The Blue Gardenia learns to sow her blossoms

Textbook attire for teaching His Bertness to bake bread

I, dear readers, have spent the morning and early afternoon teaching His Bertness to bake. Paul Prudhomme's Honey Bread, if I may add the details. And I may, correct? Because you want to know all the details of my ever-so-exciting small town life. Right? What a resounding and enthusiastic chorus of ayes. I'm pleased. I'm impressed. Absolutely.

Now, to really play the part of the small town baker, I should be wearing a fetching frock like Simplicity 2838, copyright 1948. It's a wrap dress - yep, decades before DVF - and it looks quite comfy. Perhaps not as comfortable as the yoga capris and top I am wearing as I write this post, but then, really, what is?

And please allow me to step up to the podium to extend a thank you to Shannon, she of the well-groomed fingernails and the blog I can't stop reading, Hungry Zombie Couture. Shannon wrote a fabulous post about some patterns she purchased at The Blue Gardenia. I know you'll want to see what she bought. Excellent taste has she. She has my vote for the best-dressed teacher in Canada. Absolutely.

And don't forget to stop by and check out our once-a-year sale. The skinny:  Buy 3 or more items, get 33% off. Sale prices are good now, this minute, through midnight PST Thursday, January 7. All payments must be in my eager paws by January 9, 2010. As always, TBG takes American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, Paypal, non-rubber checks and cold, hard cash.

Let this be more than food for thought. I beg you.

Today, I'll keep it simple, straightforward, succinct: See Food, Inc. For me. For yourself. For the planet.

OK. I'm stepping off my soapbox now and going back to A Closed Eye.

Virginal loaves: Proof of how I spent my day off

Oh, sure. I should have been shipping orders today. Should. Should. What a guilt-inducing word. Don't you hate it? However. I did not ship patterns. I did not sew. I did not manicure my brittle, chipped nails. I did not even attempt to frighten the dust bunnies. I didn't.

Instead, I loafed. I did. (Cheap pun intended. Forgive me.) All due to a Baker's Banter post on baguettes. And the fact that my favorite local bakery is closed for the holidays. And I made gumbo. So. Baguettes were necessary. Absolutely. Must have French bread with gumbo to ensure that no roux is left in the bowl. Bread is not optional. 

This is the first time I've ever attempted baguettes. And I was a bit nervous . . . all right, extremely nervous . . . because I could not find instant yeast here in Prescott, AZ. So. I substituted rapid-rise yeast. Still. The dough rose. And though the bread wasn't nearly as good as Pangaea's, it was quite tasty. Quite. And pretty. Doncha think? I think I'll make more. After I finish shipping.