Vaclav's Boulangerie

I was asked to contribute to a pot-luck dinner at work by making bread. Here we go.

Sunday afternoon I prepared seven batches of the dry ingredients (18oz of flour, 2tsp yeast, 2 tsp salt) and placed them in bags. Mise-en-place, if you will. One of the seven bags is missing because it's now combined with 12-13 fluid ounces of water. 

If you don't have one of these, you ought to. Yes, I said "ought." It is a moral imperative. I hate kneading by hand and I don't have the space anyway.  

The first batch is done. 6 more to mix and rise.  

Three batches are already rising. 

All seven rising.

Parchment paper and cookie sheets ready to go.

After about an hour, I can see the first batch is rising. How do I know it was the first? By the position of the bowl on the table. 

Now we shape each batch into some form. I am not very good at this part. 

Everyone is shaped, rising again. That's seven trays of 12 rolls each. 

Don't forget to do the dishes. A clean kitchen is a must for safety and smooth operation. No, I am not messing with you. This is why my wife calls me her favorite kitchen gadget. I think.

Bakin' away...

First batch is DONE. I wonder how good they are. 

After they all cool for a few hours I will bag them in a huge Zip-Loc bag (have you ever seen one? You can  fit a week's laundry in one!). Tomorrow they will be consumed by my colleagues at work. 

Sunday Walk

Scenes from a Sunday afternoon in Beacon, NY.

More work going on at The Roundhouse At Beacon Falls. 

Interesting windows at Jessica Wickham Woodworker.

A warm day brings people out on East Main Street. 

This is a doggie in a store window. I don't know how much he cost. 

A ladies' clothing store in Beacon, Jacqueline. Nice hats in the window for  Easter.

Looks like we finally have a florist in town. 

Also our own local beer at Hop.

A pretty dress in the window at Lauren and Riley.

Antiques for sale in front of a store.

Copper Roof Deli, Beacon

One of the things I like about my neighborhood in Beacon is that right around the corner from our house we have a old-fashioned, neighborhood deli. It was formerly occupied as Roby's Deli but after much renovation and expansion it is the Copper Roof Deli. We did not have time to get something to eat, but I got a few shots of the inside anyway. You can get something to eat, grab milk or a snack, and they have some sundries for sale as well.

If we ever get around to eating there I will post our impressions. For now, you can see their Facebook page where they advertise their daily specials and they are rapidly gathering fans:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Copper-Roof-Deli/176417615801523

Plenty of beverages and chips to choose from. Note the other stuff for sale high on the shelves to the left and right. 

The staff in the kitchen.

An ATM in the foreground in case you forget your cash. Candy at the counter. 

Seating and more drinks in the back. 

It's on the corner of Teller and West Center streets in Beacon. 

Occupy Hong Kong

My brother Tony sent this, and these pictures, from Hong Kong:

"Took these last week.  Apparently you can stage a protest but not congregate.  There wasn't one person inside the entire encampment which even had it's own library and kitchen."

Moonrise Over Mt. Beacon

Trainspotting & Such At Lunch

Trains always remind me of my cousin Bill and his father. They were avid collectors of all things model railroading.

A freight train travelling north along the Hudson near a vineyard in Highland, Ulster County.

The Metro North heads to GCT from Poughkeepsie on the Dutchess County side of the Hudson River.

Steam pipes on the IBM campus.

Creek Shots For Pat

I got off my ass and used a real camera today.