviously, our system is set up that winner takes all, and in such a system it is much easier to focus on two parties to duke it out. But, what does that do to our interests, our boundaries?

Individually, we sometimes have a lot of growing up to do when we fail to say no. We need to continue to grow up when we fail to exchange in dialogues that allow us to grow. The same can be said when considering how we function as a society. When we allow, for example, someone to represent us without correcting them when they get it wrong, we are allowing them to step into our boundaries in an unwelcome fashion. Why do we lose courage when it comes to the laws that govern our lives? Why do we lose faith that we can actually make a difference? I hope this little blog in the great big universe of the Internet could serve as one voice of many who begin to cry out louder for much needed change.

What can I use to get rid of pet odors?

• BioKleen’s Bac-Out

• Vinegar

• Lemon

Where can I recycle plastics?

In Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties, recycling curbside got easier with the roll out of the big blue bins. Many residents will find they can now recycle yogurt and margarine tubs, for example, at the curb. No longer do you have to collect and haul to New Seasons or another place that recycles those hard-to-recycle plastics.

But, curbside recycling is not perfect. There are still many items that aren’t accepted in the big blue bins. However, there is an answer! The Master Recycler Program offers “Recycling Roundups” a few times a year at various locations around the Metro Area. At these locations you can recycle the following:

• Plastic bags (dry cleaning, grocery store sacks, bubble wrap, cereal liners, Mylar, six pack rings, tortilla chip bags).
• Plant containers 4 inches or smaller and trays (please knock dirt out ahead of time)
• Plastics without numbers (Bottle caps, drink lids, DVD’s, CD’s, CD cases, straws, lawn/patio furniture, kids\’ toys (think slides!), pet igloos, laundry baskets, kiddy pools, & more) .
  
• Reusable Plastic Items. – Be sure and drop by this section to see if you might find a useful item you would like to bring home.

Just like curbside, be sure each item is free of food residue. Be sure and rinse and separate plastics with numbers by each number separately (bags and plant containers go in the first two categories, no Styrofoam food trays even if they have a number). Also, the volunteers, we are cautioned, do not collect garbage. So, be prepared to take back what they cannot accept. If you have questions call ahead, 503-823-7530 (City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development).

Here is a short list of items they cannot accept:

• Styrofoam block, Styrofoam peanuts, Styrofoam food trays or Styrofoam egg cartons even if they have a number
• “Biodegradable” plastic or plastic that says PLA 7 on the bottom (this is a contaminant for plastics recycling)
• Plastic with metal inside (no car seats/highchairs, hand pumps for spray bottles and lotion have a metal spring in them)
• VHS or cassette tapes
• PVC pipe
• Small toys
• Food-contaminated or dirty plastic
• Plastic that contained motor oil, herbicides or pesticides (a thin layer of dried paint is okay)

For packing peanuts, many packing supply stores will accept and reuse them. For Styrofoam Blocks, you know the formed or molded Styrofoam in which electronics are packed, there are haulers who will accept those items. Call Metro, 503-234-3000, to find a business near you.

TJs Confusion

From the mouths of babes…

Overheard in PDX: Read too much Shirley MacLaine

How long should my showers be?

Five minutes. But, don’t despair, you can measure how long you’ve been scrubbing with nifty tools from the Water Bureau. Call today to get your home water audit kit and see where you can cinch up your water bill.

My backyard is so plain, what should I do?

Plant things of course! Visit a local nursery, like Portland Nursery, for a variety of local plants and start digging. October through May is a great time to transplant in the Portland Area because of our rainy season. The ground is soft, and you don’t have to worry about the constant watering of plants in the summer while they get established.

The more things growing in your backyard, the more birds and bees you will attract because you are giving them a basic element: food. We need birds and bees to pollinate trees and flowers, so start planting today!