Five years ago I was taught how to (properly) make whole wheat bread. And when I say whole wheat bread I mean not using a drop of white flour. I had attempted whole wheat a few times many, many years ago and ended up with wheat bricks. My next attempt was the type of whole wheat bread recipe that used half white flour. And that just does not count.
So here it is, a mouthwatering picture of my whole wheat bread (that I can eat now that I’m over most of my preggie sickness – finally!) and the recipe for you to try:
Ingredients:
- 6 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup gluten flour
- 1 ¼ Tbsp active dry yeast
- 2 ½ cups hot water
- 2/3 cup honey (may use 1/3 also, but the more the better)
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1 ¼ Tbsp lemon juice (enhances dough)
- 1 Tbsp salt
Tips: follow the directions exactly. Gluten flour needs to be refrigerated to keep freshness.
Directions:
- Grease 2 bread pans using non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine 3 cups of wheat flour, gluten, yeast and warm water. Mix for 1 minute. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Add salt, oil, honey and lemon juice. Mix for 1 minute. Add remaining flour, 1 cup at a time.
- Mix for 10 minutes. While dough is mixing, turn oven to warm (200 degrees).
- Turn oven off when dough is done mixing.
- Place dough on greased counter. Divide to make loaves and place in greased pans.
- Place pans in warm oven and let rise (double in size, about 30 – 40 minutes).
- Bake on 350 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes or until tops have browned.
*optional: brush butter on top of baked loaves as soon as you take out of the oven. Not only does it add flavor but it keeps the tops soft and not hard and crunchy. Spray butter works well too (that is what I use – no fat, but all the flavor).
Is there really such thing as too much fun? Probably not. The two of us have been living it up a little this year doing some things that have been too hard to pass up for one reason or another.
:: KING TUT EXHIBITION ::
This was amazing. I spent my childhood looking at National Geographic magazines and my favorites were always about Egypt, the Pharaohs and the Great Pyramids. Oh, and since I had also watched (and memorized) “The Ten Commandments” about a billion times my interest in Egyptian facts and history only grew stronger the older I got. I can even walk like an Egyptian when I listen to the song 
:: Fiddler On The Roof ::
This production was the best musical I have seen thus far in my life, and I have seen quite a lot. Topol is a seasoned pro (and in the movie, just in case you are wondering who he is) and he didn’t miss a beat, nor did anyone else for that matter.
Of course I knew that I would be stunned
and amazed to see Topol perform (and it was his last tour), but really I was impressed beyond all belief. My parents even flew out to see it with us and enjoyed it just as much as we did. It was hard not to sing along since I also know every word – I was even Grandma Tzeitel in a local production – but I resisted. Wow. What a chance of a lifetime. That is all I can say.
:: Coldplay – Viva La Vida Tour ::
I remember waaaay back to the summer of 2000 (or it may have been 1999) when I heard the song “Yellow” being played over and over on my favorite local radio station. That is when I first fell in love with Coldplay. I didn’t know anyone else who enjoyed the group as much as I did until I met Kristine. For a few years we promised each other we would go to a concert no matter what. We missed two of them – DOH!- but made it to the Viva La Vida Tour and it was a BLAST!
There were large yellow balloon being tossed everywhere during ‘Yellow’, colorful butterflies being blown all around during ‘Lovers in Japan’ and a free CD as we left the venue. I almost passed out three times and had to take a break, and my poor hubby came along with a fever of 102 degrees, but we made it and it was worth it. Every second.
:: Depeche Mode ::
This concert was much better than I thought. The last time DM came to Dallas we missed the opportunity only because we had spent a quite a bit on U2 tickets (and I can’t ever miss a U2 concert). I bought these particular tickets for my sweet husband for his b-day, and we loved it!
The weather was perfect, we had the perfect spot on the lawn and I was even successful at smuggling in some munchies (I used the “I’m pregnant” excuse and it worked!). I do have to say that about half way through the concert I was really wanting some florescent sunglasses, huge bangs and some Jelly shoes I am so happy that the 80’s haven’t died.
:: Rough Riders Game ::
The day before we went to the game (which was only last week) I was told that we had free tickets and that dinner was included. So, I get to the ball park, which is very nice by the way, and we walk over to an exclusive outdoor area where there is a Barbecue buffet. Whoa – very cool. So we eat. Then we start walking to what I thought was to our seats and we go up to a club area right about home base and there is yet another buffet, indoors with a prime veiw of the game. Oh no, it’s not over. There was a dessert buffet. Oh yes, a dessert buffet.
After we stuffed ourselves like turkey we watched the last three innings from our regular seats. There was a nice cool breeze that night which made the rest of the game enjoyable and relaxing.
Stay cyberly tuned for more of our adventures of 2009!
WHEN I KNOW IT’S TIME FOR A HAIR CHOP
Sometimes long hair gets in my way when I sleep; it gets CAUGHT UNDER MY ARMS, it’s in my husband’s face, it it’s in a ponytail or in a tight bun, but then it’s annoying when I lay on the pillow and there is a LARGE BUMP in my way.
When a PONYTAIL becomes my everyday ‘do’ and having it down is annoying then it’s time for the scissors to pay a visit and do some snipping.
Using a flat iron on extremely long hair is time consuming, and I didn’t want my time consumed by my hair.
And when my hair is CURLY I can’t brush through it without ripping out half of it.
Because of the large amount of time I have spent swimming my ends got dry, brittle and turned a different color than my roots. Ew. I hate that.
My husband can’t play with long, tangled hair. Not fun for HIM. Not fun for ME.
I go through this about every two years. I grow my hair out and keep it that way for a couple of years then chop it. This time I said goodbye to 10 inches and it feels so good
Where have I been? Since everyone has been asking, I’ll tell you: making bread while I bake my bun. Three two-loaf batches in 10 days, that is. I even went to a friend’s house and taught her how to make bread and after it was done she said “I love you and I hate you”. I understand. It’s a great skill but then if you are anything like me you’ll eat it all. Really. Fast.
So here is my bread along with a recipe that you can try. Oh, I must not forget to add the Raspberry Jam that everyone has been asking me about, too. Good stuff. Bon appetit!
Traditional White Bread
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 6 cups bread flour
Directions
- In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof for 5-7 minutes, or until yeast is a creamy and foamy.
- Add salt and oil into the yeast.
- Mix in flour one cup at a time until flour in fully incorporated and dough is smooth.
- Place in a well oiled bowl. Cover bowl with a cloth & allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Remove and punch the dough down into the bowl. - Divide the dough in half, shaping one piece at a time into loaves and placing into well oiled 9×5 loaf pans.
- Allow to rise for 40 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
- Remove pans from the oven and brush with butter. Remove from pans and cool on a cooling rack.
Raspberry Butter
(original recipe from AllRecipes.com)
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons raspberry jam/preserves
Directions
Mix all ingredients. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
