Counting On … – Page 28

Counting on … day 45

4th March 2025

Shrove Tuesday is a day for being shriven but what does that word mean? The verb shrive comes from the Old English scrifan “assign, prescribe, ordain, decree; impose penance, hear confession; have regard for, care for,” (and curiously its original meaning was “to write” (strong, past tense scraf, past participle scrifen) – https://www.etymonline.com/word/shrove

As we approach Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent confessing our sins and being prescribed (possibly self-prescribed) an appropriate penance, is probably our best understanding of the word. Shrove Tuesday (or in this day and age, Ash Wednesday) is a good day to reflect how we can clean the slate, make a fresh start, and clear away away what stops us from loving God and loving our neighbour. In reality a process that could take all of Lent and probably a lifetime too – but Lent is a good place to start.

During Lent I plan to use the Counting on blog entries to ponder how we can rebuild those relationships through the Book of scripture and the Book of nature – God’s inspired word and God’s inspired activity.

Counting on … day 44

3rd March 2025

Most new technology seeks to reduce the effort needed to complete a task. This can mean automation or semi automation, and often leads to a reduction in job opportunities. Sometimes we might as a society wish to reflect on this: would it be better to have more manual jobs and less unemployment? Would it be better to have hand made bread rather than factory made bread? And if so would we be prepared to pay more for our bread? (Interestingly we have in recent years been willing to pay more for hand-made cups of coffee.)

Would it be better to sweep roads with brooms rather than with motorised road sweeping vehicles? Might this be cheaper as it would not require electricity to recharge the vehicle?

Would it be cheaper than the contribution made through taxes for unemployment benefit?

(Returning to coffee – are taxes being used to pay benefits to those on low pay eg baristas)

Counting on … day 43

28th February 2025

Many products that are made and sold are designed to replace manual power with electrical power, whilst at the same time health advice is that we should increase our physical activity to maintain our health. From experience I know that using a washing machine is very much easier and less time consuming that washing by hand – and ensures a quicker drying time – so I would always prefer to have washing machine. But are there some activities that we could as easily and as beneficially perform manually? A broom to sweep the path? A dustpan and brush to sweep the stairs? Secateurs to clip the bush? A ballon whisk for batters?

Hand power is satisfying and gives me a greater sense of independence and control.

Counting on … day 42

27th February 2025

Manufacturers are good at promoting the efficiency and desirability of their next household tool or appliance. But if we buy each one, will we have room to store them – will our work surfaces be big enough? Do we need soup makers, and icecream makers, bread makers, yogurt makers etc? Could we not use equipment we already have? A saucepan for soup, a freezer for icecream or a mixing bowl for bread?

Counting on … day 41

26th February 2025

Years ago in Zimbabwe, I saw heated coasters being sold for coffee mugs. Sometimes technological advances offer us things we really don’t need! On other occasions technology gives us easier or faster tools when actually we could without too much inconvenience, continue with the pre-exiting tools. Electric coffee grinders are fast but is that a saving that automatically outweighs the hand grinder? Are mini vacuum cleaners really more efficient than a dustpan and brush?

Counting on … day 39

25th February 2025

Improving technology can make things we use more efficient. However this doesn’t always lead to a reduction in our use of energy and resources. Flatscreen TVs are more energy efficient than the bulky cathode ray TVs, but rather than taking advantage of the energy/ resource saving offering by flatscreen TVs we now buy bigger and bigger TVs so loosing the benefit of what we could have saved!

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/technology/shopping-guide/televisions

Counting on … day 38

24th February 2025

Recently I read an article promoting Low Tech as a better means to achieving a sustainable global economy. The logic would be that whilst electric cars are a better alternative to petrol cars because they produce less greenhouse gas emissions, bicycles for short journeys and trains for longer journeys would be more sustainable in terms of resources used and pollution created. And as a plus, encouraging active travel would benefit people’s health and reduce medical costs.

https://theconversation.com/low-technology-why-sustainability-doesnt-have-to-depend-on-high-tech-solutions-176611?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=bylinecopy_url_button

Counting on … day 37

21st February 2025

Sourdough starter recipes often tell you to discard a portion of the starter on a regular basis prior to feeding – otherwise you might end up with a huge amount of starter!! However you don’t need to throw that excess away. You can use it to make crumpets (mix four generous tablespoonfuls with a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and divide the mixture between 4 greased crumpet rings, set in a frying pan. Cook and flip and cook the reverse).

Or you can use it to make soda breads – mix with extra flour and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to make a stiffish dough which can then be baked in the oven or in a frying pan. You can play around using different flours including cornmeal, bean flours etc as well as adding different flavours – herbs, paprika, seeds and nuts, olives, chopped fruit etc.

Basically your sourdough starter is a super raising agent!

Counting on … day 36

20th February 2025

Making bread with a sourdough starter is a slower but less time pressured process – the dough is happy to sit in a warm place just doing what a good dough does.

Some recipes use a ‘levain’ which is small batch of flour mixed with the started the night before, creating a starter dough for the next day’s bread making. I find this particular useful in colder months when yeasts are generally slower to grow.

Counting on … day 35

19th February 2025

Sourdough bread is made with yeast that comes in the form of a sourdough starter. It grows more slowly meaning that whilst the bread dough takes longer to rise, it develops a richer flavour.

You can make your own sourdough starter – although it does take a few days and bit of perseverance. Once your starter is established it can continue to provide you with the means for making bread for months and years to come!

The Doves Farm method is perhaps more straight forward, Whilst the Sourdough recipe is more precise. (I have always used tap water with no ill effect).

https://www.dovesfarm.co.uk/recipes/sourdough-starter

How To Make A Sourdough Starter

How To Feed, Maintain and Store Your Sourdough Starter