WW: Workbench

(Last month I knocked this together, my opening salvo in a bid to carve out a modest workshop in my mom's tiny, cluttered garage.

Bench-building is one of those outwardly simple pursuits that amounts to a lot more than meets the eye. To begin with, the job always turns out to be more complex than one assumes, even with lines and lumber this primitive.

But even on a deeper level, there's just something revitalising about providing oneself the basis to build things. Any maker will tell you that a good bench is really a ship of war. From this platform I will execute brilliant feats of resourcefulness.

Or at least I will when I've refurbished my dad's old vise. [Stay tuned.])

Hermitcraft: Sourdough Coffee Cake

During the holidays we frequently entertain, including in the morning. The season is also particularly associated with the scent and flavour of cinnamon and cloves, and here in the Northern Hemisphere, with hot beverages.

That's why I'm sharing this favourite treat, which I developed several years ago, though like chai and sourdough devil's food cake I enjoy it year-round. In the interest of full disclosure I also dislike coffee, but as tea cake is a whole 'nother thing, Sourdough Coffee Cake it is.

For best results, follow the instructions in order.


Sourdough Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

Cake:
1 cup sourdough starter
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 teaspoon CORRECTION: 1/2 teaspoon soda mixed into 1/4 cup flour

Topping:
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon minced orange peel
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1.) In a medium mixing bowl, beat together all the cake ingredients except the soda and flour mixture.

Set the batter aside to work while completing the next steps.

2.) Grease an 8-inch cake pan.

3.) In a small mixing bowl, stir together the topping ingredients.

4.) Stir the soda and flour mixture thoroughly into the batter.

5.) Heat the oven to 400°.

6.) When the oven is ready, turn the batter into the greased cake pan and sprinkle the topping mixture evenly across the top.

7.) Bake for 20 minutes, or until brown and a pick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

8.) Serve hot with your favourite hot beverage.


Notes:

o  Since I don't care for things that are over-sweet I tend to short or omit spurious white sugar, but in the topping mixture it matters. I haven't tried to bake the cake itself with brown instead of white, but it might work.

o  Thick-cut rolled oats work best if you can get them. In any case, the "instant" type are least desirable. (For anything. Pardon my Scottish expertise.)

o  This is one of those recipes in which finely-minced orange peel works better than orange zest. Especially if you've got those thin-peeled clementines (Christmas oranges).

o  Like other soda-raised sourdough goods, Sourdough Coffee Cake is best eaten hot. It's still enjoyable after it cools, but the difference is telling. However, a cold day-old piece plus 30 seconds in the microwave equals a warm fresh piece.

Best of holidays regardless of where you live, which one you celebrate, or how.

WW: Wooden trivet

(Carved from a single piece of wood.)

Abundance

Where "everything" is not possible, practice "just enough".

Wu Ya


(Photo courtesy of Massimo Catarinella and Wikimedia Commons.)/div>

WW: Spindle tree

(Euonymus europaea.)

Thanksgiving 2019

Gratitude is power.


(Photo courtesy of Shivam Kumar and Unsplash.com.)

WW: Raccoon on the beach