Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Bread recipes

Today I hand quilted to keep busy with a little baking in between.  Warm bread for supper which I held to 1 1/2 slices.  It amazes me the tall thin guy  can eat as much as he wants anytime he wants to and the short not thin gal has to keep tabs and limit the intake.. DARN FOR ME.

Well the bread is easy and delicious so why not pass it on ;)

This makes two loaves of white bread:  2 cups of milk scalded, add 1 TBS salt, 2 TBS sugar and 3 TBS of butter, let it cool in large bowl.  In  a small bowl add 2 pkg. dry yeast and 1/4 cup warm water. stir til dissolved.  Add 2 cups of flour to milk mixture and mix by hand.  Add water and yeast and 2 more cups flour, mix together.  Now 1 more cup of flour and turn out on floured board to knead and work in enough flour to make a dough, knead for 5 minutes and place in well greased bowl to raise. It should double in size, (about an hour).  Punch down, let raise 30 minutes. Punch down, shape into 2 loaves, put in bread pans, let it raize till double, bake at 375, it will be done when golden brown and sound hollow when you tap on the top of it.  butter the top while warm.

I also made two loaves of date and nut bread today.  It is so moist and I love putting it in the freezer for emergencies, like when company stops and I want to razzle dazzle them ;)  with something besides my JAMACIAN ME CRAZY COFFEE ! It defrosts so nice in the microwave.  Geez how did I manage without a microwave when the kids were little?  That would have saved time and dishes!

ok, here is the date bread recipe:  2 1/4 cups of boiling water, add 3 tsp. baking soda and 1 1/2 cups of chopped dates, cool for 30 minutes. Add 2 cups sugar, 3 TBS of melted butter, 2 beaten eggs,1 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 4 1/2 cups flour and 1 cup of
walnuts. stir all together, pour into 2 loaf pans and bakefor 60 minutes at 350.

Mr. Roo

For the past two mornings I have done the barn chores bright and early which is way to early for me.  Especially when yesterday it was -9 and today -17 !  I will say it wakes ya up and clears the head ;)  The added bonus, 2 horses and 20 chickens/roosters are so happy to see me.  It takes 30-45 minutes tops.  I don't muck, that would double the chore time.  Besides why take the mucking fun from Dick. lol

Ok I got off track, this is about Mr. Roo.  He has been crowing like a real man while 
I'm getting their food and water ready (they have a heated water dish because they live like kings and queens).  Dick came back from night chores and said Mr. Roo is not acting himself  so he put him in the tack room for the night.  Now I am hoping Mr. Roo is just tired from all his strutting and taking care of the girls all day long.  He has 17 of them to keep an eye or whatever on!  We shall see if he just needed a peaceful, quiet night by himself.

I am amazed at the life I live!