Friday, October 16, 2009
Baking Bannock
In a large bowl you place about
* 5-6 cups of unbleached flour
Add
* several heaping teaspoons of baking soda
* a pinch of salt
* a hint of sugar (optional).
Make a well in the center of the flour (by scooping some of the flour to the sides of the bowl) so there is an indentation in the middle of your ingredients.
Next, you add several big tablespoons of shortening. In my recipe I used Coconut Oil because of what I believe to be its health benefits though I also use regular vegetable oil from the supermarket and sometimes lard.
Now you sift all the ingredients together lightly, by hand, mixing the coconut oil gently through the flour while taking care not to melt it by handling it too much. Soon you will have small balls of flour about the size of tapioca or small peas.
Again, make a well in the center of the bowl of flour. Add enough water to cover the well and begin to gently stir the flour from the sides of the bowl and into the center. Some people prefer using milk instead of water. When the flour is moist, you may gently continue working the flour mixture with your hands until the mixture forms a doughy consistency. At this point you may need to add a little more flour or water depending on the dough's consistency but be careful not to over do.
Once your dough adheres together, place a bit of flour on the counter top and roll the dough gently together with your hands, shaping and forming it by patting it into the shape of your pan. Usually a long cookie sheet is used for baking the bannock but I guess it depends on which part of the country you are enjoying the bannock. In some areas they fry the bread instead. If you are having fry bread the oil is omitted from the batter because of the oil used for deep frying.
This is a picture of the baking sheet I use (below) and my dough ready to go into the oven. I will often slice the batter into serving portions before it goes into the oven and prick the dough with the tines (prongs) of a fork.
I baked this one at approx 375-400 degrees until golden brown, checking it now and then so it doesn't begin to burn.
With this recipe, I had enough dough for two batches...Here is the second smaller batch cooked in a glass roaster. Both of them turned out delicious and flaky.
To eat, you simply break off pieces of bannock or you can take a knife and slice off squares. I put all my bannock in zip lock baggies to preserve moisture otherwise they do go dry very soon. Bannock is always best eaten within 2 days of making it. Serve it with butter and/or preserves. You can also use it in place of bread for a sandwich. Happy eating.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Leaving Kamloops
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Photo Tag - Wildlife Orphans
The photo below is my tenth photo. It is a snapshot of Pastor Jonah from Kericho, Kenya. He is escorting me to the Nairobi Wildlife Orphanage. This is a great orphanage as it rescues wild animals who have been abandoned in the wild and gives them a place of safety and refuge.
I couldn't show this photo without also showing you at least a few photos of the wild orphan animals.
A beautiful leopard
A male lion and two lionesses....A close up of the lion...King of the jungle
I've tagged some fellow bloggers to play this game. Happy photo sharing! Umber Dove, Windhover, Liivia, Urban Balcony, Kaliforniasta, Flowers & Weeds, Lynn's Life, Mme. Bookling, Iowa Garden, Nancy*McKay & Pastor Jonah.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Kericho's Kids Happy to Receive
From time to time, I feature a story and photos on the Missions of Hope, a small grassroots Christian outreach in Kericho, Kenya.
It is my privilege and joy to help these children in any way that I can. Most recently, I was able to send some small gift to help with school supplies as children headed back to school last month.
If any of you can help a child, especially one at the higher grade levels, they would be so appreciative. I firmly believe that education is the key to helping people help themselves and to break the cycle of poverty. Now I'd like to share the brief report and wonderful photos from Pastor Jonah.
We are praising God for the provision of the school supplies that he provided for us through Joyful servant. What a blessing it is to have these provisions and give them to those children in real need. It was lots of joy as we completed this wonderful mission.
I am moved a lot when I go from one home to another to meet these kids; all of them with a great future in their minds.Continue praying for each one of them so that one day, they can help others.
EDUCATION WILL TRULY OPEN DOORS FOR EACH ONE OF THEM.
Blessings to you all.
Monday, October 5, 2009
UN index rates life best in Norway, worst in Niger; Canada is at 4th place
BANGKOK - Norway enjoys the world's highest quality of life, while Niger suffers the lowest, a United Nations agency said Monday, as it released a ranking that highlights the wide disparities in well-being between rich and poor countries.
Canada was listed fourth, well ahead of the United States which was in 13th place.
The annual Human Development Index, unveiled in Bangkok by the UN Development Program, takes into account life expectancy, literacy, school enrolment and per capita gross domestic product in 182 countries.
"A child born in Niger can expect to live to just over 50 years, which is 30 years less than a child born in Norway. Furthermore, the differences in per capita income are huge for every dollar earned per person in Niger, US$85 are earned in Norway," UNDP said.
Canada's life expectancy was also among the highest with a child at birth expecting to live up to 80 years.
Norway was followed by Australia and Iceland on the list, which drew on statistics dating from 2007, before Iceland was hit hard in global economic crisis. Afghanistan and Sierra Leone rounded out the bottom of the ranking.
Trends in the index since 1980 showed an average improvement of 15 per cent in countries' scores. The greatest long-term improvements have been shown by China, Iran and Nepal, but progress has been concentrated in education and health rather than income, said the UN agency.
Afghanistan is new to the list this year - reliable statistics were not previously available - but otherwise leaders and laggards are largely the same.
However, five countries rose three or more places - China, Colombia, France, Peru and Venezuela - while seven countries dropped more than two places - Belize, Ecuador, Jamaica, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, and Tonga.
The index was released as part of the UNDP's annual Human Development Report, which this year highlighted migration.
"Most migrants, internal and international, reap gains in the form of higher incomes, better access to education and health and improved prospects for their children," said the report. "These gains often directly benefit family members who stay behind as well as countries of origin indirectly".
" It also suggested that as the populations age in developed countries, they could benefit from increased migration to boost their work forces."
Through analyzing data taken in 2007, Canada's migrants were found to account for nearly 20 per cent of the population. The UN agency did however caution that encouraging migration should not substitute for "efforts by developing countries to achieve growth and improve human well-being".
-With files from The Canadian Press.
On My Way to "Brock"
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Psalm 34:5
Sunday was my last full day in town for awhile and I'm madly dashing to do final shopping errands. I took a walk to Brock Shopping Centre, a small shopping area on the way to the city's airport on the outskirts of town to complete the shopping requirements.the condos i looked at over a week ago
....just vague thoughts of moving at this point
and a view westward...wish i knew what that tree with the lovely orange berries is called
My little shopping cart/buggy came in handy for all my food and Hallowe'en costume purchases.
Addendum:
After reading this post a friend from Florida asked if I celebrate Hallowe'en as a Christian. Here is my response.
The Hallowe'en costume is for my niece though I should point out that neither myself nor my niece actually celebrate Hallowe'en. My niece is autistic and mentally about the age of a 4 year old. She doesn't go out trick or treating and nor do we. Neither do we hand out candies to children on this night due to our Christian faith. I have explained the different holiday's to my niece and how our Christian faith "fits" with the holidays. To her limited ability she does understand. However, from time to time we do let my niece play "dress up" at the end of October and we do give her presents at Christmas in December.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Friday's Joys
and sending a Money Gram at the Post Office
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh,
and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:8 (KJV)
A Peaceful Walk
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