Homemade bread

/ Wild Card / By

I have had a number of conversations over the last couple of days that are post worthy. Thoughts, feelings, wrestlings and heart positions of my clients…I want to write about them and hope that they help you all feel supported. However, that takes time. So, I am hoping the first will come out this weekend and we will go from there.

Until then, my flour arrived today from Carolina Ground. Our son will be home from his grandparents house in about 30 minutes and he and I will be putting ingredients into our bread maker. So, I thought I would share with you our bread recipe, as well as the source of the flour. Making this bread is not going to make any of us less aware of all that is swirling around us. However, it is good for your soul and your tummies…unless you need to be gluten free. If that’s the case, I highly suggest chocolate ice cream…unless you need to be dairy free…and then I have run out of options.

May peace and warm homemade bread be with you…

Honey Wheat Bread Recipe ~ 1.5 Pound Loaf

 Machine: Just research online and see what one fits for your budget.  We went with a simple Oster one.  The only reason I wouldn’t recommend it is because the replacement parts have been discontinued.  So, if you need a new paddle or bread container, you don’t have any options. Lesson on that: when you choose one, check and make sure it has replacement parts that can still be purchased. 

Flour: Yes, I am one of those crazy hippy people.  We try to do mostly organic food.  And, bread is SO much better for you if the germ is still in it.  The reason that doesn’t typically happen is that it makes the flour and bread go bad sooner.  So, I found a place in NC that cold mills and cold presses their wheat which allows them to keep the germ in your flour without it going bad so easily.  The company is Carolina Ground (https://carolinaground.com). I use their 85 bread flour (https://carolinaground.com/flourshop/85-bread-flour ) and their All Purpose Flour (https://carolinaground.com/flourshop/high-extraction-85-ap). 

Recipe:

  •  ½ cup warm milk

  •  ½ cup water

  •  1 egg

  • 3 tablespoons honey

  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened

  • 1 and ½ teaspoons salt

  • 2 cups 85 bread flour

  • 1 cup All Purpose flour

  • 2 and ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast

 Ingredient notes:

  • I use organic Raw Honey

  • I use organic eggs and butter

 Preparation notes:

  • I put the milk and water in a Pyrex measuring cup and heat it up for 35 seconds.  

  • The butter needs to be softened but NOT melted.

  • I put the milk and water in the bread container first.  

  • Then, I add the egg and mix it all together with a fork.

  • Then, I add the honey and the butter. (No mixing needed)

  • Then, I put the flour on top.

  • Next, the salt,

  • Last, the dry yeast.  

Baking notes: Your machine will tell you the setting for wheat bread.  Remember that this is a 1.5 pound loaf.  I use the light setting for crust because I don’t like it too hard.  In 3. 5 hours, you have lovely bread.  Put butter and honey on top and enjoy.