Vermonters are less religious

A recent Pew poll found that Vermonters (and our neighbors in NH) are less religious than people in most other states. That doesn't surprise me and it's encouraging. Independent thinking is a hallmark of this region and this poll simply reinforces that notion. While I don't attend my local church, I'm not opposed to it or its rituals. The church is relevant to many people, both religious and non-religious. It's a great community resource and often, it seems, religion is secondary to its primary mission which is to help and bring people together.

Crunchy bread

I used to measure ingredients for my bread. Now I just pour them in (except the yeast!). I like to see what comes out in the end. This past weekend I needed a loaf or two for a bean soup I made. So here is what I poured into my Kitchen Aid bowl:

• Some hot water
• Some cold water
  
• Two tablespoons of active yeast
  
• Some light brown sugar
  
• Somewhere around equal parts whole wheat flour and white flour
  
• Wheat germ
  
• Oatmeal
  
• Flax seeds
  
• Walnuts
  
• Some olive oil
  
• Salt

I put the switch on low and added flour until the dough held its shape but was still somewhat sticky. I put plastic wrap over the top of the bowl and the thing doubled in bulk in about a half hour! Maybe I didn't measure the yeast... So I dumped the dough out of the bowl, kneaded it, then cut it in half. I shaped two long loaves and sprinkled some flour and cornmeal on top. Then I let them sit and rise for another half hour on parchment paper while the stone in the 450F oven heated up. Finally, into the oven until I smelled something burning and they were done. It turned out to be a hearty and crunchy bread, very good for soup. I like it toasted as well with peanut butter. I probably can't duplicate it so that's why I took this picture (sorry, the other loaf disappeared quickly so there's just the one left).

Guilford Garden Tours

Since my daughter Megan is a junior board member of the Friends of Music at Guilford, I should probably make sure that one of their fundraisers gets mentioned here. The annual Guilford Garden Tours takes place tomorrow (June 29, 2008) and features tours of area gardens, exhibits, crafts, foods, and music. The Reformer also has details.

Garlic scapes

I've never grown garlic until this past year, so I basically ignored the curly stalks that burst out between the leaves this past couple of weeks. That is, until a friend who also grows garlic told me that they're entirely, deliciously edible. And that they make a mean pesto. So today I snipped them all and pureed some of them with olive oil, walnuts, and parmesan cheese. It turns out to be a lighter green than traditional basil pesto, but it's very tasty. Snipping the stems also allows more of the plant's energy to go into developing the bulb underground. So in a few weeks I should have a fine harvest of hardneck garlic.

Self-serving evolution

When a deer fly lands on me, I kill it. I'm quite sensitive to the little buggers buzzing around my head when I go get the paper or when I'm out for a hike or run. Since deer flies are quite a bit larger than mosquitoes or gnats I know exactly when and where they touch down on me. And I'm quick to end their lives. Sometimes they'll get off a quick bite, but still, they're smushed into oblivion before they can lift off again. Whatever deer flies are supposed to do to carry on their lives after they've bitten a host has been staunched under my palm for those few that dare to touch me. So I figure eventually I will eliminate all deer flies that are genetically attracted to my particular scent. I'm not sure how long "eventually" is, but if I live long enough the process of evolution should select out all those deer flies that are attracted to me. It just does not make sense from a "survival of the fittest" perspective for them to land on me. After all, given a really, really long period of time I could wipe out the entire deer fly species. So one day far into the future nature should recognize (theoretically) that I am lethal to deer flies and blacklist me from their pool of targets. Until that day, I'll be exploiting Darwin's theory one smack at a time.