On Sunday night, Manatee and I watched Food Inc. for the second time. Just like last time, this led to both of us having the exact same response as our first viewing.

1- Major mixed feelings for me.  For once, me being happy that we do what do in terms of our food choices. Trust me, this isn’t always easy, but I watch movies like that and feel better about what we are able to do, but sad about how our country feels about food, and angry about how big government controls the food industry. Darn it, it should not be easier and cheaper for people to buy hamburgers through a drive thru instead of fresh produce at the grocery store. It’s not right!

2- Manatee begging me to go vegetarian (again). You’d think I’d be the one, but I’m not. And no, we are not going vegetarian. Been there, done that (several times in my life), not doing it again. We don’t eat a ton of meat, but I like having the option.

So where am I going with this?

I am excited to share this recipe with you, because bread is yet another food that is often packed with chemicals. Prior to Baby G, we just avoided bread. We don’t eat a lot of grains as it is, so it wasn’t hard. But I realized that I wanted to expose her to it, and let’s be honest, babies often like bread and lately, I’m desperate for something for her to like and eat.

So, is this easy?

The short answer is yes. If you have a stand mixer, this is a ridiculously easy, hands off recipe.

But as Manatee reminded me today, it’s not as easy as buying bread. Sorry folks, it’s just not.

So, why do it?

1-No chemicals.

2-There’s nothing better than the smell of baked bread.

3. Baking bread is really cool. Very few ingredients come together to form something totally different from its individual parts.

4- This is one of the best bread recipes I have ever made, both for ease and taste. You should try it!

 

Homemade Sandwich Bread
Adapted for babies: half whole wheat, half bread flour, no-honey whole wheat bread.

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Ingredients
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups bread flour
1 [1/2] tablespoon active yeast
2 cups warm water
2 teaspoon salt
[1/3] cup neutral oil like grapeseed oil
[1/3] cup maple syrup

Instructions
1. Combine 2 cups of flour (1 cup each of whole wheat and bread flour), yeast, and water in a bowl in a stand mixer. Let “sponge” (let sit and foam) for 10 minutes.
2. Grease 2 bread pans thoroughly. Make sure to get it every crack and cranny of that pan! I normally don’t use cooking spray, but for this, I do. Trader Joe’s has a coconut oil cooking spray or use just old fashioned canola oil cooking spray.
3. Add flour, oil, and then maple syrup. Using the beater attachment, stir on low until it forms a ball. Change to dough hook and beat for 4-6 minutes. The dough should clear the sides, if it doesn’t add a few tablespoons of flour. Add it slow, you don’t want too much flour.
4. Place a large piece of wax paper on your counter. Sprinkle flour on the wax paper and make a small pile of flour on the wax paper for your hands. Dust your hands with the flour and then divide the dough in two pieces. Place it on the wax paper to form into a log. Place in one greased pan. Repeat with other section.
5. Let rise in a warm place for approximately an hour, until the dough has risen 1-2 inches above the pan.
6. Preheat the oven for 10 minutes at 350 dg(F). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and let cool on rack.

Notes
Learn from my mistakes: grease your pan.
The wax paper is great for not messing up your counters. If you don’t mind floured counters, by all means, put it directly on the counter.
If you decide to increase the ratio of whole wheat flour to bread flour, increase the water as well. The original recipe was for all whole wheat flour and 2 [1/2] cups of water.
When I let bread rise on the counter, I throw a clean kitchen towel over it.

Adapted from Oregon Cottage Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
Adapted from Oregon Cottage Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
Badger Girl Learns to Cook by Kimberly Aime https://learntocookbadgergirl.com/
Wordpress Recipe Plugin by Recipe Card

A few notes:

bread1 bread2 

 

My bread is never perfect. I don’t know how much you can tell by these pictures, but I had perfectly risen bread, and then it fell. I guess removing the towel from on top of the dough, putting it by the window, taking pictures, moving it again, taking more pictures, and then putting it back is NOT good for rising dough. Oops.

But look at this crumb people…

bread3

It’s so tight and wonderful. This is an amazing bread and it makes the BEST toast. Just ask Baby G. She devours it in the morning. And so do I, but I prefer it untoasted with a healthy smear of hummus.

bread4

Yum……

So, two loaves of bread for a family that doesn’t eat a lot of bread, how do we do it? I divide each loaf into thirds. I wrap each third in plastic wrap and foil, then throw it in the freezer. We have “fresh” bread for 2-3 weeks.

*******

Who else has seen Food Inc? What did you think?

What do you like on your bread?

 

 

 


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