I’ve Got This! Or Maybe This Got Me.

Chocolates have always been my favourite treat at Christmas time. But now, being older and experiencing the inevitable consequence of time, chocolates are something I no longer indulge in. What to do!

I think I have found my solution. Sweet yeast breads! I made loaf of Panettone number four yesterday, and it is so, so good! I eat it plain, and sometimes I spread a wee bit of butter on it. And I enjoy every single bite. This bread has me on the hook.

Here is the nutritional information on my loaf of Panettone bread. Instead of raisins (I can’t find them!) I used 1/2 cup of dried apples, and 1/2 cup of dried cranberries. The bread is a little high in cholesterol, but since I don’t consume many food with cholesterol, this won’t be an issue.
The real benefit of this bread, is that for me, it is a great substitute for rich Christmas desserts, pies, cakes, cookies, and worst of all chocolates. When compared to the usual dessert roster, this bread is clearly health food.

We are having a quiet weekend here at home, as usual. Attila is working on the insulating the basement. He now has the stud walls built, and the insulation installed, for about 50% of the total area to be covered. It is slow going but oh so satisfying. The difference can be felt when standing in the area of the basement that is now insulated, then moving to an area yet to be insulated. The chill in the area that has no insulation is unmistakable. This is a good winter project, as most of the work is indoors, with only a bit of lumber to be cut in the garage.

I’ve asked Attila to build me a coat rack at the bottom of the basement stairs. Until now I’ve donned my winter wear at the top of the stairs, but have decided that I want to struggle with my winter boots at the bottom of the stairs, where I can place a chair. We use the basement entry exclusively in the winter, and do not clear a path to our official front door. So the basement is where I would prefer to don my winter garb. He not only prepared, painted, and installed a coat rack for me, he also painted the wall behind it, and the wall in the stairwell beside it.

Slowly but surely it is becoming easier to live in Mist Cottage.

Worldly

Weather

4°C
Date: 7:00 PM EST Sunday 8 December 2019
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 101.7 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 4.0°C
Dew point: -0.6°C
Humidity: 72%
Wind: S 45 gust 62 km/h
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside.”
Hugh Macleod
1965 –

4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
bex

Getting my home “easier to live in” has been my sole (except for the hats) occupation for the past several years. When things get old and break down (i.e. bodies) a house needs lots of “assistive” things to make life easier.

Diane Dahli

Congratulations on finding such a happy alternative to chocolate! I no longer eat it as well—it keeps me awake nights, but won’t go so far as to bake bread! You are a wonder, and an inspiration!