There’s a running joke on a message board that I frequent about recipes and their reviews online. Things like: Ginger Carrot bake. Review: well, I don’t like ginger so I substituted tarragon, and I didn’t have any carrots, so I used radishes, but this recipe is terrible.

At the risk of entering into that fray, the lovely Deb posted in April about a fascinating book, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. She was kind enough to help me find the authors’ blog , and a You Tube
and to answer my panicked questions as I’m trying to figure out how this worked (without actually owning the book, natch). I also reviewed Gina’s post as well, and that was very helpful.

The theory is to make up a dough and keep it covered in your fridge for up to 14 days, taking off a portion when needed, let rest (rise) and then cook.

I made the dough on Monday evening and put it in the fridge in a large bowl with foil on top (I should look into getting a bucket, I keep hearing ice cream buckets recommended, it’d be such a chore to have to buy ice cream, wouldn’t it?) and then ripped off a bit on Tuesday night to go with dinner.

Here’s where the changing up of the recipe comes into play. I do have a pizza stone (and LOVE it), but not a pizza peel. So, I let it rest on top of the stone, and didn’t transfer it from the peel to a pre-warmed stone. I also didn’t do the broiler pan with water underneath (I’m not sure I have a broiler pan, actually). And, I found that the dough was really, really wet, so I had a sticky mess all over my hands. With those caveats, though, the bread turned out amazing. I used two pieces of the dough last night to make a pizza dough, and this weekend will probably finish it up making a bread to go with Sunday dinner.

I had a Powell’s gift card (thanks Molly) so I have the book on the way, but so far I’d highly recommend this recipe. I think it truly will revolutionize the way I make bread. But, I’ll probably have to step up my exercising to keep my girlish figure after eating all that bread.

This weekend, my priest reminded me of the Morning Prayer of the Optima Elders*:

O Lord, grant me strength to meet with serenity everything forthcoming today. Grant me to submit completely to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day guide and support me in all things. Whatsoever news may reach me in the course of this day, teach me to accept it with calmness and the conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will.
In all my words and actions direct my thoughts and feelings. In all unexpected occurances, do not let me forget that all is sent down by Thee. Teach me to deal straightforwardly and wisely with every member of my family, neither embarassing nor saddening anyone.
O Lord, grant me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events that take place during it. Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive and to love. Amen.

This prayer, which I love and have written about before, had fallen by the wayside in my moring prayers, and Father’s reminder was a welcome one. I've dusted it off and have been remembering to pray it in the morning. I think that it is particuarly applicable during these difficult times. It is on the sidebar of Mary Poppins NOT's blog, and I greatly appreciate it.

On a completely unrelated note, the other day, while Googling the lyrics of my favorite Dire Straits’ song, Romeo and Juliet , I discovered that it had been remade by the Killers, a band I greatly enjoy. I hope you find it as delightful as I do.



* In the comments of my previous post, I’d made this observation: I’ve always heard it as the Prayer of the Optima Elders, but my little pocket prayer book calls it a prayer of Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow , and MPN’s citation is St. John of Kronstadt. I don’t actually know who wrote it, neither is that important. I can tell you, my priest attributed it to the Optima Elders.