Tuesday's Table

We eat homemade foods mostly, and at our table. There is something very simple about eating basic foods together. One of the kids favorite foods is home made bread. Today I made a loaf of Sunflower & Flaxseed Bread which I served with dinner. It was very rustic looking, and very delicious out of the oven. Usually one of my kids will call out the ingredients while I combine things. So usually everyone helps, even though it's "Mom's Bread".

Rustic Sunflower Bread

1 1/3 cups water 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons honey 1 1/2 cups bread flour - instead, double your whole wheat or use white flour 1 1/3 cups whole wheat bread flour 4 teaspoon vital wheat gluten 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon active dry yeast 1/2 cup flax seeds 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Prepare your large bread pan with oil and then flour.

Oven: 400 degrees. Baking Time: 25 - 30 minutes.

Sift flours, salt, vital wheat gluten. Mix water, honey and yeast in separate bowl. After the yeast mixture has started to bubble, begin to mix in the wheat mixture. Add oil to wheat. I like to mix in half first, then add in the other half. You will end up with a fairly sticky dough.

Now add in your flax seed and sunflower seed. You will need to work the dough quickly. After it all is sticking together (you may need to use some extra flour if your dough is sticking to your hands), turn it out to a work surface (non-porous). I like to use my table because it is the right height for me to reach out with my hands and begin to knead the dough. For two or three minutes (or until it feels more soft), knead the dough. I like to grab the dough with both hands and squish it, then fold it over till I have the dough folded into a 1/4 shape. I've folded it four times, then kneaded it again. Place it back into your mixing bowl and place a cotton dish cloth over it. Leave it for 1 hour to rise. Check on the height of your dough from time to time. You want it to double.

Once your dough has doubled, remove it from the bowl and knead it all over again. Don't be afraid to work it fairly hard. I enjoy the way it feels in my hands. My kids actually think it's "squishy". Continue with the kneading and folding for 2 or 3 minutes.

Finally, shape your dough to the length and width of the bread pan, cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Once your dough has at least doubled or tripled, you can put it in a pre-heated oven. I really like my breads cooked longer because I like the chewy crust. But if you want, you can bake your bread for 30 minutes then test. You should be able to tap the top of the loaf and get a hollow sound.

Slice and butter. Our breads rarely last more than the length of dinner! Enjoy!

What else is on my table?

I'm about to move this hat to double points to finish it. I'm planning to put a fluffy tassel on top. This hat will go to a child in need.

My original hand knit cotton wash cloths are getting worn out. I've been working on some new ones.

I'm trying to decide what to do with this Schaefer Yarn. It's beautiful. True confessions: I bought this 2 years ago as a birthday gift to myself. Here it still is! Please help me decide what to do with it. The color is Catherine the Great. Content: 78% Cotton, 22% Rayon. I've been a wool snob for most of my knitting years. Know I'm confused as to how to use it.

Thanks for stopping by to read! Jyotsna