All good gifts around us

Not every day is sunny (and some days are just too sunny). But every day is so richly filled with gifts. After a few weeks of busyness, I sit down to rest. As I look around me at the flowers, the greens and the grains, this hymn springs up in my heart.


1. We plough the fields and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft, refreshing rain.

Refrain:
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
For all his love.

2. He only is the maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey him,
By him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, his children,
He gives our daily bread.

3. We thank thee then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
For all thy love imparts,
And what thou most desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts.

Difference between white flour and whole grain flours

There is much to learn just from making bread.

White flour and whole grain flours are totally different in their characteristics. White flour has high gluten and produces finely textured bread without much flavor of its own. It's like a sheet of white paper to be drawn on. Whole grain flours are somewhat the opposite. Each type of grain has its own unique flavor and aroma. They all have bran and are short of gluten-making components. Whole grain flours produce a category of baked goods that are together different from white flour. To make good bread, a baker needs to understand the unique characteristics of each type of ingredients, and explore ways to blend them together so as to arrive at something that surpasses the goodness of each of them individually.

Gourmet pound and junk pound

I tell my hubby that I've finally gained a pound in a few months, and that it's a gourmet pound (because of all the good food we've been eating), not a junk pound (of mindless eating). Hubby finds himself greatly entertained.

Good wine, good bread, good life

True goodness brings delight to the heart without leaving a craving for more. That's what satisfaction means.

The force of discontent may drive a person out of a misery; but it's through contentment that a person enters into happiness. 

Afternoon tea for one

While it's such a great joy to share baked goods with people, there are times that I just like to sit next to the window and have some tea by myself. This is my new teapot "Bless the cook", by Paul Cardew, with excellent craftsmanship---the spout (I thought it's called "snout"; but thankfully my friend Linda corrected me) is so designed that tea does not drip off the spout after pouring. A rare find these days.

Gift of finest wheat

As I attempt one experiment after another to master bread-baking, the wonder of each fresh loaf is so heavenly... it reminds me of the Gift of Finest Wheat.


Psalm 81:16  "You would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."


Refrain:
You satisfy the hungry heart 
with gift of finest wheat
Come give to us O Saving Lord
the bread of life to eat


1. As when the shepherd calls his sheep
they know and heed his voice
so when You call Your family Lord
we follow and rejoice


2. With joyful lips we sing to You
our praise and gratitude
that You should count us worthy Lord
to share this heavenly food


3. The mystery of Your presence Lord
no mortal tongue can tell
whom all the world cannot contain
comes in our hearts to dwell


4. You give Yourself to us O Lord
then selfless let us be
to serve each other in Your name
in truth and charity


And life is so worth the living just because He lives!