my most favorite meme

[threeplusfire]

I've been doing this for probably eight or nine years. It is hard to go wrong with this.

Comment on this post with "CAKE OR DEATH" so I know you want to play.
I'll respond by asking you five questions so I can get to know you better.
You update your journal with the answers to the questions.
You can include this explanation in the post and offer to ask other people questions (but only if you want to).

My questions from imaginarycircus tonight:

1. Are you rooting for Texas tonight, or are you totally indifferent to baseball?
I think I'm morally obligated to cheer for Texas in all things. But quite honestly I find baseball very boring. I find most sports boring. Exceptions are the wide, varied, wonderful world of the Olympics and hockey.

2. If you had to leave Texas and move to another state--where would you go?
Oh lord. I can't even begin to imagine where I could live my current lifestyle anywhere else with the same ease. I suppose I would have to move somewhere that the Alamo Drafthouse has an outpost, so I think that means Virginia or Colorado. I suppose Colorado might not be a terrible place to go. If I had a billion million dollars, I would buy some crazy East Coast estate.

3. Favorite HP book or film? Why?
I'm really fond of The Half Blood Prince because we learn so much about Snape. Though I think the movie missed some crucial bits.

4. Something you've always wanted to learn to cook/bake, but haven't yet?
I would really like to learn to bake breads from scratch. I'm sort of lazy and intimidated by the process. But people have baked bread for a million years and I should get on that. I want to make brioche and crusty French bread.

5. Mac or PC?
I'm a PC dude, all the way. I like to play video games and I like the ability to build my own FrankenPCs. Apple is too much of a closed environment for me and I've never really felt at ease with their interface. Plus I have such *fond* memories of the ancient Apple hulks from grade school and the time a cockroach got into the box and fried itself on the motherboard.

Comments

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Alas, geography. I'm totes good with bread and could teach you.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

This geography thing bums me out. Where is my sci fi future of jetpacks and everything!? Though I guess a jetpack is not practical for carrying bread baking supplies.

I don't know why I'm so worried about messing up bread. What is a good first bread?

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

The problem most beginners have with bread? They are too gentle. Bread is tough and can be manhandled.

Something baked in a loaf pan. A pullman loaf or a whole wheat loaf is probably the easiest. Are you going to hand knead or us a stand mixer?

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I have a lovely stand mixer, so I should use it!

I will be rough with the bread, until it uses a safe word. :P

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

The only time you want to be gentle with bread is after the second rise and right before you pop it in the oven to bake.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Excellent, thank you.

I'm hoping this winter to expand my baking repertoire. More cookies and learn to bread.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

Bread should be simple, only contain a few ingredients. Another tip? Always proof your yeast before making your bread by mixing it with hot water (not hotter than 108) and a pinch of flour or sugar, cover with a clean dish towel for 10 mins. It should double in size and there should be a thick head of bubbly foam. If it only has a few bubbles or none--pitch and start over. Dead yeast will not make good bread.