Bread Making Day

Saturday, 5:00 AM. 24°

This was bread making day. Our new, favorite bread just makes two loaves so I am making it more, but don't mind. It is easier on my ancient KA mixer that Mom gave to me many years ago.

This time I toasted about a half cup of sesame seeds by just browning on a skillet on top of the stove. That gives them a nice nutty flavor.
All I did different this time was add the sesame seeds to the dough and then glaze the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with the seeds. I still want a more chewy seed inside the bread but sesame was all I had. I don't know if what I have used before was cracked wheat or sunflower seeds, but I like that little chewy bit inside.

This bread turned out super again.

From Food

Funny how I have baked bread for years and just read in my new Joy of Cooking book that you are supposed to turn it out on its side to cool! How did I miss that?
I mentioned this to my Sis and she said she always does that.So now I do too!

From Food

The rest of the day was filled with general housekeeping (not much), bottling up yesterday's milk and reading. Talked with my Sis again.

Sunday, January 10, 2011 4:45 21°.

This was our splurge breakfast morning. I made a new recipe for 4-grain pancakes (Joy of Cooking) and bacon (using griddle on new range).

I am happy to report we loved the pancakes. I always feel guilty making a l00% white flour anything....and feel better if I can use some whole grains. Of course the helpmeet ruins my good efforts by refusing to use the low-calorie syrup.

Four Grain Flapjacks
(about 18 4-inch pancakes)

Whisk together in a large bowl:

1 cup whole wheat four (I used my ww pastry flour that I have had forever)
3/4 cup white flour (I always buy unbleached white flour)
1/3 cup cornmeal (Tip: I keep a pint jar at the ready in the frig. The rest in
the freezer)
1/4 cup old fashioned or quick oats (I whirred regular in the food processor)
(Another tip: I keep a small jar of oats pulverized for thickening things).
2 T sugar
l t salt
1/2 t baking soda (but no buttermilk? It worked fine)
Optional: 1/2 t cinnamon 1/8 t nutmeg)

Combine in separate bowl:

1-3/4 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter (I used the bacon fat from cooking the bacon)
1/4 cup honey (I cut this way back....sounded too sweet to me)
3 eggs

Add to dry ingredients.
They are very filling. 1 and a half was plenty for us

Next time I will try cutting this in half.We will use the rest up within a day or two. I also read in the cookbook that most pancake recipes are better if left for a few hours or overnight in the refrigeration and then stirred down and cooked.

Random Farm Picture:



This was taken when I was crossing the holding pen to milk. I milk just to the left out of camera range. This cat is one of the babies the stray cat blessed us with. There are two more. I believe this puts our total up to 9!

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