One of my favorite Christmas presents last year was the book Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes A Day. Using that method, I baked bread semi-regularly for the first part of 2010, but I forgot about it somewhere amidst the drama. Now I want to get back in the habit! There’s something very satisfying about baking bread…it makes me feel extra womanly and pioneer-like. :) Plus, the results are delicious and healthy.
I came across this recipe yesterday through a series of links. The original poster wasn’t even sure where she had gotten it, but the “no-fail” in the title caught my attention. I also sort of liked the fact that it didn’t adhere to HBI5MAD regulations, so I could try something new! The bread turned out fantastically. I had two big slices with lots of butter, after dinner, and it was hard not to eat an entire loaf. I’m excited to serve it when I have my family over for vegetable lasagna tonight.
This recipe was too scattery for my taste (it originally had like 18 steps), so I edited to make it clearer and more efficient. :)
No-Fail French Bread
Makes 3 small-medium loaves.
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp shortening
1 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1 cup each boiling and cold water
1/3 cup lukewarm water
1 Tbsp yeast (one packet, if you use packets)
4 ½ – 6 cups flour
1 egg
Directions:
1. Dissolve the yeast into the lukewarm water – stir until mixed.
2. Combine the salt, shortening, and sugar in the bottom of a mixer with a fork.
3. Pour the boiling water into the mixer over the shortening mixture, then add the cold water.
4. Pour the water-yeast mixture into the mixer. Start the mixer on low (use the dough hook attachment) and begin adding flour, one cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the mixer. (For me it took 5 cups – 3 whole-wheat and 2 white.) Mix on high for 8 minutes, then cover and let the dough rise for about 20 minutes. You will probably want to keep an eye on the mixer while it’s running, as mine almost took a dive off the counter a few times.
5. Separate the dough into three parts and place on a large greased jelly roll pan or cookie sheet. Let sit for about 5 minutes – this will make it MUCH easier to shape.
6. Roll the dough out into a large-ish rectangle shape, then fold over twice each way – lengthwise and horizontally. This will create a little rectangular bundle of dough. Turn the loaf so the seam side is down. Repeat these steps with the other 2 parts of dough.
7. Make an egg wash by whisking the egg until frothy.
8. With a knife spritzed with cooking spray, cut three diagonal slits in the top of each loaf. Cover with egg wash, being sure to get it into all of the slits.
9. Place loaves in a warm 170 degree oven and let rise for about 15 minutes.
10. Turn the oven up to 400 degrees, not removing loaves from the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the loaves are golden brown and crusty.
11. Turn the oven down to 350 and rotate the pan. Bake for another 10 minutes. Cool loaves on a cooling rack.
2 Comments + Posted in: baking
(Lily of the valley, Sardis Lake, 2004-ish)
Quote of the week, from Ruth Graham’s book In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart:
You may be stronger than you were, but not yet ready in God’s estimation to receive direction about the next stage of your life. It is not your job to get yourself out of transition. God is the one who ordains the stages in our lives – he will move you when he is ready…Transition is a time to grow in our dependence on God – don’t miss out! Lean on him. Tell him what you feel. Let him slow you down and teach you how to live peacefully where you are. Yes, you will experience times of frustration, impatience, anxiety, and discouragement. Make no mistake – you will want out. You will be tempted to do something to get yourself out. But rather than yield to those emotions – rather than take matters into your own hands and act impulsively without clear direction – learn how to bring your emotions to God. Tell him honestly how you feel. Find the Scriptures that speak to your need and pray those Scriptures as prayers. Stay close to God and wait for him to tell you what to do.
3 Comments + Posted in: faith, quotes
This is for my dad and brother, with whom I have enjoyed mocking David Caruso since CSI:Miami premiered.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAH!!!
(The comments on the video are hilarious too.)
1. I have the last volume of the story of one of the all-time greatest YA heroines in my hands. I don’t know when I’m going to read it because I have no uninterrupted 6-hour block of time in the next few days. Unless I want to skip sleep. Which, let’s face it, I may end up doing.
(Also I discovered like 50 other books that I want to read. In addition to the hundred that were already on my list.)
2. I ordered this! :D More info and an initial review once it comes in…which I’m hoping will happen before Myla’s wedding next weekend.
3. At work I was able to help a client who was in a tight spot. That doesn’t happen often (most of my job consists of laying down the law), so when it does, I really enjoy and get a lift from it!
2 Comments + Posted in: reading, thankful
This weekend, I saw Paramore in their hometown show at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium! My friend Esther drove up from Chattanooga to go with me. It was my first time seeing them live, and I hope not the last!
The auditorium isn’t very big, so there wasn’t a bad seat in the house. Esther and I were perplexed at first by the youthfulness of the crowd (I’ve never thought of Paramore as a teen band even though some of the members ARE teens), but all was explained when they started playing “Decode” (the Twilight song) and the crowd ROARED. They played almost all of my favorite songs*, and I loved it when they brought out a red couch (a la the cover of their debut album) for their acoustic set. As a group, they have amazing energy onstage. The guitarists did flips over each other more than once, and I think Hayley Williams climbed onto every amp on the stage.
The opening acts were New Found Glory (too much noise for me, although I must give them props for being fellow South Florida natives) and Tegan and Sara. I know many T&S fans, but hadn’t been exposed to much of their music. They’re obviously very talented composition-wise. I’m still mulling it over.
* = For a Pessimist I’m Pretty Optimistic, Brick by Boring Brick, Miracle, When It Rains, Emergency, Careful, That’s What You Get, Ignorance, Feeling Sorry