Portland, Oregon: My Driver went to Eugene yesterday to watch the Oregon Ducks beat UC Davis. In football. I took advantage of hours alone at home to test and rewrite the bagel recipe on this site. I make bagels often, and it is always a good idea to tweak and update recipes from time-to-time.

My Dad. My Dad does not like bagels.
(NOTE: I have never baked bread in a bread machine. I only use it to perfectly prepare yeast doughs.)
Dave and I had a "gardening" project today. About ten (or is it more now?) years ago, I put toothpicks in the pits of especially lovely Haas avocados, plopped them in a jar of water and watched as they sprouted and eventually grew leaves. Everyone has done this, am I right?
Later, I planted the three "trees" and... if you can believe this... the avocados took-over our living room (9 foot ceilings)... then the kitchen (vaulted ceiling)... until we finally had to move the plantation to the family room with super-vaulted ceilings. There is no where else for the three trees to go in our house. Either they flower next year or they will be whacked-down to the nibs and transplanted to relatives garden in California.
One winter outdoor in Oregon and the avocados would be frozen history.

The other reason for using my bread machine this weekend was to make pizza dough. I tend to just whisk the dough together in a little bowl and leave it to work its own magic, but tonight I put everything in the bread machine.

Our Sunday Night Pizza tends to be topped with whatever leftovers I have from the week. Tonight it was grilled artichoke hearts, ricotta and basil.


We hope you all are enjoying a great labor-free Labor Day!
Until my next update, I remain, your baked correspondent.