tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59426792011-04-21T14:57:43.773-07:00Part III: Wherein we follow our Intrepid Entrepreneurs as they stumble and bumble towards the goal of opening a bakery in OKC while talking about baking and food.Noddynoreply@blogger.comBlogger5181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1155150137498062112006-08-09T11:57:00.000-07:002006-08-09T12:02:17.513-07:00

Baklava up close Originally uploaded by nodigio. Here is part of a batch of baklava we made for a recent company picnic. With the exception of the spices (cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, pepper), all of the ingredients were procured from local sources, the butter, honey, rose water, pecans, and flour for the phyllo.There were no leftovers.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1150137325174098612006-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:002006-06-12T11:35:25.193-07:00

We had the first Locavore Feast yesterday.No pictures because the battery on the camera was dead and by the time the camera was charged up, we'd eaten everything.The meal started with golden tomatoes from my garden, edible pod peas, radishes, and baby carrots (from Leatherwood Farms) with a garlicky yoghurt cheese dip (from Crain's Dairy). This was followed by a Chicken Foot broth with carrot "

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1148396287479526972006-05-23T06:34:00.000-07:002006-05-23T07:58:07.750-07:00

May was designated "Locavore Month".As you remember, a locavore is someone who eats foods that are grown or raised locally. I extend this to shopping at stores that are owned by local individuals. In planning the Cracked Cauldron, we based much of the plans and suppliers on their proximity to where we planned to open - using local suppliers as much as possible. Since Oklahoma is a lush stae

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1146494510346286302006-05-01T07:22:00.000-07:002006-05-01T07:41:50.373-07:00

Spring soups are fresh and full of fragrance. Asparagus is up, and sorrel, and fiddleheads. Roses are in bloom, and lavender, and the mints are ready to harvest. These and more of spring's bounty can make some of the best ever soups.One of my favorites is Apple Rose Soup.2 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 ripe apples, peeled, cored and diced 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon ground

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1146279918676313872006-04-28T19:53:00.000-07:002006-04-28T20:06:10.273-07:00

Talking with Manager about the make-and-take kitchens that are gaining popularity, we discussed the possibility of doing a make-and-take bakery.The idea won't fly here in Oklahoma, but we could see how, in areas where the make-and-take places are popular, it would work.It wouldn't even be terribly expensive to do: different stations for different types of baked goods: cookies, pies, breads,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1146250269291586972006-04-28T10:44:00.000-07:002006-04-28T11:51:09.356-07:00

Because we don't have any of these "prepare your own" kitchens locally, although there are a couple in the state, I didn't really hear about them until I read the post in Tigers and Strawberries.I remember several years ago, we did have a "make and take" pizza place, where they had all the ingredients and pre-made pizza dough available. You went in, chose how many pizzas you wanted, what sizes,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1146238050998642152006-04-28T07:42:00.000-07:002006-04-28T08:27:31.020-07:00

I've been keeping an eye on prices, inflation, and government regulations.Four years ago, when we started thinking seriously about opening the Cracked Cauldron, things looked good. Prices were manageable, profits would be better than decent, suppliers were plentiful, the test marketing did marvelously, the market studies were all showing profitable trends, and we had some seriously good

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1145634490292589802006-04-21T08:16:00.000-07:002006-04-21T13:11:55.350-07:00

It looks as if plans for opening the Cracked Cauldron are on hold pending some re-organization and lots of deep background work.It will still open, just not as imminently as we'd hoped.In the meantime, this blog will continue, because even if opening plans are on hold, work towards opening aren't. That work just isn't as excitingly anticipatory.I will still be posting about the things we are

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1143121521999154392006-03-23T05:38:00.000-08:002006-03-23T05:45:22.013-08:00

With spring here (ignore the snow on the ground - it'll be gone by morning), fruit will start ripening - strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, loganberries, cloudberries, plums, grapes, peaches, pears, apples - fruit season is upon us.But in this transitory time between winter cozy eats and refreshing summer snacks, there's a desire for both cozy and refreshing.So, we at the Cracked

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1142610242092106202006-03-17T06:33:00.000-08:002006-03-17T13:52:55.920-08:00

Today is St. Pat's Day, a day commemorating the end of Irish racism in America.I know many people will consider it a celebration of St. Patrick and the works he reputedly did in Ireland. The Catholics celebrate St. Patrick's Day in austerity, as is proper, considering it falls during Lent.But Americans view it differently. Once upon a time, the Irish were more vilified than any other group of

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1142280924310214002006-03-13T10:46:00.000-08:002006-03-13T12:15:24.376-08:00

The computer is now fixed, and we are re-installing software and recovering recipes and such. 99.9% of our data were backed up on both hard copies and floppies. We had to install WordPerfect instead of Word, and not all the backed-up files on floppies are converting nicely. The hard copies, of course, have to be re-entered by hand. So, now that hardware issues are resolved, we can once again

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1141158539027440062006-02-28T12:21:00.000-08:002006-03-06T07:30:49.800-08:00

In America, this festive holiday is exemplified by the Mardi Gras celebrations of New Orleans. I am proud that even the devastations of Katrina and Rita weren't enough to stem the joyfulness that is the best of Mardi Gras (we'll overlook the reports of float riders abusing and injuring parade watchers, and vice versa).Every year, we bake King Cakes to celebrate the holiday. Chocolate King Cakes

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1138130958351536902006-01-24T11:25:00.000-08:002006-01-24T11:29:18.373-08:00

It's finally cooling down enough to make wanting hot cocoa a regular event. But only at night, when the darkness brings with it chilly temperatures. There is a reason this time of year is known as the Chocolate Season - and the low cost of chocolate has very little to do with it.Chocolate is at its best when the nights are long and the days planked with dull clouds. The wind howls and

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1137684173828065392006-01-19T07:11:00.000-08:002006-01-19T07:22:53.886-08:00

Much to-do is being made over the Taiwanese green pigs that glow in the dark.Perhaps the biggest jokes are the "green eggs and ham" jokes.That perplexes me. The eggs are supposed to be green, not the ham. The ham is presumably the common shade of pink it's always been, accompanied by green eggs.Green eggs - at least green-shelled eggs - are produced by araucana and ameraucana hens. The yolks

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1137594279556812772006-01-18T06:15:00.000-08:002006-01-18T06:24:39.613-08:00

The aim of the Black Iron Skillet Project is to get seasoned cast iron fry pans to people who lost theirs in hurricanes.We've already sent some, along with dish towels, spatulas, and a few of our favorite iron skillet recipes. If anyone reading this would like to participate, just click on the link.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1136837064932307612006-01-09T10:17:00.000-08:002006-01-09T12:04:25.033-08:00

There are a lot of interesting food trends starting down the pike this coming year. Some of them are particularly relevant to bakers. And, we have a few predictions of our own, things that haven't received a lot of notice.Fusion as chefs once practiced it has waned (and can I raise a mighty cheer?). Some of those concoctions were absolutely dreadful - no balance of flavors, no harmony in

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1136678543402647932006-01-07T15:43:00.000-08:002006-01-07T16:02:23.416-08:00

I know it's rather warm for hot soups, but there's more to soup than thick, hot stews.There are yummily refreshing cold soups, too. The Germans loved their cold cherry soups, and my grandmother made a champion cold apple soup, and because we almost always had potato soup of some sort, she also made this very creamy Potato, Apple, and Dill soup.There's gazpacho (which I prefer to cook before

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1135270721963919102005-12-22T08:42:00.000-08:002005-12-22T08:58:56.400-08:00

In our quest to find the perfectly acceptable modernized version of Aztec Drinking Chocolate, we've tried many things, including the molten chocolate of French fame.Our search took us to Trinidad, and their scrumptious Cacao Tea. They flavor their smooth drinking chocolate with bay leaves, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It's not Aztec, but it is delicious.We bought a pound of chocolate nibs for

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1134425851779044222005-12-12T14:15:00.000-08:002005-12-12T14:17:31.793-08:00

Gingerbread Biscotti1 cup almonds, blanched and toasted3/4 cup sugar1 stick of butter1/4 cup molasses1/4 cup honey1/4 cup minced fresh ginger3 eggs3 cups flour1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder1 tablespoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/2 teaspoon ground allspice1/4 teaspoon ground clovesTo blanch almonds: Bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add raw almonds, and let the water reach a

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1134497252244825672005-12-12T10:07:00.000-08:002005-12-13T10:07:32.256-08:00

May you all have a Yummy Cookie Day!

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1133799639375399582005-12-05T08:03:00.000-08:002005-12-05T08:22:55.150-08:00

I broke the camera when I went to take pictures of the cookies, so there won't be any pictures here for a while. But, I will post some of the recipes to compensate for lack of photography. The first was an experiment with Nutella, making biscotti. Ingredients:4 large eggs, on of them divided1 cup granulated sugar1 cup Nutella, divided 3/4 and 1/41/3 cup dried wild blueberries1 cup chopped nuts (I

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1133538819081199142005-12-02T07:32:00.000-08:002005-12-02T07:53:39.143-08:00

Once again, we approach Cookie Day.And we do so still without a physical location.I know it's taking a very long time, but we really are working towards getting the Cracked Cauldron open in a real, physical place.Manager is working at getting some experience and certifications that will allow potential investors to be more comfortable with her avant garde ideas on running a bakery. That her

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1133195007475543552005-11-28T08:08:00.000-08:002005-11-28T08:23:27.516-08:00

Nowadays, many people are unsure of the meaning of the old saying "easy as pie". That's because they grew up with box cake mixes, baking powder, baking soda, electric mixers and the like. They haven't made cake from total scratch using only wooden spoons (and maybe a whisk).If they had, they'd know the 5 minutes it takes to mix up a pie and toss it in the oven really is incredibly easy.And if

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1132937806921144612005-11-25T08:56:00.000-08:002005-11-25T08:56:46.976-08:00

A row of pies: the fartherest pie is pumpkin, with a "beaded" crust. The next closest is apple, with apple sut-outs. Then there's the crancherry pie, with a wreath of leaves cut-out. The closest pie is pecan, with a "leaf" crust. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1131987600447311722005-11-14T07:45:00.000-08:002005-11-17T12:30:24.566-08:00

Had everything gone according to hopes and plans, we'd be celebrating our first anniversary as an open and fully functioning bakery. Things didn't happen as planned - if you've been reading this blog, you'll know most of the trials and obstacles we've faced. Some of them are of our own making - Manager has a specific idea of how the Cracked Cauldron should be operated, and won't change that even

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1130809359508629142005-10-31T17:42:00.000-08:002005-10-31T17:42:39.513-08:00

Our Halloween Feast on the decorated table. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1130809266856908262005-10-31T17:41:00.000-08:002005-10-31T17:41:06.923-08:00

Our Halloween Feast: Meat Feet (ankle view), a Dragon's Eye, snails in the garden, and a molten volcano. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1130267638884785252005-10-25T12:03:00.000-07:002005-10-25T12:13:58.916-07:00

A future customer of the Cracked Cauldron asked if we could bake a Bienestich for her to give as a birthday gift.A Bienenstich is a very simple German coffee cake. It's a dense, slightly dry yellow cake topped with glazed almonds, and filled with Bavarian Creme.It's a simple cake, really.So, I made her one.Instead of whole milk, I substituted almond milk to increase the almond flavor. I used my

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1129650346158777812005-10-18T08:44:00.000-07:002005-10-18T08:45:46.166-07:00

I got with the Mushroom Man last weekend, and we traded hunting secrets. He showed me where and how to find some really cool mushrooms, and I showed where and how to find some good herbs. Then, I went home and perfected my mushroom soup.The mushroom-hunting was certainly a pleasure. We went into the wooded hills of northeastern Oklahoma. There, we found Satyr’s Beards, Doghairs, Sulfer

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1128094731951347262005-09-30T08:38:00.000-07:002005-09-30T08:38:52.093-07:00

Soup Originally uploaded by nodigio. First soup of the winter season - this is made with a roasted red pepper base instead of tomato, then pureed and whole turtle beans, and diced potatoes, seasoned with onions, garlic, basil, chives, and rosemary. It was surprisingly rich and deeply flavored without tomatoes. And it reheats well the next day. It's a good soup to make in bulk

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1127508642390066972005-09-23T13:43:00.000-07:002005-09-23T13:50:42.396-07:00

We've done batches and batches of cooking at assorted shelters over the last few weeks, but very little time to talk about it.With Rita coming along, it looks as if time will continue to be short.One of the advantages to living in a land-locked state is that we never get directly hit by hurricanes so we have the resources to help out those coastal states that need itI think, by mid-October,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1125451584053016892005-08-30T18:26:00.000-07:002005-08-30T18:26:24.056-07:00

A pizzelle, before the edges are trimmed and it's all tidied up pretty. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1125451543178274962005-08-30T18:25:00.001-07:002005-08-30T18:25:43.183-07:00

The pizzelle shaped as a cone. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1125451515358080692005-08-30T18:25:00.000-07:002005-08-30T18:25:15.363-07:00

The pizzelle shaped as a tube. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1125451481933924462005-08-30T18:24:00.000-07:002005-08-30T18:24:41.936-07:00

The pizzelle shaped in a small, deep bowl. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1125451410803015952005-08-30T18:23:00.000-07:002005-08-30T18:23:30.863-07:00

The pizzelle shaped in a shallow bowl. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1125069613848364712005-08-26T07:28:00.000-07:002005-08-26T08:20:13.930-07:00

In Italy, there's a thin, crispy cookie baked on an iron much like a waffle iron, only the patterns are different. Some are geometric and some are floral, some hold family crests, others are more fanciful still. The most common pizzelle iron in America is the simple floral one, available either as a single or double iron. Sometimes, the plates can be reversed so it may also be used as a

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1124563725825622762005-08-20T11:48:00.000-07:002005-08-20T11:48:45.870-07:00

A sampling of the bounty from the Farmer's Market this morning. The apples, lemons, and peaches will go into sweet pies and the sweet potatoes, new potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers will go into savory pies. The crookneck squash and cabbage will go on the grill tonight, along with a beer butt chicken. The leftovers will be used for a summer stew tomorrow. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1124479245488950082005-08-19T12:07:00.000-07:002005-08-19T12:37:54.883-07:00

The focus now will be on cookies instead of breads, cakes, pies, tarts, and other baked goods.This is a good thing. Cookies are portable, bite-sized nuggets of yummy goodness. They are comforting as Grandma’s kitchen, and as indulgent as any edible commendation (Do you like that phrase? I do.). A sweet reward, a quick pick-me-up.When I was a child, decades before Manager came into existence,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1124376230023436702005-08-18T07:29:00.000-07:002005-08-18T07:43:50.036-07:00

Manager is working up the numbers to open as just a Coffee and Cookie shop. A lovely place just came up for rent in a good coffee shop area of town, another one came up just yesterday near a mjor university at a reasonable rent, and if we're willing to go to a different town, the university in Edmund just expanded their campus and there are still a few low rent places available near-by to grab

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1123699367986763382005-08-10T11:25:00.000-07:002005-08-10T11:45:11.706-07:00

Our little blog was mentioned in Inc. Magazine.While technically everything in the paragraph about us was true; after all, we do own the Cracked Cauldron, and it is a bakery, but in reality, we haven't opened doors for business - yet. We're still working on that part.We have a location that we can't afford to inhabit yet, and we have a huge and growing number of customers who want us to open

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1123347002832180772005-08-06T09:50:00.000-07:002005-08-06T09:50:02.840-07:00

Top view of Manager's birthday cake. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1123346940878081532005-08-06T09:49:00.000-07:002005-08-06T09:49:00.966-07:00

The interior of Manager's birthday cake. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1123008755910064122005-08-02T11:40:00.000-07:002005-08-02T11:52:35.916-07:00

This month celebrates something that is the cornerstone of our business - buying and eating locally.Even though we aren't open for business yet, we still buy as much of our food locally as we can. We live in an area where that means we get an abundance of foods, especially this time of year.In our research for the Cracked Cauldron, we met some wonderful local producers, the mushroom man in Tulsa

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1121723665487735892005-07-18T14:48:00.000-07:002005-07-18T14:54:25.493-07:00

Manager's Birthday is Friday, and we've been designing a new cake to celebrate.It's a dark chocolate cake spiced Scandinavian style, almost a gingerbread, sliced into thin layers and stacked alternately with sour cherries and a rich chocolate mousse. The whole cake will be coated in a swirling tri-chocolate ganache, garnished with chocolate dipped cherries and sugared white rose petals to look

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1120661891544916252005-07-06T06:49:00.000-07:002005-07-06T07:58:11.613-07:00

Now, like all predictions, I could be wrong. That happens.However, since we were mostly right about the baking trends we predicted more than a year ago, we thought we'd take a stab at it again.What do we predict people will want to buy at bakeries in the next year or so?Cookies.Not the monster cookies that take a dozen people to eat just one, but the small, single bite sized ones. Freshly baked

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1119292759583291522005-06-20T11:12:00.000-07:002005-06-20T11:39:19.633-07:00

We bought lottery tickets and came out even. We won what we paid for the tickets. No losses, no gains.This is slightly better than some of our other ventures to secure funding. We've spent hundreds of dollars that returned zero for our expenditure and efforts. We've also spent tens of dollars that returned ,not cash, but other less tangible results. For example, a few bucks and some time to

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1119052105039866402005-06-17T16:48:00.000-07:002005-06-17T16:48:25.076-07:00

The next level of the flavorful and colorful Il Gianfornaio bread - a good loaf and - tada! Rolls! The rolls by the way, are delicious - you get all 4 flavors at each bite. This set is made from beets, tomatoes, spinach, and corn. I think I like this combination very well. I made the corn bread portion because I couldn't find any parsnips. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1118688457808836632005-06-13T11:13:00.000-07:002005-06-13T11:47:37.843-07:00

Again, Manager is faced with questions about her age and therefore lack of experience and "credentials" in working towards opening the Cracked Cauldron.I don't know if she'd face the same requirements and interrogations if she were working towards opening the Cracked Cauldron in some other city, county, or state.It is very discouraging to constantly be refused loans and investments because of her

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1116960992442834282005-05-24T10:28:00.000-07:002005-05-24T11:56:32.516-07:00

There's this little 4 year old girl I know who's had to be placed on a really restrictive diet. Restrictive, that is, if you live in modern America where the easy thing to do is buy prepared foods, whether canned, frozen, boxed, or from a restaurant. She's not allowed anything containing preservatives (very hard to do, even if you make it from scratch because even the individual ingredients may

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1116273390141629892005-05-16T12:41:00.000-07:002005-05-16T12:56:30.146-07:00

I dropped in on the Expo Tradeshow - late.As far as I could tell in hte brief time I had there, there was nothing relevant to opening the Cracked Cauldron.Other than that, it was a typical trade show - booths, people, brochures, lots of noise and motion.A local grocery store is setting itself up to "outsource" departments, and has recently added a butcher shop (yay! Fresh meat not packaged in

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1115755650105060102005-05-10T12:27:00.000-07:002005-05-10T13:07:30.370-07:00

Channel surfing on the radio works.I found out the Expo is being held at the Francis Tuttle Vo-Tech Center from 1-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12th.It's not specifically for start-ups, but they say they'll have information for start-ups there.Another networking opportunity is always worth it.We have people who want to regularly buy our "Peter Max" Bread, the Bacon Bread, the daily cakes and cookies

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1115669309729459002005-05-09T12:53:00.000-07:002005-05-09T13:08:30.003-07:00

There's an Expo for future businesses, start-ups, new businesses on Thursday, May 12.I just heard about it on the radio early this morning, the tag end of it. I thought I heard them say it was at the Myriad Convention Center (which has been renamed less poetically to the Cox Business Services Convention Center), but the event isn't listed on their website.If I knew more about the Expo (like

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1115305277037360032005-05-05T07:45:00.000-07:002005-05-05T08:01:19.656-07:00

I know it's not a big Mexican holiday. That date is actually September 19th.Still, any reason for a party.Cinco de Mayo gives us an excuse to eat Tex-Mex and Mex-style food, to down margaritas, and listen to mariachi music, with pinatas and castanets and general silliness while wearing sombreros and ponchos and speaking in execrable Mexican accents making Speedy Gonzalez jokes. It has more to

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1115236465971426152005-05-04T12:38:00.000-07:002005-05-04T12:54:26.323-07:00

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, and we will be baking a Tres Leches cake modified with lime, and maybe tequila, with fat spicy Mexican cookies, a tortilla soup, yummy empanadas, and strawberry tamales.You've never had Strawberry Tamales before?They're easy. Just add sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, strawberry juice and marmalade to the masa mix, then roll the masa around fresh sliced strawberries

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1115135715996822022005-05-03T08:05:00.000-07:002005-05-03T08:55:15.996-07:00

The bane of all new businesses - the Numbers Game.What do I mean?Spread sheets, cash flow analysis, cost analysis, operating expenses - most of which have to be guessed at or estimated because we aren't open yet.And then, getting our estimates to balance across the board.Sure, we know what some expenses are, they're pretty fixed. Other expenses are blindsiders - like the insurance liability

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1114444455699914472005-04-25T08:40:00.000-07:002005-04-25T14:10:25.466-07:00

Manager and I spent a bit of time talking about the direction the Cracked Cauldron is taking, and ways to move it back on track.We've been pursing alternative sources of funding - so far with minimal luck. Most potential investors keep looking at this as if it were a franchise, or an established chain and expecting us to dig into dwindling poackets to buy someone else's study that isn't

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113838385409633412005-04-18T07:41:00.000-07:002005-04-18T08:33:05.413-07:00

So, the bread was a smashing success. I brought it to a school and let the faculty and students sample it. They all loved the look of the bread, and most said they'd buy it for the novelty look alone. Others said they'd buy it for the taste, after they ate some.A few disliked one layer or the other, and everyone had a favorite layer. The beet bread ranked just above the tomato bread, and that

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113786669666939122005-04-17T18:11:00.000-07:002005-04-17T18:11:09.666-07:00

The finished Il Gianfornaio. When we bake this in the Cracked Cauldron, we'll use a nice bread form to raise it in so it will have a prettier shape. And I think maybe, we'll bake it as small rolls. That would be cute. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113786526051188262005-04-17T18:08:00.000-07:002005-04-17T18:08:46.050-07:00

A slice of the bread, showing all four types. I wish you could smell this bread! Better yet, I wish we were open so you could taste this bread! It's every bit as good as I remembered it. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113780887838517982005-04-17T16:34:00.000-07:002005-04-17T16:34:47.836-07:00

This is the Il Gianfornaio under wraps, on its final rise. There are only 4 layers, as I was unable to find parsnips - even after visiting 6 stores. Oklahoma is not a culinary hotspot. Yet. The layers are, from the outside in: spinach, beet, tomato and carrot. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113780544217153452005-04-17T16:22:00.000-07:002005-04-17T16:29:04.216-07:00

This so sooooo a baker's bread!You can try it at home, but I have some tips for you: Bake your different vegetable breads whenever you feel like it, but take a portion (say 1/5 - 1/4) of it and freeze it. When you have 4 or 5 different vegetable breads frozen, take them out of the freezer, thaw them, roll them out, stack them, then roll up the stack and let that giant roll rise until doubled,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113770502749022772005-04-17T13:04:00.000-07:002005-04-17T13:41:42.750-07:00

I've always wanted to make this Aussie bread I tried once a long time ago called Il Gianfornaio.It's not a sourdough. It is a rainbow colored bread, composed of several different vegetable breads. The one I had was a round loaf of tomato, beet, parsnip, and spinach bread.I'm currently making one that will be swirled with a dilly carrot bread, a beet and tarragon bread, a tomato and basil bread,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113765401188198252005-04-17T12:16:00.000-07:002005-04-17T12:16:41.186-07:00

The yummy sourdough bread made from Tri-Pliny. It's fusion - Italian whole wheat sourdough with German belegte brot - a thin scraping of butter, a nice layer of Edam topped with radishes, black olives and a coarse and sharp German mustard, This goes exceptionally well with a nice dark kinderbier, except I don't have any, so I'm substituting Dr. Pepper. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113682472718318632005-04-16T12:59:00.000-07:002005-04-16T13:14:32.720-07:00

In the picture below, I've managed to capture Heike, Tri-Pliny, and Onuri Ufa all at once.Usually, when I take care of the Yeast Beasties, I forget to take their pictures. What with dividing them, watering and feeding them and sterilizing their jars anew, getting out the camera is far from my mind.It's not as clearly visible in the photo as it is in person, but Tri-Pliny (in the middle), the

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113681508284531612005-04-16T12:58:00.000-07:002005-04-16T12:58:28.283-07:00

Heike, Tri-Pliny, and Onuri Ufa. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113515710193369322005-04-14T14:21:00.000-07:002005-04-14T14:55:10.193-07:00

We've been talking to people who are local organizers for Meetup.com (no link provided) groups, and many were enthusiastic about scheduling their groups to meet at the Cracked Cauldron when we opened. It was a practical match - they needed meeting space, we needed customers and would have space once we opened. Our prices would make us an affordable location for practically all their

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113321328861910292005-04-12T07:45:00.000-07:002005-04-12T08:55:28.863-07:00

Say you have a sourdough starter, and it doesn't look or smell quite right. Maybe she isn't as vigorous as she once was. You're tempted to throw her out and start all over, even if The Lady has been around since the 1800's.There are some rescue remedies you can try before you give up.First, let's review some of the problems a sourdough starter can have.The hooch - the brownish liquid the forms

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113230987707750072005-04-11T07:28:00.000-07:002005-04-11T07:49:47.713-07:00

While we're waiting for the sourdough to rise, I'll share with you some tips on capturing your own wild Yeast Beastie and how to tame her.As you know if you've been reading this blog for long, we consider most Yeast Beasties to be female, but once in a while a male one comes along. So for this post, I'll just call the Yeast Beasties female.The best way to get a starter is from a baker,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1113100464508450522005-04-09T19:31:00.000-07:002005-04-09T19:34:24.506-07:00

Well, it looks like the washing took care of Tri-Pliny's contamination problems, and he's growing nicely.I've had him in the fridge cooling down for a few days, and will take him out later tonight to begin the activation process again. By tomorrow, he should be ready to bake with.If he is, I'll bake a few things and post pictures.And yes, thank you for pointing out the camera lens was dirty.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112975165936846402005-04-08T04:21:00.000-07:002005-04-08T08:46:05.936-07:00

My co-workers were very good about filling in for me while I was volunteering at MedFaire, so I baked them a cake - a lemon spice bundt cake, glazed with lemon and garnished with fresh sweet redbuds.Redbuds are a fleeting pleasure. I haven't been able to figure a way to preserve them that captures their sweetness and crunch, so I use them generously during their 2 week season.If you've never

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112725099786770662005-04-05T11:18:00.000-07:002005-04-05T11:18:19.786-07:00

Pirates (more specifically, The Bilge Pumps) playing Stretch after enjoying a sample of Cracked Cauldron cookies. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112724940533533402005-04-05T11:15:00.000-07:002005-04-05T11:15:40.533-07:00

The Booth where we spent most of our time - that's Manager inside the booth, and a volunteer outside it. She came all the way from Virginia to help. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112722827173048162005-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:002005-04-05T10:40:27.176-07:00

The last post hole is filled and the last bag of trash dragged off. MedFaire is over for another year.The samples we provided dispapeared quickly. Fortunately, we baked fresh each night, so there were always plenty for the next day.Y'all have already seen the Pirate Ship Pie and the Castle Turret Pie, and the picture of the cookie stamp we made with cookie.Those of you who read this blog and

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112367048908349612005-04-01T06:50:00.000-08:002005-04-01T06:50:48.906-08:00

The Pirate Ship Pie storming the Castle Turret Pie. Yes, we encourage you to play with your food. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112327238238490132005-03-31T19:38:00.000-08:002005-03-31T19:47:18.240-08:00

We'll be offering the cookbook, The Cauldron Crack'd, from the blacksmith's booth. Sample cookies will also be there.Thing is, we told folks the booth would be at the south end of the Faire near Food Row. It was moved. It's still on the south end of the Faire, only now it's near the UCO Booth and the Scottish Compound on the western edge of the Faire. The portable ATM machines are right there

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112217534060840082005-03-30T13:02:00.000-08:002005-03-30T13:21:17.996-08:00

Y'all remember Tri-Pliny, the sourdough culture I got from Italy last month?Well, like a bad pet owner, I gave him the wrong water and he proceeded to throw a fit.Oklahoma tap water is usually pretty good. It's sweet, clear, and imminently drinkable even if it does kill aquarium fish. This time of year, though, the lake turns over. It does that twice a year, and we'll sediment in the water,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112138981887267202005-03-29T15:29:00.000-08:002005-03-29T15:29:41.886-08:00

Starting at the top left: the negative cookie stamp, the positive cookie mold, and the first cookie made with the stamp. It worked! 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1112126552459300222005-03-29T12:02:00.000-08:002005-03-29T12:02:32.466-08:00

As I was preparing to bake the cookies we'll be giving away at MedFaire, I was regretting not being able to find a cookie stamp for them.Yes, I found lots of beautiful cookie stamps, and some of them will find their way into the Cracked Cauldron to shape cookies we'll be selling. But I couldn't find the cookie stamp. You know, the exact perfect one for us.Then I had a duh! moment.In all my

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111766544594891272005-03-25T07:14:00.000-08:002005-03-25T08:02:24.596-08:00

Yay! It's Friday!That means it's the beginning of my "vacation".I don't get any days off from working, I just get excused from one of my jobs so I can exchange it for another one for a few days. A working vacation.For the next 12 days, I will be concetrating on MedFaire and the Cracked Cauldron, instead of my paying job (which is not the Cracked Cauldron - yet).Yes, yes, I blatantly use my paid

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111675966471990112005-03-24T06:26:00.000-08:002005-03-24T06:52:46.473-08:00

Manager met with an investment group yesterday, and they've asked for a second meeting.This is the first group she's met with who approved of her unconventional opening hours and quickly overlooked her age when she was able to answer all of their questions confidently. And they liked that she displayed enthusiasm for her business as well as confidence.The second meeting is to clarify a few more

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111451271617711392005-03-21T16:16:00.000-08:002005-03-21T16:27:51.616-08:00

The print copies of the cookbook arrived, and they look very nice. We have quite a few for MedFaire, and y'all are more than welcome to buy a copy at Lulu.com. So far, the hands-down favorite recipes are the gingerbread recipe and the Rat Onna Stick. Although the Onion Soup with Cinnamon got second looks. I donated a copy to the library and most of the oohs and aaahs came from them as they

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111350564082546732005-03-20T12:29:00.000-08:002005-03-20T12:29:24.083-08:00

Equinox Dinner Originally uploaded by nodigio. Grilled shoulder of lamb smothered in a lemon and lavender sauce and garnished with garden fresh tomatoes and a lemon slice.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111103637598228062005-03-17T15:53:00.000-08:002005-03-17T15:53:57.596-08:00

The cornbread - the green spots are chopped chilies. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111069706342716112005-03-17T06:24:00.000-08:002005-03-17T06:28:26.346-08:00

When you take pictures using a Sony Mavica that stores the pics to a floppy disk - label the disk as soon as you remove it from the camera.Organization, labels, logical filing - these are our friends.The picture of the cornbread will be posted as soon as I find which disk it's on.Or I'll bake more cornbread and take a picture of that instead.Also, MedFaire is 2 weeks away.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111070306596022132005-03-17T04:34:00.000-08:002005-03-17T06:38:26.596-08:00

We have 11 unlabeled disks, only some of which contain photos. Which one contains the photo I want to upload here?Who knows?Cornbread photo will be uploaded as soon as it is found.Thank you for your patience.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111011697238378042005-03-16T15:50:00.000-08:002005-03-16T14:21:37.246-08:00

Unpredictable Oklahoma weather brought us sunny and near 70 on Monday, and snow on TuesdayThe ground was warm enough that falling snow melted before it ever reached the ground, so what we saw was rain.Still, those who worked in the tall office towers on the top floors saw snow falling.It wasn't cold enough to want to hunker down with a big bowl of red, but cornbread and beans sounded really

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1111009803862890362005-03-14T16:42:00.000-08:002005-03-16T13:50:03.863-08:00

Pi Day for this year didn't catch us by surprise. We baked a square pie in celebration, because every knows Pi R Square.When we open the Cracked Cauldron, we plan to have little square pies for Pi Day with little pi symbol cut out on top, and even for Pi Approximation Day - which gets celebrated twice a year - July 22nd and April 26th. The first is because 22 divided by 7 approximates Pi, and

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110818611270153222005-03-14T07:26:00.000-08:002005-03-14T08:43:31.273-08:00

We updated the Business Plan - included such things as the cookbook and the CafePress offerings, and revamped dates and such.It may seem as if we aren't doing much on the financial front, but we are still pursuing several different avenues.Manager is also working on beefing up the skills various bankers have pointed out as weak by mentoring temporarily with various businesses in town. From them,

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110750879360112012005-03-13T13:54:00.000-08:002005-03-13T13:54:39.360-08:00

The Lemon Cardamom Ice Cream, topped with wild violets fresh picked from the front yard. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110750307144625002005-03-13T13:45:00.000-08:002005-03-13T13:45:07.143-08:00

A Billy Goat Cookie - filled with dried chopped dates, apples, raisins, papaya, pineapple, blueberries, cherries, pecans, almonds, oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, brown sugar, honey, and flour. This version has swirly chips on top. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110750170331357512005-03-13T13:42:00.001-08:002005-03-13T13:42:50.330-08:00

A Beloved Guinea Pig, eating a Billy Goat. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110750140959362942005-03-13T13:42:00.000-08:002005-03-17T07:11:47.813-08:00

A bell pepper with a baby bell pepper growing inside it. This was used in the tri-pepper stew below. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110750070398991482005-03-13T13:41:00.000-08:002005-03-13T13:41:10.396-08:00

A tri-pepper stew, to be served over rice. It contains 3 colors of bell pepper, red and yellow onions, small cubes of chuck steak, parsnips, parsley, garlic, ground celery seed, popped black mustard seed, and black pepper. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110749766802711962005-03-13T13:36:00.000-08:002005-03-13T13:36:06.803-08:00

A Beloved Guinea Pig, eating some freshly made Lemon Cardamom Ice Cream. 

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110587123240292852005-03-11T16:14:00.000-08:002005-03-11T16:26:57.383-08:00

Manager has been hired by a woman in Georgia to do a spot of personal cheffing - she'll be coming to Oklahoma for a visit, and wants Manager to bake and cook for her while she's here. I'm not sure how a woman in Georgia heard about us and wants us to cook for her, but there it is.We've also got several potential investors looking over the business proposal and spreadsheets, and there's a

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110493862883316722005-03-10T14:19:00.000-08:002005-03-10T14:31:02.886-08:00

Some of the anecdotes we mentioned in earlier posts didn't make it into the cookbook. The Monkey Food Fight and the Burping Contest were left out because they were not rated for a general audience, and we couldn't figure out how to retell them without losing the zest of the stories.Others, which would have been suitable, were left out because we couldn't reach the people involved for their

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110383448548978142005-03-09T06:39:00.000-08:002005-03-09T07:50:48.553-08:00

To answer J's comment: You're probably the first, other than me, to order copies of The Cauldron Crack'd. I ordered copies for selling at the Faire as soon as it was accepted.I can't put the book about CC's first year on Lulu.com because my computer lacks the ability to handle Excel for the spreadsheets and I lack Adobe for formatting it as a pdf. Right now, if I can't do it in Word, it just

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110341891294494732005-03-08T20:14:00.000-08:002005-03-08T20:20:30.166-08:00

Is now available at Lulu.com. Just click on the button to the right. There are 37 recipes, 11 photos, and a few funny stories.It even has an ISBN: 1-4116-2631-1.Now, I can return to more intersting posts.And do all the other stuff to prepare for MedFaire.

Noddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5942679.post-1110043529450734192005-03-05T09:19:00.000-08:002005-03-05T09:25:29.453-08:00

Last year, at the Friends of the Library Booksale, we scored some really helpful books for the Cracked Cauldron, ones which were out of print and otherwise hard to get.This year?We got a few nice books for the bakery, but nothing like last year.The man who gave me a daughter of his starter last year wasn't there while we were, so we missed one another, and I didn't have a chance to tell him how

Noddynoreply@blogger.com