Remember the Day in the Life books from the ‘80s? The other day I received an email from a photography center in Seattle announcing a similar project. Any photographer can sign up to take photos during a single 24-hour period in June. Selected images will be exhibited the following month.
This idea, a visual experience of simultaneous action, came back to me when I saw the remains of one of our rhododendron bushes, a victim of severe pruning, on my way home from a walk. I’d never seen that shelf lichen before. The white rings were glowing in the mid-morning light, the same light I try to catch on the back deck when I’m photographing food.
Funny that that was going on all winter, growing without me noticing, growing while I’ve been at the computer or the school or the vet. Funny how things make an exit.
So much goes on in a 100-foot radius. After I snapped some photos, I left the lichen to grow some more and went inside to make crackers.
I was inspired by these raw, Oregon-grown pumpkin seeds. And by the fact that everyone says making your own crackers is easy.
Easy is what I need. Because if you photographed everything that happened in my 100-foot radius last week, there might be enough images to fill a glossy coffee table book. New pup. Organized utility closet. Gymnastics birthday party. Crazy big backyard shrub. Pruners. Hummus. Stacking deadlines. Stacked up cookbooks. Mice in the engine. Stolen credit card number. Doggy ear infections.
Here’s some therapy: Pull up a recipe for pumpkin seed crackers. Visualize substitutions. Grind up three kinds of seeds. Mix them with baking powder, flour, sea salt, pepper and fresh rosemary. Drizzle in olive oil. Drizzle in buttermilk. Add whole seeds. Mix. Make balls of the dough and flatten them out onto parchment with the heel of your hand. Bake for 19 minutes.
It’s all going to be okay.
I substituted sesame seeds for flax and used a mixture of buckwheat flour and millet flour in place of the barley. I used only a few grindings of black pepper, omitted the garlic and went light on the rosemary. They’re buttery and perfect with a bunch of almond butter when you need to eat lunch at your desk.
The Plum Palate 
I like home made crackers.
Do you make them often? I like them, too. And I’m anxious to try more. Especially intrigued by raw cracker recipes. Someday soon.
These crackers look fabulous, Jenni! I like the substitutions you made. Wow, you do have a lot going on…our credit card number was stolen a couple months ago, too – what a hassle. And I’m sorry your pup has an ear infection. The lichen pics are beautiful and I’m glad you had a chance to take them!
btw, can’t get enough of Suzanne Goin’s book! I made the halibut with savory creme fraiche and meyer lemon salsa…so good I’m making it again tomorrow night for guests. I’m trying the semifreddo with rhubarb for dessert.
Thanks for the Suzanne Goin tip. We had a pasta dish the other night that was good but very labor intensive. I haven’t had halibut in ages so I’ll earmark it for my next one to try. Yeah, our poor guy has double infections! But I think he’s already feeling better after a few days of the ear drops. Thanks for your encouraging words – sorry your credit card was stolen, too. Next week things will settle down a bit!
Funny how adding one more project can be calming if it’s the right one. :) These look great. Enjoy that puppy!
That’s exactly what I thought, Emmy. It’s sometimes good to make the time and settle into something simple and tactile. We are. I’m sure I’ll throw in more photos as the month goes by!
Enjoying the puppy, that is. :)
These look delicious Jenni. We love buckwheat at our house and these would be a hit.
Thanks, Karista. I actually don’t use buckwheat once and I don’t know why. These are delicious. :)
rather, I don’t use it *often* :)
Once I made my first batch of homespun crackers, I was ruined in the best way. The was no going back–store bought crackers would no longer cut it. I’m going to try these out this weekend, but I can already tell they will soon be on my list of favorites. What delicious therapy!
I’d love a list of your favorites, Bobbi. I think I’m ruined, too!
Oo. I found your fennel crisps – yum!
Ah, mice in engine. Happens to us at least once a year. Beautiful photos!
I know it happens a lot – if you have any anti-mouse tips that don’t involve poison, I’m all ears!
Oh they look fabulous! I love homemade crackers!
I would love to have a dehydrator and make them raw too :-)
Happy weekend!
I know, Anne. I’m hooked now, too! I may need to partner up with my friend who has a good dehydrator and make up a batch of the raw ones. Thanks as always for your visit!