Taking chances

When I first started cooking I was a rule follower, I follwed recipes exactly, like it was my JOB. I even used a recipe for meatloaf measuring out every single ingredient and following the steps like world peace depended upon it. Somewhere during the thousands of meals I have cooked I decided that recipes are more like guidelines, they are great tools but not neccessary for a perfect outcome. And in the end if I have a fail (and yes there have been lots of failures) Pizza Hut is just a phone call away. It took me a long time to allow myself to take a chance and possibly fail, but the freedom has opened new doors to wonderful foods I might have not even attempted to make.

I am still a recipe follower when baking is involved, as I have found there is a very fine line in the success/failure when you are baking. So for several months I have been attempting to find a homemade wheat bread recipe that would become my new go-to recipe for bread and rolls. I wanted something that I could let the bread maker do the heavy lifting and then I could bake into bread or rolls. But each recipe I tried something was missing. I have an amazing white bread recipe and it was proving a very hard act to follow. Finally after MANY internal conversations with myself I just decided to go for it and adapt my country roll recipe.

Honey Wheat Bread

1 cup water, plus
1 tablespoon water (70-80 F)
1 large egg
4 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cups bread flour
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Put all ingredients in your bread maker in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set to the dough cycle. When cycle is complete (mine takes 1 1/2 hours) punch down and take dough out, either pinch into rolls and put on greased pan to rise, or turn out and put into greased bread pan. I went with the bread pan because I was afriad if I took the time to make into rolls and they didn't turn out I would be too invested in them, the more time you spend with your dough the more involved you will get, and I just didn't need that kind of heartbreak if things went south, just sayin'. Cover with towel and sit in a warm place to rise. Hold breath and say a little prayer.

45 minutes later something magical has happened:



Take off the towel and give thanks for small miracles.



Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, when you thump on it it should sound hollow. Take out of oven, turn out onto wire rack, and cover with butter.



Wait until cool to slice, yeah right, who in their right mind is going to do that?

Are you a recipe rule follower or fly by the seat of your pants kinda cook?

Morning Musings

Christmas Shopping

I have decided that this year I am going to attempt to purchase as many presents as possible in town. Of course since those I buy for might check my blog from time to time I can't show you the goods, but don't worry I will try and keep a tally of how I am doing. Last Saturday Alco had 25% off ALL their toys in the store, and I scored big! They really have a great selection right now. Today I just received an email and Alco has a coupon for 20% off anything in the store that is good this weekend, so I am going to go buy another present or two this weekend ;)

Half Marathon Training

I have thought on and off about whether or not I was going to talk about my training here, but have decided to, I find great motivation in reading about others training plans and have decided I would like to share mine. Currently I am starting to work towards a goal of running in the Oz Marathon Half Marathon. This morning we ran just over 3 miles in the very chilly morning, I have never ran with other people before, I was not in track or any other sports as a teen, so I was really worried about what it would be like to run with more than one other person, 'what if I am too slow' or 'what if I need to walk' or 'what if I need to fart' but so far everything has been great, I push myself harder because I am with a group, and we all tend to run around the same pace, unless they are just humoring me!!

Eats

I am currently reading In Defense of Food and it is seriously making me reconsider exactly what I call food. It is a very interesting look into how our food have became more like 'foodlike' substances than actual natural food. And how this actually was allowed to happen. Nothing could have made him point to me more than last night I was delivered some cookie dough I had purchased from a fund raiser and while I was reading the very long list of ingredients that I cannot even pronounce let alone have any idea what they were I notice the cookie dough has a room temperature shelf life of 21 days. How is that even possible? And am I the only one that finds that gross??

Fun

Tonight is the playoffs for the youth football teams, both of Fredonia's teams are hosting their opponents and it should be a fun evening of football and good crisp weather. Best of all, there is no admission charges, so come on out and support the boys, they have had amazing seasons this year and stop by the concession stand and see me!!

I will be back this weekend to show you how to turn your jack-o-latern into pumpkin puree!

Zucchini bread

We have been enjoying more zucchini this year than ever before, and we didn't even plant any in our garden. The farmer's market has had loads. Yesterday I realized I still had a couple in the fridge and needed to use them up, so I decided to try some zucchini bread. I found the recipe at Recipe Zaar my go to online recipe source. I did a couple little adjustment, because that's just how I am, and it was heavenly, just look at that yummy texture.




The recipe makes 2 loaves, which will last about 3 hours around our house, yes seriously, but thankfully I still have more zucchini and am getting ready to throw another batch in the oven. And I have already told Carl we are planting zucchini next year!

Zucchini Bread

2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 cups flour
3 tablespoons vanilla (I know that's a lot, but trust the process)
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce
2 cups grated zucchini
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup nuts (optional)
3 teaspoons cinnamon

Stir all ingredients together, pour into 2 greased loaf pans. And bake at 350 for one hour, or at 325 for 55 minutes, if you are using my oven ;)