The by-word for the past week has been PROOFREADING! Every time I look out of the corner of my eye I see a stack of proofs topped with a highlighter pen (pink, for Spring!) sitting reproachfully waiting for me to get going again! BUT, I only have 15 more pages to go, out of 95 so the end is in sight.
Arnee returns from Spain to Oxford tomorrow so I really want to send the file back Monday at the latest. It is truly exciting to see the Program Manual as one complete document. The cover design looks fabulous in colour although the printed copies will probably have to be in black and white to save costs.
There has been plenty of other activity around here: – the Networks Newsletter was also proofed and will be sent out today, the agenda for our next committee meeting was formulated and emailed, we received a couple more interesting Host Church enquiries, and yesterday a team of 3 filmed the WHOLE new Slideshow, I can hardly wait to see it!!! Of course the new soundtrack still needs to be recorded and dubbed in but imagine- all the puppetry is completed, a HUGE chunk of Program work!!
Of course some of my time (too large a portion in my estimation!) had to be devoted to shovelling, as yet another storm crashed through the city with strong winds and mountains of snow. Thursday, alone, I spent 3 hours shovelling. UGH! However, my glorious purple hyacinth is in full bloom on the dining room table, scenting the whole ground floor, a glimpse of spring.
Some bits and pieces of “craftiness” have also squeezed in. I am starting a patchwork glasses case for a friend’s Birthday gift and in the coming week shall be completing a Birthday crown for my second Godson. I have also been asked to bake his Birthday Cake plus little cupcakes for his class at school, so that will be quite exciting work.
Work on the first dozen Pysanky is also underway, as I begin with the beeswax forming the first outlines on the white eggs. I love the smell of the wax, as soon as I light my candle and dip the kitska in the beeswax I feel a sense of peace spread over me. I relish this annual Lenten activity which affords a time of calm and reflection within the usual hectic days.
Yesterday was Baking Day; as I needed to make gluten-free bread for Sue, so I also tried my hand at Macarons (do not attempt these unless you have a very good electric mixer, mine is dodgy) and discovered that, with my somewhat slow mixer I had to beat FOREVER. So I’m not too pleased with the results. Sigh. BUT I did make a yummy mushroom pizza for my dinner so here is the recipe: –
Dough
- 1 tsp. yeast
- 1-½ cups warm water
- 4-½ cups unbleached flour
- 6 Tbsps. Olive oil
- 1 tsp. salt
In a measuring cup with a pouring spout, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Put the flour, oil and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to blend. With the motor running, pour the yeast mixture in and continue mixing just until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Dip your fingers in oil and form dough into a ball. Place in an oiled bowl, cover tightly and allow to rise for 1hour OR place in the fridge overnight for a slow rise. If you do the slow rise, allow the dough to return to room temperature before shaping.
Mushroom Filling
- 2 cups thinly sliced Cremini mushrooms
- 3 spring onions, trimmed and sliced in half,
lengthwise - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil, coarse salt
When ready to form the pizza, lightly oil 9×12-baking sheet. Divide the dough in half and wrap half to freeze for another time. Stretch out the dough to fit the baking sheet. Sprinkle with the cheese and press the onions into the surface in a trellis pattern. Fill the spaces between the onions with the mushrooms. Drizzle the pizza with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake in a preheated 475F. oven for approx. 17mins. Serves 2