A Wonderful Afternoon of Breading

I made 12 loaves of  "Golden '86" whole wheat bread this afternoon.  Since we usually go through 6 loaves in a week, I am planning ahead for the week we will be at the Economics conference and I won't have time to bake.  :P

Then, I made 6 loaves of white bread for my ♥ and ds.  And, because I just can't find it in me to use 100% white flour, I decided to try this.

 

I was very happy because the bread turned out just as delicious as white bread only I know that it is much healthier.  It has the same smell, look and texture as white bread made with unbleached flour which makes for some very happy :) men in our family.  

"Eagle Made All-Purpose Unbleached Flour is now blended with Ultragrain an all-natural whole wheat flour that has the nutrition of whole grain with the clean taste, ultra smooth texture and appearance of white flour.  It replaces regular flour in all recipes."

My old, worn Bosch bread recipe book is crinkled and tattered on the Honey Whole Wheat Bread Recipe page.  For the first time in 15+ years I decided to take a look in the back of the book and discovered a recipe for Classic White Bread tucked between the fresh, new pages.  Being a little discouraged because the recipe called for hi-gluten bread flour and after a little research, I found that this flour had a low gluten count.  By adding some of my Vital Wheat Gluten to the recipe, I was able to remedy the problem.  So, after a little tweaking, here is what I came up with.

Classic White Bread

• 7 C hot water
• 1/2 C oil
• 1/2 C honey
• 12 C hi gluten bread flour (substituted Eagle Mills)
• 1/2 C dry powdered milk
• 2 T salt
• 5 T Saf yeast
• 8-10 C additional flour
• 1/3 C Vital Wheat Gluten (added)
  

In Bosch bowl, add all ingredients with yeast on top, except last amount of flour.  Pulse, until flour is completely moistened.  Turn off and sponge for 15-20 minutes.  Turn machine back on speed 1 while adding the additional flour, until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl.  Take off the splash ring, turn to speed 2 and knead 3-5 minutes.  Grease counter and hands.  Turn out dough.  Slam your dough 7 times on your counter.  Shape into a ball and cut into 6 equal parts.  Slam each piece 7 times again on your counter and shape into a loaf and place in a greased bread pan.  let rise until doubled.   

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. 
  

 

I also read The Prudent Homemaker this morning and used her method of folding to get the high rising effect of the round loaves.  Next time I will use her recipe for french bread with the round loaves because these did not come out as crusty.  

  

 

You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their grain and their wine increased. ~Psalm 4:7

Thinking on the Lord's Good Gifts Today

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.  ~Psalm 34:8

Snuggly bunnies

Down-filled comforters

Everyone home

Snow days

Hot chocolate

Big snowmen

Games

Warm fire

♥

The Greatest Dad in the Bible

 Oh Lord, that you would grant your people your vision.....

The Exodus Mandate

Why French Parents Are Superior

online.wsj.com

While American parents 'discipline' their children, France 'educates' them.  Ahhh, what a difference an outlook makes.  To American's children are a bother; while in France they are an asset.  The French teach their children how to "wait"; Americans instantly gratify them.

"Could it be that teaching children how to delay gratification—as middle-class French parents do—actually makes them calmer and more resilient? Might this partly explain why middle-class American kids, who are in general more used to getting what they want right away, so often fall apart under stress?" 

"To the French couple, it seemed like the American kids were in charge.
'What struck us, and bothered us, was that the parents never said 'no,' " the husband said. The children did "n'importe quoi," his wife added.

After a while, it struck me that most French descriptions of American kids include this phrase "n'importe quoi," meaning "whatever" or "anything they like." It suggests that the American kids don't have firm boundaries, that their parents lack authority, and that anything goes."
Even though we did practice attachment parenting with our children, we still taught them delayed gratification and practiced biblical discipline.  The hardest part of raising kiddos like this, though, was the flack we received from friends and onlookers.  Glad we stuck with it, because of the blessings we enjoy now.