A Baking Day

I took today off so that I could focus on baking.  My plan was to try a new way of baking (to me), but it is more of an ancient way of baking (and it's supposedly healthier too!).  I soaked my flour! 

  I had some successes and some failures.  I really have no idea what I am doing yet.  I am the "learn by doing" kind of person.  While I am bummed I wasted a few cups of flour,  it's going to be worth it in the end once I get this figured out.

Last night I started by planning out 6 things I wanted to bake.  Preztles, Bread, muffins, pasties, pigs-in-a blanket dough, and hamburger buns.  I placed the doughs in individual buckets with labels and stuck them in my warm oven overnight.  I made all the doughs either with keifer, buttermilk, or coconut milk and lemon juice.  The acid in these items are supposed to help do the overnight magic of either breaking down the gluten or philets molecules.

   After my normal afternoon routine was completed,  I started with the baking marathon.  Let's just say, if the pretzels had worked out,  I would still be in the kitchen now.  The muffins, bread, and pigs-in-a-blanket worked.  Everything else did not.  I have lots to learn,  but I look forward to trying again, this time with less to bake.

<-- Pigs-in-a-blanket with normal sized hotdogs inside.

To Avovado or Not to Avocado... that is the question...

Not to Avocado
     After starting dinner,  I went to start the side dish for tonight's meal.  Sadly after trying to cut open my avocado (and cutting my finger in the process), I discovered that my avocados were not ripe!  Again, another brain moment.  Where did my brain go!!!   I had to cut oranges and it was hard to keep the boys from eating them,  but they were overjoyed when I told them to dive in after my discovery.

So what now?
   Brains!  I'm kidding, but the picture on the right could almost pass for cooked brains in my option.   I had decided it was time for me to start making my own noodles and tonight was going to mark the night I did that.  I made "Rye Pasta" from the Sunset Pasta Cookbook 'Plain & Fancy Shapes and Savory Sauces' pp.12-13.  This cook book was written in 1980, but I have the 7th printing edition (1990).   Apparently they still are writing stuff.  Anyways,  I found the directions very easy and I did it!  I made noodles!! :D

Sad News'

     The last time I used my machine,  I gunked it up,  so I washed it.  Well, the pasta machine rusted.  I had to roll all the dough by hand (oh and I kneaded it too since I do not have a food processor either).  I hope I burned LOTS of calories doing that!!   Anyways,  thankfully I had an extra spaghetti head, so all was not lost.  I really wanted wider noodles,  oh well!!   Chef Turbo had a blast turning the handle.  In fact, afterwards he found little bits of dough left over and ran them through over and over.

  Any suggestions on what to do with an old rusted pasta machine?  Thanks for reading!  Have a great night/morning!

I forgot to cook, but I made bread today!

So sorry,  I think I made so much bread (and did so much cleaning) that I barley made dinner tonight, but I forgot to make the recipe.  Oh well.  At least I can still show you some food photographs and have some food dialogue!  What do you think??

A Loaf

     Our day started (after breakfast) with cleaning the boys room.  After we were done,  I had Chef Turbo help me make some bread for tomorrows lunch.  My Mother-in-Law told me over the phone the other day to sift with a spoon, my flour into the measuring cup.  This was a great job for Turbo.  It was almost like playing in a sand box.
     I decided to make a Whole Wheat Challah bread for our sandwich bread.  I really love the flavor and texture of Challah bread.  I got this recipe from a book my Sister-in-Law got me for Christmas: The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook.  I have cooked too many bread recipes out of that book,  it's addicting! 

Results
  I switched out the water for milk,  so that left me with a nice, light, fluffy loaf.  The kids just wanted to snack on the whole thing.  It's hard not to eat homemade bread that is made right!




Hamburger Buns

     Because of Miss Beth's bread book,  I one day decided to make hamburger buns.  Ever since then, we have not turned back.  The homemade versions were just as good, or even better than restaurant quality,  and I would say better because I control what ingredients goes into my buns.   My Beloved loves to have pulled pork on these lovely little nuggets!   I bake them, let them cool, then stuff them with the meat and then freeze.   When he had lunch at work,  he pops it in the microwave for an instant lunch!  An home made instant lunch.   
     Today I made mini buns so that the boys could enjoy some hamburgers made more their size.  That is another great reason why to make your own Hamburger buns,  you can make kid sized ones and make it easier for your little ones to enjoy hamburgers with you!

Result
   They were so good!  I love how the egg wash makes them so shiny and welcoming to eat!  These too I had to defend against the kids.  They love to eat these.