Saturday, February 6, 2010

CRAZY Good Bread & A Few Other Things

Mr. Sweet  Life and I have gone nuts over bread baking!  Today I made one that is at the top of my list of favorites now.    It it too good not to share.
Honey Banana Whole Wheat Bread (recipe is for a 1 1/2 pound loaf)
1/2 cup warm water
1 T butter
3 T honey
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup bread flour
1 banana, sliced
1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
For my machine, this was made on the wheat setting.  Put the ingredients into the pot in the order given.   This is a sweet, but not too sweet bread, with the nuttiness of whole wheat, and the subtle flavors of banana  and honey.  The poppy seeds give it a whole new layer of flavor.  Try it slathered with peanut butter!!  Wow!  We took it over to share with our granddaughters tonight while we babysat, and they too loved it!
 
  
  
Try this, you will not be sorry!!!
Yesterday I made my sourdough starter.  Mine was the standard one, with flour, water and yeast.  Greg made one too, but being a science man, he was curious about the one that does not use yeast.  It is supposed to get the yeast from the air.  Hmmmm?  I vote for mine.  It is already doubled and bubbly and smelling sour and pungent. 


You are supposed to keep it in a draft free area, about 85 degrees, for 3-4 days, covered in cheesecloth, and then stir and place in lidded glass jar and keep in fridge.  It needs to be fed weekly.  I am keeping mine in my lower oven.


Greg made his starter, and put it on top of the fridge.  He needs to feed it tonight.  I asked him if he wanted me to do it, and without missing a beat, he said "NO!"
 
Notice he even has on his San Francisco shirt to make his San Francisco Sour Dough Starter!


Just a few of the things we were "kneading" to make more bread.


Just about every kind of flour you can imagine.  Including, an ancient grain called Spelt Flour.  That one has my interest piqued.


Tomorrow-Dark Rye with black strap molasses and caraway seeds!!
And completely off subject, here are a couple photos from our son Drew's 21st birthday the other night.  I set the table in black and red, with card hands of "21" for decoration.


  
And lastly , my new rain boots.  I am getting to use them this week!!!!


  
That's it from me, on a wet and rainy Saturday.  Tomorrow....Football!!!!
Go Saints!

12 comments:

Jamie said...

Check you out in your Valentine boots! You are so cute!! Ooh, that banana honey bread sounds yummy! I am so gonna try it- thanks for sharing!

Debbie said...

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying these bread posts. I am feeling like I am looking in the window watching you turn out these wonder loaves of bread...Yummmmm...Drew's table was good, and the cards with 21 was quite creative, I loved the idea. Your boots are really cute. OK, guess that's it. Have a good day and enjoy the Super Bowl.

Genn said...

I haven't tried the bread yet, but Claire is chowing down on it right now for breakfast!

Your rain boots are so cute.

Katie said...

Now I'm really going to have to buy myself a bread machine! Or do I really have to have one in order to make bread??? Can I just bake it in a bread loaf pan in my oven? These recipes of yours have me really wanting to make my own too! Spelt is AWESOME, gluten & wheat free! We have a specialty store here that sales it fresh from the bakery at $8.99 a loaf! Eekkss, but it's so much better than what they sale on the shelf.
Love the table setting for Drew's b-day, clever idea!

Katie said...

Or rather, Spelt is just wheat free!!!

Tawny said...

What an adorable table and decor for Drew's birthday! I love it!
Love the rain boots too...I'm really getting antsy about some and want as pair!!!

Amy said...

I love the rainboots. Those are too cute! The bread sounds so good...maybe I will have to try making bread soon!

Anonymous said...

Oh that bread is making me hungry and yay for you actually using your wellies. Everyone seems to buy them and never get them good and dirty

p.s. that table looks wonderful!

Kelly said...

love the new rainboots! you and your cute boots lately... very jealous! and all this yummy bread, very jealous!

and about yesterday. saints? no! why? we were VERY disappointed.

Pam said...

You are making me want to try baking bread - yeast scares me.

I love your rainboots!

Maryrose said...

I love this post but there is so much to talk about. First of all, how was the bread? Loved the boots, you can wear those up to rock creek too....or maybe not. Loved Drew's table. Sean didn't have a traditional celebration so no table over here. Loved the red and black with the playing cards...so clever. I read Genn's comment on my blog and I am also thinking bread is "BAD" Even just that taste out of the machine is a dangerous thing...but ever so much fun. I guess like everything else..moderation and gifting. Talk to you soon. What are you baking today? Potato over here I think.

Kristi said...

Wow, I hope my Mom jots down that recipe! Sounds amazing! I'm loving your bread posts, and I think it's hilarious that Greg is so into it too. It sounds like you are having a ball together. Love his shirt too, he is so funny! Has he done any sniffing at you? I can see him sniffing right now. Happy Monday!