I did it again.
I bought more chicks.
Why I ever go into the feed store is beyond me.
I really love Buff Orpingtons, and I wish I had started my flock with the Buffs. Sunday we drove to the feed store just to “look” at the chicks. We left with these little gals. They are just adorable.
Last night I had to move them from the garage into the den. I realized Mark had used the wrong lamp socket with the heat lamp bulb for the chicks. After a midnight hunt in the shop, we had no luck locating the porcelain socket–which is really important to prevent fire. I knew the chicks couldn’t stay in the garage and have enough heat from a 100 watt light bulb, so I brought them in and hung the lamp with a simple 100 watt light bulb–so far, it has worked very well. The brooder is about 90 degrees. I was awakened by chick peeps on and off throughout the night. Today I feel like the mother of newborns. Thank God breast feeding isn’t required. I’m exhausted!
I’m not naming any of these gals until I’m quite certain there are no cockerels in the bunch.
For those who followed my first time experience with the original flock, you will remember my son, Sean, naming one of my girls “Sean Jr”, and “she” turned out to be a little rooster! Needless to say, Sean is not allowed to name any of these chicks. I think it was a curse!
More chicky butts than faces in this photo, but they were trying to stay warm until we set up the lamp!
In food news:
I tried a no-knead recipe for a Ciabatta bread. I found the recipe here at “Food Wishes” an excellent food blog! He even made a video showing how to make it– step by step.
I had only one problem–my bread stuck to my pan–big time! I mean it was like I had super glued the stuff down–ripped off half the crust trying to get it off the pan. I’ve made a lot of bread in my lifetime and never had that happen before. I’m baking it again, and this time I’m going to oil the pan and then add the cornmeal–maybe I’ll slip some parchment down too!
That said, let me tell you, this bread tastes GREAT! Look at the texture…amazing stuff, without the kneading. Granted kneading can be a wonderful meditative experience, but when you don’t have time to, try this one.
Ciabatta Bread looks like a fluffy slipper–it is flatter than a regular loaf of bread.
It is thicker than this photo seems to show. I really enjoyed it. The crust was crispy and the interior was just right.
Oh, I do have a bread stone in the oven and I used my convection bake setting for half the time–which may be how I created a super glue base? If you have a clue, please clue me!
I have to admit–the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes, that I normally make, is more impressive, BUT this really was fun and it tastes great toasted. It is a nice change, and it is fun to try new things.