Duck Wearing

Zara is an attachment duck herder.

Aunt Infestation

Aunties Annie (in her mazel tov hat) with Evie and Sophie. Jo & Zara with excellent Aunt Debbi and Auntie Evie.

Bat Mitzvah

We drove up to Brooklyn for Annie's bat mitzvah, here we are in our finery. Zara was OK for most of the ceremony and loved the after-party: dancing with the big girls!

Bread

This is the fourth time I've made this recipe. The bread is outstanding: strong flavors, medium tight moist crumb, chewy crust. And dead simple to make.

It's based on Jim Lahey's recipe, owner of Sullivan Street Bakery on West 47th Street in Manhattan, as posted by Mark Bittman in the NY Times. I converted it to whole wheat.

Whole Wheat No Knead Bread

In a large bowl combine:

16 oz. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. yeast
2 tsp. salt

Stir in:

12 oz. cold filtered water

until just blended. Dough will be shaggy. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let rest 18 to 24 hours at room temperature. Turn out onto lightly floured counter, stretching dough to form a large square. Dust top with flour. Fold dough four times. Let rest 15 minutes, covered. Form dough into ball. Place on floured towel, seam-side down. Let rise 2 to 3 hours. Place 3 to 4 quart heavy covered pot in oven to preheat to 500F, 30 minutes. Dump dough into pot, seam-side up. Shake pot to evenly distribute. Lower temperature to 450F. Bake 30 minutes with cover on. Remove lid and bake 15 minutes more, until crust is browned. Remove baked loaf from pan, cool on rack before cutting.

Ho hum

Just another oppressively gorgeous day in Virginia. This spot (Humpback Rocks) is a 20 mile drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway, 6 miles south, and 1 mile straight up. You can guess why Zara looks so worn out after all that. The view is of the Shenandoah Valley.

Special Blue Plate

Dill salmon cakes on wilted baby spinach with israeli couscous. Zara enjoying the couscous.

Salmon Cakes

Combine:

1/4 c. fresh dill
1/4 c. finely chopped red pepper
1/4 c. yogurt
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Add:

6-8 oz. cooked salmon
1 beaten egg
1/4 c. whole wheat panko

Divide into 8 balls. Roll in additional panko. Form into 1/2" think cakes. In a large skillet heat:

3 Tbs. butter

Fry salmon cakes until brown, flipping after 2-3 minutes.