Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

[greatjohn]

I've decided the "nights" are some of the hardest times...getting through them with large stretches of sleep are a joy. That said...my PSA has doubled again for my Christmas present this month(up to 14)...I told the Oncologist I wanted to wait until next month for another Axumin Pet scan...so I got the Holiday off...WHEEE ! ! ! Still standing...still baking (this is a Parmesan, Rosemary & Garlic country Italian bread right out of the oven. Christmas dinner was wonderful. Life is Beautiful. Hope all are well and accentuating the positive in their lives! Happy New Year to ALL...and abundance and health and Joy.

gJohn

p.s. still no down side to the orchiectomy...don't even miss them. And no big pains, just a little more sluggish some days than others. Today in South Florida it was in the 50's and 60's all day and my energy level was up about 100%. I think it's the heat that is doing me in....LOL.

[6357axbz]

👍👍

[greatjohn in reply to 6357axbz]

All the BEST ! ! !

[SuppWife]

Merry Christmas to you, John. I can almost smell the bread from here! Magnificent! Taking it a day at a time is all we can do. Doing it well is the challenge. You seem to have met the challenge. 👍🙏🏻❤️🎄

[greatjohn in reply to SuppWife]

We're doing one day/one week...at this point...LOL Doing some planing for the future, but not stressing over it too much..that's the trick! Happy New Years!

[siouxbee19]

Manna from Heaven... May you & yours continue to receive it this Merry Christmas and beyond...🎄🕊️❤️

[greatjohn in reply to siouxbee19]

I have this thing for bread but...other than easy things like cornbread and such, I haven't homemade yeast type breads...because I love them too much. This is a new hobby. Happy New Year.

[siouxbee19 in reply to greatjohn]

I love bread as well, but sadly never mastered that art from my dear Momma! She always made most everything homemade, back when it was the norm to do so, especially for a large farming/country-raised family. Fond memories of bread making day, I'm salivating and wanting to break out the butter just thinking back...Enjoy that hobby! And Happy New Year!

🥳🕊️👍

[NPfisherman]

Hey GJ,

That is a fabulous looking loaf of Italian bread....based on the ingredients, I can almost smell and taste that marvelous morsel in WV... Sorry to hear about the PSA, but there are so many clinical trials going that I am sure something can be found for the new year...While you had 50-60's, we had a white Christmas with a foot of snow and 18 degrees, so enjoy...

Feel free to message me and I will give a hunt for a trial based on your profile if you would like that as a present for Christmas... You must message me as I lost messaging privileges when I was banned from APC... Once you message me, I can respond...Merry Christmas !!!

All the best,

Fish

[greatjohn in reply to NPfisherman]

I will try to get my "profile" together for you...I'd love that.

[Lyubov]

Your loaf of bread looks so enticing!!! Happy New Year & improved health!

[greatjohn in reply to Lyubov]

it's calling me for breakfast ! ! ! 😃

[greatjohn]

having quite a holiday from it this year....WHEEE ! ! ! and feeling good and TRULY enjoying the cooler weather here now in South Florida...woke up to 44 degrees with the windows open, ceiling fan and floor fans going on me....up under blankets and a down comforter. It was HEAVEN ! ! ! Happy New Years to you!

[Bethpage]

The breaks looks a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Are you sure that you're not a baker at heart?

[greatjohn in reply to Bethpage]

After having a thick slice toasted and buttered with left over fried ham from Christmas and two eggs over medium....I think I will be buying less "store bought" bread. It was/is amazing.Have a blessed holiday season...and the best New Year!

[Bethpage in reply to greatjohn]

I don't suppose you'd share your recipe? I bake for my husband. He rarely eats store bought bread, but I've never ventured out to the parmesan bread.

[greatjohn in reply to Bethpage]

I'm so busy cooking almost all day when we're not going to doctor's appointments or walking the dog, cleaning, etc....that I finally cheated and bought a bread maker from Costco. It's a Cuisinart. It came with a recipe for "Rustic Italian Loaf"...I used exact recipe for a 2 pound loaf and just added dehydrated garlic powder, (about 2 tablespoons ) about a quarter cup of grated parmesan cheese and and about three or 4 branches of rosemary from the garden, just removed from the stem and chopped up the leaves a bit. **If you're making your own recipe for a hearty bread like this...I don't think this small amount of "extras" will mess up the proportions...it didn't in this case (and I was worried it might). To be extra safe I used the drier Kraft grated parmesan...not my usual kind I buy that's more cheesy. I also used dehydrated garlic...rather than fresh, which I'm sure would have been amazing. The taste and smell and texture of this bread came out perfect.

Happy New Year and happy Baking and Living ! ! ! Hope it works and your husband enjoys it. Food is one joy that has not been taken from me! I think I even love (and taste) it more.

gJohn

[Bethpage in reply to greatjohn]

Hey, thank you! I have a Cuisinart and a recipe book to go with, so I'm headed now to look for it. I'll betcha that yours turned out better than mine will. It looked Completely Fantastic! My husband will praise your name while he's eating that bread. He's skinny, but gee does he like to eat. Again, thank you!

[cujoe]

GreatBreadMasterJohn,

Some years ago I read this book by Michael Pollan

michaelpollan.com/books/coo...

After reading it, I came to the conclusion that were I 20 years younger, I would sell all my possessions, buy a commercial oven and become an artisan bread-maker. Maybe you have already done that?

And if you have never read it, I also highly recommend his earlier book, In Defense of Food. He is a master story-teller who does rigorous historical research on every topic he writes about.

May your fine looking bread have healing powers and the act of baking it lift your spirit to ever higher planes.

Best wishes for a turn for the better in 2021. In the meantime, Stay Safe and Enjoy Every Single Day.

Captain K9

[greatjohn in reply to cujoe]

I tell everyone I know that having a hobby like "baking" or "cooking" or "gardening"....and (I almost forgot) "reading"...is really the secret for a happy and fulfilled life~~no matter how long. I left off feeding wild birds, feeding fish (I have a pond with goldfish outside) and walking. We went for a long walk in a local park yesterday and are going to do it again today!Happy New Year ! ! !

[Shooter1 in reply to greatjohn]

A walk in the park and the heal off a home baked loaf of bread smothered in BUTTER and the day would be a great success.

[greatjohn in reply to Shooter1]

yes indeed. Yesterday's walk (without the homemade bread) left Richard and I both exhausted...I passed out in the bed for a nap and it lasted well over an hour! That was a good thing too! Happy New Years to you! ! ! and good Health.

[Shooter1 in reply to greatjohn]

Well, Happy New Year to you too. I have been extraordinarily healthy this last couple of months. I was reading this morning in one of the posts of a husband falling and realized I hadn't had a fall for the last couple of months, hadn't dripped blood and hadn't burned myself(fireplace going most days). PSA has also edged down last couple of months after 2 months of increasing. Times are good. Best wishes for you in this new year.PS. Wish you were closer, I would love to share one of your great dinners with you.

[marnieg46]

Hi greatjohn,

Your loaf of bread looks amazing and has attracted a lot of well-deserved compliments and stirred some into checking out your recipe. Your comments also a great reminder how important it is to remain positive. Something that we all need from time to time.

I thought, if you haven’t seen this recipe, as you’re into baking you might like to read or maybe try out the recipe in the link below…although not into baking bread myself… we had this at a Christmas function, and it seemed such a simple way to entertain and was delicious. The recipe is for 36 small ‘scones’ but is easily reduced to suit.

I send my very best wishes to you and yours for a very happy New Year and I hope for you 2021 holds good health, happy times and the opportunity to make many special memories.

jamieoliver.com/recipes/bre...

[greatjohn in reply to marnieg46]

the recipe sounds amazing. Happy Holidays and best of luck with your husband's surgery, I hope it does truly improve his quality of life...from reading your profile (about his journey) it seems he's really deserving for a big break. I'll be thinking of him,gJohn

[marnieg46 in reply to greatjohn]

Thank you greatjohn...I haven’t updated my husband’s profile but operation over and stoma bag has been a great success and certainly made a big improvement to his QOL just marred by a few ongoing issues but we’re used to coping with these things as you need to with this condition. Have a great NYE...hope you get to celebrate in style 🎉