Maxine's Wonderful Whole Wheat Bread

Per themenow's request, here it the recipe for the bread I made yesterday

*Tina's notes: I modified the recipe a bit and I'm going to type it up the way I made it. I didn't think my family would like 100% whole wheat bread so I used about half whole wheat, half white. I also split the recipe in half. Maxine has 10 kids (maybe more, I can't recall the exact number) so this recipe was originally written for 4 loaves. I made two loaves as I only have 2 loaf pans. I think we could have easily eaten 4 loaves. We only have half a loaf left and it hasn't even been 24 hours yet since I made it. This morning Zack asked if I'd make french toast for him with the bread. After he finished eating he said "That was the very best French toast I have ever had in my whole life!" That's they type of thing I love to hear*

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 TBS yeast
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup honey, may use molasses
2 tsp salt
4 cups white flour

Mix yeast, water and 2 cups whole wheat flour together. Let sit 30-60 minutes until double. This is called a sponge. It allows the yeast to get a head start on the bread before all the ingredients are added (very important!!!)

Add butter, honey and salt with remaining flour. Add flour about 1 cup at a time to the dough until dough thickens. When all the flour is added knead about 15-20 minutes (only 5-10 with a bread machine.) If dough is sticky, add small amounts of flour until it is right consistency.

Return dough to oiled bowl. Roll it around bowl so that it gets nice and oiled. Cover with plastic wrap and then a damp towel and let it rise until it has doubled (about 30-60 min.)

Punch down risen dough and knead for a few minutes again. Divide dough into 2 sections and shape to desired size. Place in oiled bread pans and lightly oil top of loaf. Cover again with wax paper of plastic wrap and towel until doubled in size one more time (about 30 min.)

Preheat oven 375. Bake 30-40 min or until loaves sound hollow when tapped. If you are using bread pans, remove from pans immediately so the crust can crispen. Now if you can keep everyone away from this delicious bread for about 10 minutes to let it slightly cool it will slice easier.

(no subject)

Did I mention that we are having another snow day today? I spent almost all day yesterday cleaning, scrubbing and/or organizing along with baking. It was a busy day, but well spent. I find that I don't mind having the kids home so much if the house is orderly. We invited a friend over today so that will keep them happy for a while. I think I might get out the scrapbooking stuff later and perhaps we'll make cookies too. Might as well make the best of this being trapped inside stuff. The snow if falling quite heavily at the moment. Our front yard looks somewhat like a war-zone. Deep holes, walls built up, mysterious lumps and half covered sleds that have been left out. I try to ignore it as there is nothing to be done. I envy my neighbors with no kids and a fenced in yard. Their snow has never been disturbed and it looks beautiful; virgin, freshly fallen snow. Ah well. My back yard looks pretty at least.

In other news, I've been enjoying They Might Be Giants video podcasts all morning. They do a weekly video podcast for kids, along with their normal podcast for adults. I love that TMBG does children's music. I love listening to their kid CD's as much as the boys do, and it's fun to see them enjoying one of my favorite bands so much.

I feel better today than I have in a while. More on an even keel, less flustered. This is a good thing.

changing skies

Today's view from my window, compared with yesterday's:

Today:


Yesterday:


In other news, I've recently learned that China is currently suffering through it's worst winter in over 50 years. People are stranded at train stations, whole cities have just shut down. Imagine in a society where most people walk or ride their bikes and shop for food on a daily basis, how must it be to be trapped in by snow! Even Nanjing, where we lived last year and had not one flake of snow, is buried under. I wonder if they even have snow plows? I hope my friends are ok.