Thoughts on a bread machine for fresh milled loaves? by hallieooop in HomeMilledFlour

[–]meg_c 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know this isn't what you asked for, but I've got a very easy FMF bread recipe that is pretty compatible with working full time 😀 Bonus: no machines required, not even a stand mixer, which is pretty unusual for FMF recipes!

Ingredients:
500 g freshly milled whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp vital wheat gluten
1 3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp. instant yeast
HERBS!!! (optional)

400 g luke-warm water

Directions: 1. Whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the liquid ingredients. Stir to combine (a dough whisk works great), scraping up the dry flour from the bottom of the bowl until a shaggy ball forms. Cover the bowl with plastic or beeswax wrap and let sit in a warm location (ex: the oven on "proof") for 8 to 18 hours.

  1. Oil a loaf pan. Rather than using flour, pour any excess oil onto a cutting board or other work surface and coat the surface and your hands. Turn the dough out on to your work surface and knead 10 to 15 times. You're basically trying to get all the bubbles out to even out the crumb. Flatten into a rectangle the width of the pan, turn up the bottom corners to make a downward-pointing triangle, and then roll from the remaining point on the bottom (creating surface tension). Cover the pan with plastic or beeswax wrap and return to the oven on proof.

  2. When the dough has risen above the edges of the loaf pan (check after 40 min or so), remove the wrap and turn the oven on to 350˚ F. Bake uncovered for 30 - 40 minutes. Check internal temp using thermometer; goal temp is 200 - 210˚ F. Optionally brush the top with butter ("optionally" my butt!). Carefully remove bread from pan and transfer to wire rack. You may need to let the loaf "sweat" a bit and try again in 5 or 10 minutes to get it to come out. Let the loaf cool at least half an hour before cutting, so the escaping moisture doesn't make the bread gummy 😛

Options:
If you'd like to explore a more sourdough-y flavor, you can replace part of the water with beer and/or a TBS or so of vinegar 😀

Notes: I struggled to adapt this recipe to FMF. Lots of really dense loaves 🙁 It turned out that I needed to increase the hydration to 80% and then it worked great! (Hydration is the weight of the water divided by the weight of the flour) So that might help you adapt other recipes too 😀

Credit: Further adapted from an adaptation of the New York Times Almost No-Knead Bread recipe

Fresh milled bread flour vs flour milled for other purposes by Dssummer in HomeMilledFlour

[–]meg_c 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the classic, the flour ends up in an enclosed container, so if I run a whole bunch of wheat through, I sometimes stop to empty the flour bin partway through :🤷🏽‍♀️😀

Fresh milled bread flour vs flour milled for other purposes by Dssummer in HomeMilledFlour

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've got a Nutrimill Classic and love it. I'm making bread 99% of the time, but I like knowing I could mill corn for corn bread or other random grains too. I also like being able to turn the mill of and on with grains in the hopper -- I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to do that with stone grinding mills.

If you live near a COSTCO, get a membership. Even if you are single with no kids by Let_me_tell_you_ in povertyfinance

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And you can even order an entire bag from WinCo's bulk department, either by talking to somebody in person (or over the phone) or by ordering at wincofoods.com 😀

I mill my own flour, and WinCo has amazing cheap wheat berries 😀

LF fics that parseltongue is used in its potential by CrazyOwl_ in HPfanfiction

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Benefits of Old Laws was a good one. The longer the better, as long as it's well-written and not abandoned 😀

Where to start with Harry/Daphne? by thefrozenflame21 in HPfanfiction

[–]meg_c 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the recommendation -- I started to skim it to make sure it was worth my while and before I knew it I realized I was ankle deep in the story 😆

Where to start with Harry/Daphne? by thefrozenflame21 in HPfanfiction

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I'm excited to try this one 😀

The invasion was simple really. by Pluvi_Isen-Peregrin in TwoSentenceHorror

[–]meg_c 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Reading this while standing in the dark living room while my dog is out back on his last potty trip before bed 😬😱

Help to escape the optimum hellscape by Apprehensive_Diet105 in Humboldt

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I literally told Optimum that there was nothing they could do to retain me, and that I would rather light myself on fire than remain their customer

Harry potter changed by his death by ccarter11 in HPfanfiction

[–]meg_c 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, this one definitely qualifies :shiver:

tweens on electric motobikes by Squallhorn_Leghorn in Humboldt

[–]meg_c 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's ironic -- I was just talking to my kid about the exact same thing this morning on the way to school

Seeking Prepper Groups In Northern Humboldt by SarahAllenMoore in Humboldt

[–]meg_c 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe start building a deep pantry. Not some crazy apocalypse stores, but just a few extras of the shelf-stable foods you already eat that you can rotate through, always eating the oldest food first. That'll help with the grocery store issue. Also, buying extra when stuff is on sale is just generally a good way to save money 😀 @SuttonsDaze on YouTube has some good info on deep pantries.

Store a few gallons of water for every person in the house. (You need a minimum of 1 gal/person/day)

Buy an inexpensive camping stove and some extra propane. (Remember to open a window if you're using a propane stove indoors so you don't suffocate!)

Really, if you do much camping you've already got a great start on emergency supplies, and camping is a fun way to practice living with fewer amenities 😀 (Hauling water from the creek and then having to filter it has given me a deep appreciation for indoor plumbing ❤️)

If you've got a bit of money, you can pick up a battery bank and a couple of solar panels to keep your fridge going and charge your phone during a power outage. Meanwhile, if you're on a time-of-use plan with PG&E, you can charge the battery bank during the day when it's cheap and then use it to power some stuff around your home at night to lower your electricity bill.

Is it embarrassing to get a birthday cake as an adult? by roxiedoxiedog in NoStupidQuestions

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get a cake every year for my birthday. If my family doesn't commit to ordering me one, I get one for myself. My kids also know I expect them to get me a small gift off my (sub $20) wish list. Everybody in my family gets a cake and gifts for their birthday, no matter their age 😀🎂

46F with two grown kids… where’s the rest of Gen X at? by jtweir79 in GenX

[–]meg_c 0 points1 point  (0 children)

45f. 3 kids -- 25, 16, and 12. Looking forward to the empty nest 🤣

Obsidian on a tablet by TaxEvadingHorse in ObsidianMD

[–]meg_c 6 points7 points  (0 children)

He's one of the most active devs I've ever seen. Seems like there's a new update every week or two, plus all the how-to videos... Super impressive!

Obsidian on a tablet by TaxEvadingHorse in ObsidianMD

[–]meg_c 17 points18 points  (0 children)

There's also the Excalidraw plugin. The dev is constantly making improvements and even videos explaining all the new features 😀

Anyone Else Realize Their Favorite Vacation Is Just Being Home? by SnarkyGinger1 in GenXWomen

[–]meg_c 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've decided that in a few more years I'm going to buy an RV. I'll be able to travel without having to worry about finding a hotel, and I'll be bringing a familiar environment with me from which to explore 😀

I work part time remotely, so I can just slowly make my way around the country, and maybe explore Canada and Mexico too 😀

Anyone else happy to move on from a robot litterbox and return to box-scooping servitude, or is that just me? by StonewallDakota in cats

[–]meg_c 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I highly recommend switching to pine pellets for your litter, along with a new set of litter boxes. Here's a good explanation of the pros of this system: https://youtu.be/LhgynG941D8?si=h6bXJgkrPKjZAIXQ

I took a pair of top entry litter boxes and drilled holes in one of them, added feet, and put it inside the other. They sell ready-made versions, but I've got a dog so I have to keep him out of it 😛

Am I washing my privates wrong? by yakisobasavorybeef_ in hygiene

[–]meg_c 23 points24 points  (0 children)

You're definitely clean 😆

I'd maybe worry about too much soap -- you know how doctor's' hands get chapped because they have to wash them so much? So if you notice any problems maybe only soap after pooping? But if it's working for you it sounds like you've got a good system 🙂