[Sorta] Easy Bread

So. Today I woke up with a craaaaving for homemade wheat bread. Why I couldn't have just been satisfied with store-bought bread, Eggos, or Poptarts, I don't know. However, great stuff came as a result.

I had never made bread before because my mother has always made bread-making out to be a horrific nightmare, so I went into this experience hesitantly. I think I found a winner, though! I hope you think the same. Be excited.


Ingredients (only four!):

1.5 cups warm water

4 cups whole wheat flour (you can also use bread flour)

2 teaspoons yeast

2 teaspoons salt

Directions:

1. Place flour in a bowl

2. Put yeast on one side of the bowl and salt on the other

3. Pour warm water in the middle

4. Mix on low till dough comes together



5. Switch to medium and mix for 2 minutes

6. Let dough rest for 5 minutes

7. Mix dough again for 3 minutes

8. Take dough out of bowl and hand knead the dough for 3 minutes

9. Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning the ball over to coat entirely

10. Cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel

11. Let rest for 1 1/2 hours

12. Remove from bowl; the dough will have doubled in size

13. Punch down the dough, reform the ball, and put back in bowl

14. Let rest again for 30 minutes

15. Remove from bowl and cut dough into 2 pieces

16. Form these pieces back into balls

17. Let rest, covered with a damp cloth for 1 hour

18. When dough is ready, preheat oven to 450 degrees

19. Slash the tops of the dough balls to allow breads to expand while baking

20. Bake for 20-25 minutes

21. Top with butter or a tasty spread

22. Share!



I hope you all try this one out. I don't foresee you being disappointed, just remember to allow for adequate time. Patience is key.

Happy Thursday!

XO.

Brown Butter Banana Strawberry Bread

Hello all! And Happy Tuesday to you.

As promised, I’m here to share one of the best sweet bread recipes I have ever made! This sweet bread is otherwise known as Brown Butter Banana Strawberry Bread, inspiration found here. This is the perfect treat to compliment late night hangouts with friends, a work potluck, or a relaxing morning with tea. This bread is stellar. I can’t say it enough. Hope you love it!

Ingredients:

½ cup browned butter

2 cups flour

¾ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon cinnamon

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (try to avoid
getting imitation vanilla; it’s just not the same)

¼ cup plain yogurt (I used greek yogurt because it’s what I had in my fridge)

1 ¼ cup mashed bananas

½ cup diced strawberries

1 strawberry super thinly sliced for the top of the bread


Directions:

1.      Heat oven to 350 degrees

         

2.      In a skillet, melt and brown butter. You will know it is done browning when it has melted completely, stopped crackling and popping, and starts to smell nutty.

3.      Grease and flour a loaf pan

4.      In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together

5.      If the butter is done, remove from heat and allow to cool in a little bowl

6.      In another bowl, whisk eggs, vanilla extract, and yogurt together

7.      Gradually whisk the smashed bananas into the wet ingredient bowl

8.      Then, if the browned butter has cooled, gradually whisk it into the wet ingredient bowl

9.      Add the wet ingredient bowl to the dry ingredient bowl, folding together

10.  Fold in the diced strawberries (do not over stir!)

11.  Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan

12.  Top with thinly sliced starberries for decoration

13.  Bake for about an hour, but monitor towards the end to ensure you don’t overbake

14.  Remove from oven when skewer comes out clean and allow to rest for 15 minutes

15.  Slice, love, and share with friends and family!

Take a deep breath and savor the blessings of today, friends.

Until next time,

XO.

Wish List

There are a handful of splendid things that I don’t have but make my lifelong mission to own someday. These include, but are not limited to:

1. An adorable, teeny bundle of cuddliness to chase butterflies and take naps with.

2. Children! My, oh my. And hopefully a husband to go along with them. Mom, I’m kidding.

3. This beautiful picture. Oh Anthropologie, you tease me.

4. An extremely expensive Nikon camera, complete with too many settings and lenses to count

5. A loaf pan

 

Surprised that this is on my wish list? Don’t be. Close to everyone in their right mind has one, except for me [poor Kristin]. Consequently, I’m using Lauren’s pan to bring you the details of a tasty, sweet bread...tomorrow. Lauren and I have wonderful times together. We like to eat TV dinners, watch movies, and chat. Thanks a million for sharing, Lauren!

Bloggers, be in suspense for tomorrow’s yummy post.

Hope you had a happy start to the week!

XO.