How a Sourdough Cashew Bread & I Met

I've been salivating over The Urban Poser's sourdough cashew bread for a while, but I haven't had time to make it.  That is until now.  And all I can wonder is, "why haven't I done this long before?"  

Yesterday I processed the raw, organic cashews with filtered water.  Then, added the probiotic (mine was a 34 billion cell), which I thoroughly mixed in the cashews.  I put it in my yogurt maker to incubate for 24 hours.  

A word on the probiotic.  There is a mistake in the original recipe calling for a 20-30 billion strain, because the number is not referring to strains; rather, it's referring to cells.  In my probiotic capsules, each capsule contains 34 billion cells, while the probiotic itself has seven (7) strains of probiotics.  What you'll want is to find a probiotic carrying 20-30 billion cells.  I found mine at the co-op in town.  

The one recipe calls for a 7 3/4 x 3 3/4 pan, which isn't very large.  Most loaf pans are more like 9x5.  If you want to make this recipe in your standard one, then you'll need to double the recipe.  What you see in my picture is actually two mini loaf pans.

I love the fresh out of the oven taste of this bread.  I have visions of baking it again in the small loaf pan, then slicing it thin and laying them flat on a sheet pan to toast up for French Onion Soup or crostini.  

PS: I didn't do the lovely egg wash, which makes the end result nice and golden and lovely.  

Harnessing the Power of Taste (Practices of Eating)

Years back I remember playing this ice breaker game with colleagues, in which I had to answer the question, "Which one of your five senses would you hate to live without?"  Immediate gut reaction, "Taste."

Granted, taste and smell truly go hand in hand, it's my sense of taste which serves as a guidepost.  The other week my friend Michelle texted me looking for flavors to boost her soup for her family's dinner.  Making it more tricky was her son's many food allergies, but I think we solved the problem.  I concluded to my math major friend, "This is the type of 'math' problem I enjoy."

One of my practices is harnessing the power of tasting by continuing tasting multiple spices, combinations and foods.  Our taste buds are like a muscle needing food exercise.  The only way to create "muscles" there are through many food experiences. It's why we get to try food seven times before we can truly form an opinion about it.  

Here are ways I harness the sense of taste:

1. Try new restaurants, so I don't go by my old standby.
2. I specifically go to Ciao Thyme in town as I know their menu changes every week.
3. As I cook, I taste, taste, taste.  
4. I have taught my tongue how to wield taste & smell of food combinations through the many tastes.
5. I rely on my Flavor Bible when in doubt.
6. I pick up cookbooks and food magazines to be inspired.
7. When I find something that works, I stick with it.
8. As we taste various cuisines and flavors, we come to realize how our palates work (ie more salt, more acid, sweetness, etc).
9. What do I mean by acid? lemon, vinegar, sometimes you only need a splash of vinegar or lemon to liven up a dish
10. Not all vinegars are created equal, white vinegar, apple cider, red wine, etc
11. Know when too much is too much.  Like my elementary art teacher always said, "less is more."  I think generally this applies.  
12. Start with one spice, get to know her, take her on a couple dates.  
13. Eat fruits and vegetables in season.
14. You don't have to like what everyone else does.
15. With above it's like writer's finding their own voice, find your taste and harness it.
16. Yet still, be willing to try new flavors, be adventurous and enjoy the process.
17. As we eat dinner, or lunch, drink wine, smell it, dissect it.  Write down what it is that you are tasting.  Ben always liked poppy seed muffins, later finding out I asked him if he liked lemon poppyseed muffins, he said no.  It was the almond extract commonly found in poppyseed muffins he was drawn to.  
18. Do taste tests.  Buy different chocolates and do a blind test with your friends or even your kids, noting the mouth feel, sweetness, bitterness.

Those are just some of mine.  

How about you?  What do you do to harness the power of taste?  What are some of your favorite flavor profiles?

Join the Practices of Eating series.

How to Love Others Practically

Right now at this very moment, can you think of at least one person within your sphere who is in need? Okay, so keep their face in your head, or write their name down (if you feel adventurous, think of more than one) and we'll come back to it.

When I've been overwhelmed, sick, or whatever trial I'm walking through, I've been most comforted when friends have come alongside to practically love me. In this season of transitioning from a family of four to five, I've been blown away by the genuine love poured out on us. And as our family is finding our new normal, I am encountering how to again get back to loving others through tangible ways.

This made me think of offering up some tangible ways to love others.

1. Invite someone(s) over for dinner.
2. Send an note in the mail why you're thankful for them.
3. Ask the question, "How can I help?"
4. After asking the above question follow with various options.
5. Watch their kids if they have any.
6. Do their laundry.
7. Clean their floors.
8. Clean their bathroom.
9. Detail their car.
10. Drop by with their favorite drink.
11. Bring by dinner.
12. Make a snack care package for them.
13. Take their dog for a walk.
14. Give them uninterrupted time to listen.
15. Bring over DVDs with some dessert.
16. Order pizza or take out.
17. Send a gift card for dinner if they live in a different city.
18. Do their dishes.
19. Offer to pick up their kids or drop them off to school.
20. Bring flowers.
21. Make a roasted chicken, then take the carcass and make broth--give them both.
22. Chocolate.
23. Candles and bath salts.
24. If it's a couple with a baby+, offer to take the kids out so they can have some mommy-daddy time.
25. Give the gift of a massage.
26. More than anything, be understanding and reassure them they are not alone.

What would you say have been some of the best practical ways others have loved you or you have loved others?