Friday, September 17, 2021

Baking Yeast Bread

I have been baking yeast breads for decades.  For the last 4 or 5 years or so, I drifted away from it.  Not because I lost interest, just Life 101 always seemed to get in the way.  I forgot about how baking homemade bread can drastically improve your mental state and well being.

Let's start at the beginning.  In my early 20's I bought a book on baking bread - still have it and the one, of all my other bread cookbooks, I go to most often.  It is the 1963 version of the Better Homes and Gardens Bread Cookbook.  The first loaf I made was better suited to being a baseball bat than a loaf of bread.  I was devastated.  But I persevered.  With each success, I ventured on to different types of bread.  I have made white bread, whole wheat bread, cinnamon swirl loaf, a phenomenal raisin nut braid that makes two braids that is to die for!

When my twin sons, John and Michael, were in kindergarten, I decided to make the cinnamon swirl loaf for the first time.  It was still warm from the oven when they came home from school that day.  I gave each of them a slice of it and John just kept shoving it into his mouth as if he was afraid someone would take it away from him!  That loaf didn't last long in our house!

Here is my favorite recipe for whole wheat bread.  It makes two wonderful loaves.  Now stop saying you "don't have time" to devote to making bread.  Find the time.  You will be doing yourself a big favor.

1 package active dry yeast and 1/4 cup water

2 1/2 cups hot water

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup shortening

3 cups whole-wheat flour

5 cups all purpose flour


Soften the yeast in 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees)  Combine hot water, sugar, salt, and shortening.  Cool to lukewarm.


Stir in whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all purpose flour.  Beat well.  Stir in softened yeast.  Add enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough.  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead till smooth and satiny.  About 10 to 12 minutes.


Shape dough into a ball.  Place in lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface.  Cover.  Let rise till double - about 1 1/2 hours.  Punch down.  Cut into 2 portions.  Shape each into a smooth ball.  Cover and let rest 10 minutes.


Shape into loaves.  [For the beginner:  With your hands or a rolling pin, shape into a rectangle.  Roll to about 1/2 inch thick and about 8 inches wide.]  Place in two greased  8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch loaf dishes/pans.  Let rise again till double - about 1 1/4 hours.  Bake in preheated oven at 375 for about 45 minutes.  Cover with foil, if necessary, the last 20 minutes.  Makes 2 loaves.


Notes:  (1) This recipe is old, old!  The size given for the loaf pans is kind of dated.  Just use two loaf pans you can find at the store or on Amazon. (2)  I prefer Bob's Red Mill products.  I use their yeast and their flours and have good luck with them.  There are other quality brands out there.  (3)  Over the years, I had good and not quite so good luck with getting dough to rise properly.  I recently bought a proofer.  All it is, is a flat bottom with a wire rack and a cover.  It has a small pan in the bottom that you put water in, plug it in, set the temperature desired and put your dough in to rise - first in a bowl, and for the second rise in two loaf pans.  I highly recommend it.  The company is Brod & Taylor - www.brodandtaylor.com


Now put your laptop down and go gather your items to start baking bread! 


Friday, September 10, 2021

Spinach and Garbanzo Beans

In looking back over my last several posts, one might think I am vegetarian.  Not true!  I have a lot of vegetarian recipes that I enjoy, but make no mistake, I am a life long meat eater!

I like this one for its nutritional value and ease of preparation.  This serves 4 to 6, but I adjust for myself with one or two leftovers.


1 large onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 cups dried chickpeas, soaked overnight

1 pound fresh spinach

1/2 cup minced dill

juice of 2 lemons

salt and freshly ground black pepper


Saute the onion slices in the olive oil over medium-low heat until they are soft but not browned, about 10 to 15 minutes.  Drain the chickpeas and add them to the onions, turning to coat with the oil.  Cover with water and simmer gently until the chickpeas are tender, about 40 minutes.  Add extra boiling water, as needed.


Meanwhile, rinse the spinach well and cut away the stems.  When the chickpeas are tender, add the spinach along with the dill and continue cooking slowly until the spinach is tender, about 10 minutes.  At the end of cooking, add the lemon juice and adjust seasonings.  


I serve this over brown rice.