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Friday, January 18, 2013

Rise and Shine: The Art of Seed Beading

Rise and Shine: The Art of Seed Beading:
I've been beading since I was little, in fact, I'm still working on the same loom that I received for Christmas when I was about 9.  I star...

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

English Toasting Bread: ExpressBake 80 min. setting

If you love english muffins, 

then you will want to make this bread. 


When toasted, it has a great crunch on the outside. And who doesn't love all those nooks & cranny's that butter and honey can melt into.
 


English Toasting Bread

1. Place all ingredients into bread pan in the order listed.


3/4 c milk (I warm the milk 1 min. in the microwave)
1/2 c boiling water
2 t sugar
1 t salt
3 c all purpose flour
1/4 t baking soda
Make a small well in the top of your flour and add 
2 t instant dry yeast (I have really good luck with Fleischmann's Brand)

2. Set the Bread Machine on the ExpressBake 80 min. setting and press Start. 


Check after 5 min., scrape the sides if needed. Your dough should be smooth, soft pliable ball that is slightly tacky to the touch.

(If it's dry add 1T or less of boiling water at a time and let mix thoroughly.)


Now let the machine do it's magic!

3. After the baking is completed, remove the bread from the bread pan. 



4. Place on a cooling rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.



Friday, January 11, 2013

Bread Machine: Healthy Potato Bread

Easy Healthy Potato Bread

using the ExpressBake 80 min. setting


I am the happy owner of an Oster model 5838 Bread Machine. I have experimented with a lot of recipes, attempting to make a healthy bread using the ExpressBake 80 min. setting. After many, many attempts I have finally mastered a loaf of bread that has great taste and texture.


  1. Place all ingredients into bread pan in the order listed.


 

3/4 c milk (I warm the milk 1 min. in the microwave)
1/2 c boiling water
2 T unsalted butter
1/4 c honey or agave or 2 T sugar or dark brown sugar
1 1/2 t salt
1/3 c instant potatoes (I've experimented with all different brands, and it made no difference...save some money and get the cheap ones)
1/4 c wheat germ
1/4 c milled flax seed
1/4 c steel cut oats or regular oats
1 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
Make a small well in the top of your flour and add 
2 t instant dry yeast (I have really good luck with Fleischmann's Brand)

Optional: add 1/4 c chopped sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
or
Replace one of the flours with Oat Flour. 

HINT: you can easily make your own Oat Flour by taking oats 
and pulverizing them in your food processer. 

2. Set the Bread Machine on the ExpressBake 80 min. setting and press Start. 


Check after 5 min., scrape the sides if needed. Your dough should be smooth, soft pliable ball that is slightly tacky to the touch.

(If it's dry add 1T or less of boiling water at a time and let mix thoroughly.)



Now let the machine do it's magic!

3. After the baking is completed, remove the bread from the bread pan. 

4. Place on a cooling rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.





Sunday, January 6, 2013

Easy Homemade Egg Noodles

Homemade Egg Noodles

This recipe is super easy and so yummy! It took me about 15-20 minutes in prep time and then another 10 minutes to cook the noodles. How easy is that?!

4 eggs (slightly beaten)
2 1/2 cups flour
1 t salt
2 T olive oil

Mix all ingredients together. It should be slightly sticky to the touch, but, not too sticky. Add more flour if needed. Pour half of mixture out onto floured surface. Roll 1/16 inch thick. Be aware that they will plump up 2x their thickness when cooked.




*I use this wonderful device on my rolling pin, Rolling Hills Rolling Pin Rings from Amazon.com. They cost less than $7 (so worth it). The rings are for standard rolling pins and do not work well on French rolling pins.

Cut noodles 1/4 to 1/2 inch width, which ever thickness you want (it's not an exact science). A zyliss pizza wheel works really great for this step. usa.zyliss.com/pizza-wheel


this is half the recipe after cutting

Cook 10 minutes in salted water, chicken stock or the way I did, 
directly in my pot of Turkey Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup
(I cooked in small batches using a straining tool...don't know what else to call it).


Remove and drain.


Ready to add to soup, stroganoff or eat them all by themselves.

DELICIOUS! And so easy...you might never buy noodles again.