Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Wheat Bread in a Bread Machine

Big Chubb likes to have bread on Sundays with our dinner, so I told him he could make this recipe if he insisted on having bread.

The Bread Machine Digest’s Wheat Bread

Recipe By     :Robert Barnett, The Bread Machine Digest - http://www.breadmachinedigest.com
Serving Size  : 12    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Bread Machine                   Bread Machine Digest Originals
Bread Machine Digest Recipes    Grain Breads
Wheat Breads                    Whole Grain Breads

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
1 1/8           cups  water
1 1/2    tablespoons  butter
1 1/2           cups  bread flour
1 1/2           cups  whole wheat flour
2        tablespoons  sugar
1           teaspoon  salt
1 1/2    tablespoons  dry milk
2 1/2      teaspoons  yeast
Place all ingredients except for the ingredients in the “Add at Beep” area
(if applicable for this recipe) in to your machines fully assembled pan.
Select the “Basic” or “White” cycle and press start.
10 minutes after your machine has started kneading the dough open the lid
and check the consistency of the dough. The dough should be tacky to the
touch like the sticky part of a Post-It Note™. If the bread is too dry add
1 tbsp. of water at a time allowing a minute or two of kneading then check
it again. If needed add another tablespoon of liquid. Repeat this until the
dough reaches the proper consistency. If the dough is too dry apply
the above steps but using flour instead of liquid.
Note: Just because you had to make this adjustment doesn’t mean there is
something wrong with the recipe or your machine. The weather plays an
important part on bread making, and adjustments you make one time may not
be the same adjustments you make next time. This is why it is important to
check the dough consistency.
Once you have checked and if needed adjusted the dough close the lid of
your machine allow the cycle to continue.

Add at Beep Ingredients

If this recipe has an “Add at Beep” section these ingredients need to be
added at your machines add ingredients beep signal (an option on most
bread machines) or during the last 10 minutes of the kneading part of the
cycle. The reason you don’t add them at the beginning is to prevent them
from being broken down in to tiny bits or mashed in to a paste.

The Bread is Done

Once your bread is completed allow it to sit in your machines pan for 10
minutes (no longer or it can get soggy). Then remove it to a wire rack to
cool. The reason for letting it sit for 10 minutes is to soften the crust
making it easier to get out of the pan. Allow the bread to cool at least
20 minutes before cutting it.

Paddle Removal

If you want to prevent the large holes that one gets from the paddle(s)
in your machine simply waiting until the final rise of the cycle has
started, remove the dough from the pan, remove the kneading paddle(s) and
then spray the post(s) with pan spray. Shape the dough and place it bake
in the pan, seam side down and allow the machine to finish. This will give
you a loaf with very small hole(s) in the bottom.

Dough Cycle Preparation:

Any loaf bread recipe can be made on the dough cycle for dinner rolls,
hamburger buns, sub rolls, baguettes and more. Simply follow the
directions above except instead of selecting the basic or white cycle
select the manual or dough cycle. When the machine beeps indicating the
dough is finished remove it to a floured work surface and shape in any
manner you choose. For ideas on shaping bread take a look at “Shaping
Bread Dough” in the Library section of this site. When it comes time to
bake the shaped bread generally you bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for
30 to 40 minutes. The bread can also be checked for doneness by using an
instant read thermometer and checking the interior. The bread is done when
it is 200 degrees Fahrenheit inside (for wet dough’s 210 to 215 is
better). For more information on baking bread in your oven take a look at
“Oven Baking: The How’s and Why’s” in the Library section of this site.

HearthKit Baking:

If you want to make this bread in your HearthKit simply make it on the
manual or dough cycle. When the dough is finished remove it to a lightly
floured surface, shape and then place it in a lightly greased loaf pan
(make sure to use one large enough for a 1-1/2 pound recipe). Cover the
dough and pan with a damp towel and allow it to rise until doubled.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with the HearthKit in place 15
minutes before you plan to bake the bread. Uncover the pan of dough, apply
any crust enhancements you wish to it and then place in the preheated oven
in the middle of the HearthKit. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the
bread is golden brown, you can also check it with an instant read
thermometer the dough is done when it is at 200 degrees Fahrenheit
internally (for wet dough’s 210 to 215 is better). When the bread is done
remove it from the oven, remove the loaf of bread from the pan and place
it on a wire rack to cool. Cool at least 20 minutes before slicing.
You can also do free form loaves. Instead of putting the dough in a load
pan, shape it in to a round and place it on a lightly greased sheet of
parchment paper. After the oven has been preheated slide the dough
parchment and all in to the center of the HearthKit and bake for 30 to 40
minutes or until the bread is golden brown, you can also check it with an
instant read thermometer the dough is done when it is at 200 degrees
Fahrenheit internally (for wet dough’s 210 to 215 is better).
For rolls, etc. follow the directions in the “Dough Cycle Preparation”
section above except bake them on lightly greased parchment paper in the
middle of the preheated HearthKit. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the
bread is golden brown, you can also check it with an instant read
thermometer the dough is done when it is at 200 degrees Fahrenheit
internally (for wet dough’s 210 to 215 is better).

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 141 Calories; 2g Fat (14.4%
calories from fat); 5g Protein; 26g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 5mg
Cholesterol; 198mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0
Non-Fat Milk; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.



If you read through all of that congrats! This bread didn't turn out very good. It only rose about half the amount it probably should have. However, when Big Chubb fed it to the birds and squirrels they didn't seem to mind.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Since Ben is getting things for High Adventure and taking Russell with him, I decided I could use Meghan's nap time to put up some recipes.

I made this for Valentine's Day this year.

Ingredients
For Cake:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
7 eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

For Glaze:
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

For Garnish:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
Confectioner's sugar for dusting


1. For cake: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9 inch springform pan. Line bottom with waxed paper or parchment; grease paper.
2. In a small bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt. Melt chocolate and butter in top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water; stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.
3 In a large bowl, with a mixer on high speed, beat eggs for 2 minutes. Beat in sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in chocolate and flour mixtures. Spoon into prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
4. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 45 minutes. Remove cake from pan; peel off paper. Cool.
5. For Glaze: Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt chocolate with cream over medium heat, stirring until smooth. Set aside for 15 minutes. Pour over cake. Transfer to a serving plate.
6. For garnish: Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler. Spread thinly on a baking sheet. Let stand until chocolate is nearly firm and reaches room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Using a spatula knife, scrape chocolate into loose thick curls. Let harden completely.
7. Using toothpicks to lift, arrange curls on cake. Garnish with raspberries. Place confectioners' sugar in a strainer, tap to top, dusting lightly.

This was a big disappointment. It was expensive (2 pounds of chocolate, cream and raspberries out of season!) and involved way to much effort. And, it didn't turn out anything like the picture. The cake was really dry and crumbly.

Big Chubb ended up soaking it in milk and then eating it. If you feel like spending a bunch of money and trying it go for it.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Cheeseburger Kabobs

So...is everyone else done with the Cupboard Project? If so, I will stop posting.

I didn't have a meal planned for tonight, and I wanted something with meat. I found this one and it fit the bill. I used a pound of ground beef I got free, and happily it was 85% lean instead of the fatty 73% I normally buy. Well, I normally buy ground turkey, but when I happen to buy meat, I go cheap.

Cheeseburger Kabobs

1 pound ground beef
3/4 c grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c fine bread crumbs
2 T French's Prepared Mustard
2 T catsup
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 t French's Onion Salt
Green pepper pieces, onion and cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes

Combine beef, cheese, bread crumbs, mustard, catsup, egg, and onion salt; shape into 1 1/2-inch balls. Alternate meatballs on skewers with green pepper, onion, and cucumber. Brush grill with oil to prevent sticking. (Or place heavy duty foil on grill and pierce with a fork so drippings can drain.) Grill kabobs 3 to 4 minutes each side. Garnish with cherry tomatoes. 6 servings.

The taste really was somewhat like cheeseburgers. All they needed was a pickle and bread to complete the taste. Brian thought they were bland, so he added salt and ketchup. I thought they were salty enough as is. While the taste passed, the presentation was a fail. Most of the meatballs fell apart and came of the skewer. I'm glad I didn't try to grill mine--they would have all fallen through. I broiled them, and while it made them fattier, at least I didn't lose all the meat.

One plus was that O liked the stick idea and had a small bite of the meat on the stick. Seeing as I can't even remember the last time he ate ground beef, I'll call that a win.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Sourdough Flapjacks

Another use of my sourdough starter. My starter is doing quite well, now. I don't understand why you people think it's gross. What do you think cultivated yeast is?

The recipe is typed on a very faded paper, so I had to guess some of the measurements.

Sourdough Flapjacks
1(?) c starter
1c flour
1 egg
2 T cooking oil
1/2 c dry milk
1(?) t salt
1(?) t soda
2 T sugar
1/2-1 c water

1. Mix flour, dry milk, egg, water, starter, cooking oil in mixing bowl.
2. Blend in salt, soda, and sugar. Let mixture bubble and foam for a minute or two, then drop by spoonfuls onto hot griddle.


I liked the taste of the sourdough in the pancakes, but I put in too much soda (after further inspection, I think it might be a 1, but I thought it said 2 when I was mixing), and it made them a little tough and funny tasting. Brian said he prefers our regular pancakes, but I want to give these another chance.