French Bread

2 packages active dry yeast
21/2 c warm water (105-115 degrees F)
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp butter, melted
7 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c cornmeal
1 egg white
1 Tbsp cold water

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl. Add salt butter and flour. Mix then knead until well blended. Dough will be sticky. Place in a greased bowl turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. (1hour)
Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll each half into 12 x 15 rectangle. Roll dough tightly tapering the ends. Place in greased baking sheets that have been dusted with cornmeal. Cover and let rise again until doubled. (1 hour)
Make 4 diagonal cuts on top of each loaf and bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes. Make an egg wash and brush each loaf with mixture for an additional 5 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.


The weather outside has been frightful. We've had rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow , ice, lightning and thunder all in one day. It continues on a smaller scale today. I believe I am on my way to being severely depressed brought on by the extreme cold from a week ago, then THIS! What blocks this depression is the anticipation on a trip to Paris with Chesca. I have bookmarked the hotel we are staying in and even if I've seen it before, looking at the site makes me happy. I also have bookmarked to website of the Parisian transportation system to familiarize myself with it. By my bedside are my birthday gifts from Steve. Eyewitness Book Paris and a small English-French dictionary. I will survive this winter after all. By the time April rolls around, it will be Paris and spring.

Lambanog

Lambanog is an alcoholic beverage known for its potency (it is sold in 80 or 90 proof variations). It is primarily produced in the Quezon Province of the Philippines.

The process begins with the coconut tree -- "the tree of life."
As with most fruit-bearing trees, flowers turn into the fruit.
Lambanog making trees never produce fruit, because it is the sap from the coconut flower that is the crucial ingredient for this unique coconut wine.
Plantation workers called mangagarit climb the coconut trees every afternoon to prune the flowers so that their sap drips into bamboo receptacles called tukil.
(This process is analogous to rubber tree tapping.)
The next morning, the mangagarit returns to collect the sap from these receptacles.
The sap is then put through a cooking or fermentation process, which produces a popular coconut toddy called tuba.
The tuba is then taken and distilled to produce lambanog.
Until recently, lambanog was primarily an local drink, much like home-made apple cider or backwoods moonshine.
Lambanog is widely enjoyed by the locals of the Quezon province, and festive occasions are incomplete without the traditional "tagayan" or group-drinking.
While the "tagayan" can take on different forms, the most common kind involves taking turns drinking out of a single glass set in the middle of the group.

Because coconut trees abound throughout the Philippines, and because the process of distilling lambanog from tuba is a relatively inexpensive process, it is known as a poor man’s drink. Farmers often wind down by drinking lambanog after a long day’s work.

In Quezon, drinking lambanog is usually a communal thing – men and Karen sit around in a circle and take turns drinking shots from a cup placed in the middle of the group.
Usually, there is also someone singing and playing the guitar to add to the festivities;
he takes his turn at drinking too, so the music gets more interesting as the drinking goes on.

My sister Karen and I share a birthday. We have been known to be quite opposite of each other. Karen is a fearless driver and I am a fearful one.
She is a graceful swimmer and I am well.. I attempt to swim.
She can dance effortlessly and I dance with great effort.
Karen is outgoing and I am not.
She can drink the strong stuff and I pretty much stick to wine.
She can hold her own with more than one drink and I am asleep after one.

My sister Karen and I share a birthday. We do have similarities too.
We love the same people.
The same people love us.
We both teach.
We are teachable.
We are strong in the face of adversity.
When adversity stands in our way, we make it work for us.
We adjust.

I have heard stories from others who share a birthday with a sibling. They seem to feel that the day is less special because it is shared. I have always loved the fact that Karen was born the year I turned 9 years old. She is the gift I received for my birthday that year and every year after that.

Ice Cubes

Ice cube tray of any design
Water

Fill tray with water. Walk carefully to the freezer and pop in till frozen.
Use as needed. Don't forget to refill.

It was 18 below zero yesterday without the wind chill. Classes were not canceled. The car complained when it was started but performed admirably despite its age. It has been almost two weeks since this weather has been super cold. Punxutawny Phil apparently did not see his shadow. I'm not holding my breath for spring to come early. At this point, I just want the temperature to be above 0 degrees.