Farmers Market Month, Day 12-13: Cornmeal bread, passion fruit, macadamia nuts

[rachelmanija]

I had a lot of stuff going on the last couple days, so no photos.

I squeezed passion fruit juice/pulp through a colander on to my apricot kefir. It was divine, but the kefir is also divine all by itself. Will not buy passion fruit again unless I have a specific plan for them.

I baked the wonderful bread again, this time with 3/4 flour, 1/4 cornmeal. It is delicious but less versatile; not a good pairing with black sesame, for instance, which is obviously a problem. It goes well with honey, brown sugar, and apricot preserves. I gave some away to neighbors (not because I disliked it, but because people are so thrilled to receive homebred bread) and will go back to all flour for my next try. I will also invest in two one-quart oven-safe bowls so I can do one loaf plain and one flavored, perhaps with the Kalamata olives I have on hand.

The California macadamia nuts are absolutely fantastic: sweet, nutty, slightly chewy, less rich than the ones I've had before, and perfect without roasting or added salt. I love them so much that I am going to either make special trips to that market just for them or, if possible, order them by mail.

Comments

[graydon]

Literal bowls? Like, one-quart pyrex?

Pyrex and friends are oven-safe right up until they get scratched, and then it's only a matter of time. Actual loaf pans of the "no non-stick-coating" variety might involve fewer surprises.

[rachelmanija]

Yes, literal bowls, not rectangular pans.

[graydon]

Here in the future, one can get silicone baking bowls. Or cast iron baking dishes; flat bottomed, but round. (Which are more wandering in from the past.)

Or plain stainless mixing bowls, but those are generally pretty thin and stainless' heat conduction isn't the best.

If you've got a strong preference for pyrex, try to always put a cookie sheet under it so the oven racks don't scratch it. Once scratched, it will eventually go boom.

[yhlee]

I wish I were your neighbor. The closest we get to fresh-baked bread around here is Whole Foods' Take And Bake. XD

I'm glad you're having such excellent fooding experiences!

[movingfinger]

You might like Anadama Bread, which has cornmeal and molasses in it.

ETA: oh, and the fresh nuts!! Yes!! Fresh walnuts almonds were a revelation to me. A delicate, non-acrid taste. Lucky you--fresh macadamias must be like crunchy cream.