She Says: “I forgot the oil” wheat bread.
Because I am mid-day blogging perhaps you guessed that I did not get called to sub today. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. Although I actually want to sit on my butt all day and watch the inauguration.
Anyhow, today at the gym I intended to do my favorite Gwyneth Paltrow arm exercises, but my arms are sooore from my yoga yesterday. I know I am supposed to strength train and yoga “doesn’t count,” but it is the best thing ever for my arms. Instead I ran (4 miles), ellipticized, did some sit ups (I am in dire need of some abdominal exercises if anyone has any) and stretched.
For lunch I enjoyed a lovely sandwich of
- wheat wrap
- ricotta cheese
- hummus (hiding under lettuce)
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- shaved carrots
I’ve been eating it a lot lately and I really like it. I also had with a lot of plain Greek and non-Greek yogurt, mashed banana and flax. Oh, I accidentally bought Golden Flaxseed instead of the brown, which is what I normally get and thought I should mention it tastes almost the same, but more subtle. So, if you’ve been scared to try flax, you might want to start off w/ some Golden.
My Oilless Bread
When I first started blogging in July, Victoria from The Idle Loaf was one of my first blogging buds. She makes the most wonderful bread and even though I’ve made it before, it never quite looks as beautiful as hers. She often makes this beutiful Whole Wheat Flaxseed Bread that I always want to try. In an effort to save money for Budget Month, I finally made it! And knowing that it was made instead of buying bread this week prevents me from eating the whole thing in two days. Gotta make it last.
Now although I am pretty creative and lose when it comes to baking cookies or muffins, I am a strict bread recipe follower. Yeast does crazy things, ya know. But, I had to use turbinado sugar because that’s all I have and … I forgot to add oil! All I had was olive oil anyway, so not sure how that would turn out, but I meant to at least try! Woops.
My loaf is not nearly as photogenic as Victoria’s, but it sure tastes good and is spectacularly cheap! I think hers looks more conventionally bread-like than mine and maybe that’s the missing oil, the fact that I had to eyeball all ingredients requiring a tablespoon or the part where my arms were going to fall off I kneaded anymore. Anyway, like I said, it tastes good and that’s all that matters.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I’m glad it tastes good! I love the nuttyishness (<- probably not a word) flavor of this bread! I’ve never tried the Golden Flax before. I’ll have to check it out sometime. I think your bread looks good, and I’m especially impressed you kneaded it all by hand! I usually do it in the Kitchenaid for a bit, and then by hand.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Yeah, baking bread is one of those things where you really have to be exact, so that is awesome that it still came out tasty! And I think it looks lovely!
January 19th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I really need to start making bread again. I made it a few times a year or so ago and it always turned out well, but then I got lazy. It’d probably be a nice relaxing thing to do at night. Yours looks spectacular
There’s something so comforting to homemade ww bread.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
ooh that is a fab recipe! i will have to try it sometime using my new kitchen aid! thanks for the recipe!!
January 19th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Victoria: I was impressed with myself too! At my mom’s house I used her kitchen aid with the hook attachment, so it was A LOT easier.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Heather, to store my bread, once it has cooled completely, I usually cut the loaf in half, freezing one half of it. Then I just keep the unfrozen half in a ziplock bag on the counter, slicing as needed (That usually lasts about 3 days.), and take the frozen half out to thaw on the counter when we’re almost out of the first half. I hope all that made sense! Basically I freeze what I can’t eat within 3 days and keep it in a airtight plastic bag.
January 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Yum! I bet that bread tastes delicious! I am always oh-so-intimidated by breadmaking because of some previous failures, but I know if I got a breadmaker to do the work for me I’d be eating bread all the dang time and that’s no good either. Looking forward to seeing some of your yummy sandwiches on homemade bread this week!
January 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I think you’re bread looks GREAT! Yeast scares me!
January 19th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Thanks!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I think your bread looks amazing! Who cares if the oil is missing!?
January 19th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I keep saying that I am going to try making bread but I never do. I commend you, it looks great!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
That bread looks awesome!!
As far as abdominal moves are concerned, I would look up Pilates stomach stuff on YouTube. They are really effective!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I think the loaf of bread looks wonderful, but then, my bread never quite comes out picture perfect.
As far as missing oil, it’s not in the recipe for many of my usual dinner breads, and sometimes I leave it out on purpose in others. I’ve used coconut milk in place of milk in a few sandwich bread recipes, and cut the oil out entirely. Just had to use a couple tablespoons extra liquid, to keep it from being too dense/dry. Makes for a really nice, sorta sweet, bread.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I’ve always wanted to try making bread.. especially after reading Micahel Pollans ‘Omnivore’s Dilema’.. how he made the bread and even his own yeast.. I’d love to give it a try some day. Your bread looks yum!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
That is some mighty fine looking bread! How can you go wrong with a loaf of homemade bread though. You totally have me wanting to do up a loaf of my own. Hmmm….maybe one of these weekends I will have the time.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
The only exercise that I do is strength-training (4 times per week with my trainer) and yoga (everyday); so yoga DOES count!!
Lovely bread!!
January 19th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Your bread looks beautiful, and I bet your apartment smelled amazing! Sounds like kneading the bread was another good arm workout.
I swear yoga does amazing things for the arms…especially all those Chaturangas. However, my shoulders do not look cut unless I hit the weights!
I swear by Plank position for abs. Some days that is all I do. I try to hold it for 1-2 minutes twice.
Did you ever find the Flat-Outs? If not, email me your address. We just loaded up at Costco and would be glad to send you a pack.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I am so having a wrap for lunch mmmm…
January 19th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
that bread looks awesome
i do things like that all the time, leaving out one ingredient… oops! looks like it turned out fantastic anyways 
January 19th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Hey love- that wrap looks great. And thanks for the flax tip- I am one of those people who are scared to give flax a try…but I will have to try this Golden you speak of
Why doesn’t yoga count as strength training? I think yoga does wonders for my arms and legs!!
Have a beautiful afternoon
January 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
OMG homemade bread is the BEST!!!
Let me know when you try my challah…it’s not nearly as nutritionally sound as your whole wheat bread, but MAN is it good! (and it makes the best french toast in the world)
January 19th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
That is some impressive bread!! I’m still too chicken to attempt the yeast
Kudos to you, girl!
January 19th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I just bought flax for the first time and tried it today. It’s golden. Do you know if there is much difference nutritionally with the brown?
Your bread still looks yummy even without the oil
January 19th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
The bread definitely still looks good!
January 19th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
That bread looks so good. I feel like yeast breads are a weekend project, though, because they take awhile.
January 19th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
that bread looks beautiful! i will have to try victoria’s recipe.
January 19th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I think your bread looks great! I know people are intimidated to try making bread from scratch but it is so worth the effort!
January 19th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I add flax to my whole wheat bread too and sprinkle some on top as well.
It looks delicious. I have found with my homemade bread, it doesn’t keep as well as store bought…tends to dry…so I slice the whole loaf and freeze it so I can just take out what I need each time and it still retains the freshness
January 19th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Wow! That looks great even though there was no oil
I hope you get called to sub Wednesday!! I bet waiting for the call is so frustrating!
January 19th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Your oil-less bread looks good to me!
January 19th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
hmm i’ve always wondered what the difference between golden and brown flax was. bob’s red mill packages them almost the same so i just go with whichever one is on sale!
your bread looks very tasty- hearty, and slightly dense! perfect.
January 19th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Your bread looks great! And I imagine you didn’t get called to sub today because (at least here) there was no school today! MLK Day!
I kinda wish I could sit on my butt and watch the inauguration tomorrow, but oh well, I’m not complaining about having a job!
Hoping you get called Wednesday! If you’re still having a hard time getting called after a while, maybe go to a couple schools and introduce yourself to the principals. I know my mom (a teacher) has repeatedly told me that they have a list of “good subs” that they know will actually do a good job and they always call them first. So go by, introduce yourself, and show you care and want to be there!
January 19th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Wow, the break looks amazingly delicious! I am a sucker for bread – I love sandwiches and the likes! Delicious!
January 19th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
that oilless bread looks amazing to me! Great work since you had to eyeball the ingredients!!! I can never do that
January 19th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
that bread looks so good! you can bake bread and send me the rejects any day!!
January 19th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
your lunch sounds delicious
and great job on your workout!
January 19th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I think your bread looks great!
January 19th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Your wrap looks great and so does your bread!
January 19th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
The bread looks amazing!!
January 19th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
it looks amazing!!! I like pretty dry and nutty bread so i’m sure I’d love it.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Interesting combo of ricotta and hummus… I would never think of combining the 2 but I love both things so I may have to give it a whirl
That bread looks absolutely delicious!!
January 19th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I’m sorry you didn’t get the sub job
Hope it happens SOON.
Yay homemade bread! I think it looks great. I’ve never made my own bread and am pretty sure the first time I make it will probably be missing a lot more than oil and no one will want to go near it. It seems so hard!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
[...] week I tried to make Victoria’s Whole Wheat Flaxseed Bread, but mine did not look nearly as pretty because I forget to add oil. I really wanted to continue practicing [...]