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She Says: Try Making Bread
Hi Bloggies! How’s it going? I’m doing pretty good. I like Wednesdays because usually after work Mark goes to the studio to do more work, but on Wednesday he comes home and we watch Lost. So, I’ve been looking forward to that and eating my wraps. All in all, a good day.
No running yet, but hey, nothing’s perfect.
Anyhow, I keep the wraps in the fridge because I think that’s where they will stay the freshest. I heat them up for about 20 seconds in the micro to get them nice and wrappy. Today I had one with two leftover Chickpea Cutlets, sprouts and cheddar cheese.
Try Making Bread
There is something I love about bread baking. It is not difficult, but completely satisfying. Each stage is enjoyable. It starts with a bit of yeast, liquid and something sweet. I love how it has to rest, covered and warm. I like to do that too. It grows into a round soft ball and when I punch it, it rises again. Once in the oven it becomes bread. It smells and tastes like no other. The result and experience are truly lovely.
If you are intimidated by bread baking, don’t be. Just follow the steps of a recipe and it will work. I encourage you to try. The worst thing that could happen is that it doesn’t work. And if it does work … I think you’ll love it.
Today I made Honey Oatmeal Bread from the Bob’s Red Mill site.
I already tried a little. Well actually, in all honesty, I’ve eaten almost 1/3 of the loaf. I would be embarrassed, but it was so good I am quite confident that any bread lover (Jenn and Bridget) would have done the same.
I tried it with a little Zinke Almond Butter when it was still warm. This is hands down my favorite bread I’ve ever made. It’s a whole wheat bread, but it’s not dense or heavy at all. A little bit of honey gives it a hint of sweetness. I think I’ll make it again before the week is over and I need to bring the Kitchen Aid back to my mom.
I tried very hard to convince Mark to have a Brownie Sundae so I could steal half. He wouldn’t! How rude. Eventually, I just had one of the two remaining Banana Nut Brownies.
Query: I am going to a baby shower this weekend for my cousin. Instead of buying a card, guests were asked to bring a book for the baby. What is your favorite children’s book?
I think Snuggle Puppy is a really sweet book. The kids at the pre-school I worked at used to love it because it’s also a song. I might get that, but I am looking for something even more special.
oh, and by breadmaker i mean actual bread, although he does make more than i do hahahahahahahahaa
There is a book called “Heckedy Peg” that I LOVED when I was a kid. It’s really cute/fun to read to little kids
i like “Make Way for Ducklings,” “Blueberries for Sal,” and “Ferdinand the Bull”
I agree- baking bread is wonderful and I can’t wait to get back to doing it!
LOST was so freaking good last night. Maybe the best episode ever?
My favorite kids books (not a baby book) were Strega Nona and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very bad day (I still think of this book when I have a bad day)
Hmm, if I had a Kitchen Aid mixer I would definitely be baking up a storm, but I think I will have to wait for married life (or more money). Lucky you got to borrow mom’s! Bread does intimidate me, but on the other hand I feel like the way you make it would be way more satisfying than usnig a bread machine. Conundrum! Anyway, the latest loaf looks aaaaaaaaawesome, and I have been seriously admiring your bread as it appears on other blogs!
so im reading a book right now called “bread alone” and that, combined with your latest post, is really encouraging me to make my own bread!!
oh, and as for my fave childhood book – the rainbow fish!! (by Marcus Pfister)
i do the same thing with fresh bread, and that loaf looks delicious!!
I second Blueberries for Sal!
I also loved What Do You Do with a Kangaroo by Mercer Mayer and When Dark Comes Dancing. The latter is a beautifully illustrated anthology of poems and lullabies from around the world about sleep, stars and nighttime. My parents used to read it to me before bed. The former is hilarious and features a very spunky little girl as a heroine.
I love that you love baking bread!! I’m planning on taking a Breads & Rolls class next semester so I may need your expertise and advice
My favorite kids book is “Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus”- it’s kind of random, but hilarious and interactive too. I love all of the Roald Dahl and Shel Silverstein books as well but those might be a little too advanced.
I’ve got an addicting bread recipe too that I can’t stop making, Whole Wheat Beer Bread! It’s deadly. This looks fantastic though, I can understand completely how addicting it is.
Best book: Hungry Hungry Caterpillar.
I’m putting that bread on the list!
Mmmmm homemade bread. Looks awesome!
You can definitely be confident that I would have eaten 1/3 if not more of that delicious-looking loaf
Thanks for easing my fears of bread baking. It really does help to see you continuously making these great loaves!
[...] again. Luckily, my house is v. close, so I just walked home and had two pieces of bread (Left: Honey Oatmeal Bread, Right: Oatmeal Yeast Bread) with a bunch of Almond Butter. Delicious, but this wasn’t really how [...]
[...] the kitchen, like cooking wheat berries, black-eyed peas, and baking bread. This time I tried the Honey Oatmeal Bread that Heather posted. The recipe is from Bob’s Red Mill. I saw “Irish” oatmeal at the store, but not [...]
[...] anyone. The recipe I used last night does not even require a mixer. I’ve tried to encourage you before and here I go again … make your own [...]