Woke up to a morning that was cool with pockets of sun but no rain (finally), I loaded up the two youngest in their BOB Duallie stroller after breakfast and we set off for town. As I have mentioned before there is no straight path to “town”, due to the major 3 roads having few sidewalks. Once I make it out of our development, which is all private roads but safe, I am already in for ½ mile. Over the years I have found a couple of back ways to get to the grocery stores, where I only have a few yards of sketchy road walking. The downside is it takes me 5½ miles round a trip to do this. I live in city limits! If I could walk the highway, that is one of the main roads, it would be under 3 miles round trip. Oh well, more exercise I suppose. We had a good time though, it was mild temperatures, breezy and the walking went fast. We picked up a sandwich and had lunch at a pocket park on the way back.
Now that the weather is getting nice I am hoping to wean myself off the car for as much as I can. The biggest issue I have faced is finding a route to the post office and library that avoids the dreaded 3rd main road (speed limit 35, people drive it like it is an expressway).
A certain toddler at the library yesterday – his highlight was watching a prisoner transfer between the local cops and the sheriff’s office in the parking lot. He thought it was hilarious…..
I think I have found a back route. The mileage will be bad and it has a very steep hill in the center that I will have to walk both ways, plus when I come back home I have a big hill to get to our house. But why am I crabbing? I NEED to do this. Good training for summer hiking!! Anyways…. time is something I have. The kids love the stroller. And we get outside. Just shows how pedestrian unfriendly my town is 🙁
But on to better things!
With us now firmly making bread every day (and by “we” that means me and them eating!) I am trying to keep things interesting by trying new variations daily. So what have we had the past two days?
Tuesday –
Golden Raisin Bread
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup warm water
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, used sunflower
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1¼ cups organic all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
- 1¼ tsp dry active yeast
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
Directions:
Add the ingredients in order listed or as your bread machine calls for, reserving the raisins. Set for a 1 lb whole wheat loaf, medium crust. In the last few minutes of the second knead cycle add the raisins and let them knead in.
Once baked remove promptly, knock out and cool on a wire rack.
Makes a 1 pound loaf.
Wednesday –
Country Crust White Bread
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup warm water
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, used olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1½ Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp dry milk
- 2 cups organic all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp dry active yeast
Directions:
Add the ingredients in order listed or as bread machine calls for. Set for a 1 lb white loaf, medium crust. Once baked remove promptly and knock out, cool on a wire rack.
Makes a 1 pound loaf.
And my anniversary present is slated to show up today! Lets just say it could make bread making even more fun! More to come soon!
Is there a big difference between salts…table salt, sea salt, kosher salt? I see different recipes that call for different kinds. 🙂
It isn’t a huge issue, I prefer sea salt for some things, kosher for others. I don’t use table salt, I use a really fine sea salt in the shaker – better flavor I think 😀 Kosher though works great when you need a bright sprinkle on a bread or dish at the end and is great for baking – and it is very affordable! But you can really use whatever you have on hand.
thanks 🙂
Your 2 home-made breads look just wonderful! There is nothing better & tastier then home-made products & foods!:) I must make them! 🙂 MMMMM,..!