Homemade Bread Recipe & Other Happenings

Yesterday was bread baking day.  I have tried many bread recipes over the years but could never find one that satisfied my family's pesky tastes.  Until I found this one.  It's perfect.  I toast it for breakfast - the old fashioned way on the stove instead of a toaster - it tastes so much better that way.  We use it for sandwiches and many times, one person or another will just go cut off a piece and slather it in butter and eat it for a snack.  This is definitely a keeper recipe.  (I'll share it at the end of this post.)

In other news, things are still chugging along towards springtime here in Tennessee.  I'm still working on getting the gardens ready and I'm really enjoying it.  I'm pretty excited because this weekend we're removing two more trees from our backyard.  One of them has been aggravating me since we moved here because it shades an area where I really need full sun.  And it's coming down on Sunday morning!!  Like I said, I'm really excited.  I like shade and will still have a lot of shaded ground for sitting in and to shade the animals, but this one tree in the garden area has needed to go for so long.  The other one we're taking down is dead and leaning.  It's obvious that it's going to fall and when it does, it's going to fall directly on top of my back fence.  We just put that fence in last year and I don't want to see a section of it smooshed.  So down it comes.  With both of them gone, things are really going to shape up back there the way I've wanted them to be for a long time.  It's a good feeling.

I also think I may have found myself a small greenhouse.  From what I can tell in the pictures, it's big enough to walk into and be able to turn around in pretty good.  So it's small, but not one of those greenhouses that aren't more than a covered shelf.  I'm going to look at it this weekend and if I like it, I'll be coming home with it.  I truly need one so I hope this one will be a fit for me. 

I've been going to physical therapy twice a week.  My right shoulder and the main tendons running down both of my arms are injured.  :-(  This really puts a damper on how much I can do at a time.  I was telling my husband today that what I want to do is work harder and longer and get things done faster without having to slow down or stop because of pain or physical limitations.  He basically told me (in a loving, humorous way) that I'm not a spring chick anymore and those days are over, lol.  He said that I've already had my share of those days and didn't even realize it at the time.  Ain't it the truth?!  It drives me nuts to have to stop working when I don't want to stop.  Or work the way I want to only to be left sore and tired long afterwards because of it.  But...oh well.  I shall carry on even if I have to eat the elephant only one bite at a time.

Have a great day everyone and God bless. ~~

Homestead Bread

4 C. bread flour, divided

2 C. all purpose flour

2 pkg. active dry yeast

3 tsp. salt

2 C. water

 1/2 C. unsalted butter

1/4 C. honey

1 large egg, beaten

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and set aside.  Spray 2 bread pans with cooking spray and set aside.

In a separate large bowl, combine 3 C. bread flour, all purpose flour, yeast and salt.  In a small saucepan, combine water, butter and honey.  Heat over medium heat until mixture registers 120* on a thermometer.  Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; add water mixture.  Add egg.  Beat at low speed with dough hooks 2 minutes.  (This is what the recipe says, but I find it's better to just work it with my hands.)  Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.  Turn onto a floured surface and knead 6-8 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic.  Place in prepared bowl, turning to coat.  Cover and let rise 1 hour.

Punch down and divide in half.  Place in pans.  Cover and let rise another hour.  Preheat oven to 325* and bake for 25-30 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes in pans then remove and finish cooling on a wire rack.