multi grain bread

This bread rocks! I've been making it for a few years. On occasion i might add some other flours i might have in the hours. Makes some of the best pb&j sandwiches ever. And lunch sandwiches. Its super dense, the only thing it doesn't work well for is french bread. Its too moist.

4 grain Poppyseed & Flaxseed Wheat Bread

Ingredients
1.5 tbsp cornmeal
1 tbsp flaxseed
2 tbsp wheat germ
2 tbsp wheat bran
2 tbsp rolled oats
1 tbsp quinoa flour
1 cup white flour
3/4 cup wheat flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp poppyseed
2 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees)

Directions
1. In a small bowl combine yeast, sugar, and warm water. Let proof (about 10 minutes).
2. In a food processor (or blender) combine all dry ingredients, leaving about 1/4 cup of white flour for kneading. Pulse to combine.
3. Place flour mixture in a medium bowl. Add yeast mixture. Mix until smooth.
4. Turn out on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. (6-8 minutes)
5. Place in a greased bowl, cover with a very lightly damp towel, and let rise to double its size.
6. Punch dough down. Fold over and and transfer to a greased 8inchx4inch loaf pan. Re-shape to match loaf pan.
7. Cover and let rise (15minutes or to double its size).
8. Bake at 350F for 35-40 minutes.
Makes 8 1-inch slices.

Number of Servings: 8

Nothing tastes better then banana bread hidden by chocolate!! My brother always calls this bread brownies. Replacing some of the fat with applesauce really helps the texture and keeps the bread super moist.

Chocolate Multi Grain Banana Bread

Ingredients cup all purpose white flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 2 tbsp rolled oats 2 tbsp wheat bran 1 tbsp yellow cornmeal 1 tbsp flaxseed 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened 2 large eggs 1 cup mashed bananas (1-2 whole bananas) 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4-1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4-1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/4-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4-1/3 cup cocoa powder (dutch processed works best) 1/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 cup skim milk 1 tsp baking powder

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. In a food processor, pulse flaxseed until it becomes meal.
3. Add first five dry ingredients to processor and mix well. Place flour mixture in a medium size bowl.
4. Place applesauce, eggs, bananas, vanilla extract, and milk in processor and blend.
5. Add remaining dry ingredients to the flour mixture, stir to blend.
6. Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.
7. Grease a loaf pan (9 x 5 inch)
8. Spoon in banana bread mixture
9. Bake at 350F for approximately 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
10. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
11. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
Makes approximately 8.5 1-inch slices.

Cinnamon Whole Wheat Bagels

BAGELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cinnamon spiced whole wheat bagels with a lot of protein and moderate carbs. Can add raisins, cranberries, or nuts if you choose. Well worth the time making them and they can be frozen.

Ingredients: 2 cups white flour, all purpose 3 tbsp cornmeal 3 tbsp flaxseed 6 tbsp wheat germ 6 tbsp wheat bran 6 tbsp rolled oats 2 cups whole wheat flour 2 cups warm water (100-110 degrees F) 1 package active dry yeast 3 tbsp white sugar 1 tbsp vegetable oil 3/4 tbsp salt 3 tbsp poppy seeds 1/4 tsp baking powder 7 tbsp cinnamon

Directions
1. Combine sugar, yeast and warm water in a small bowl. Allow to proof (5-10 minutes)
2. In a food processor, blend first 7 ingredients. Add baking powder and salt and shift together, transfer to a large bowl.
3. Add yeast mixture to the flour mixture and mix well.
4. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 10-15 minutes).
5. Roll the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Allow to rise for about 45minutes or until doubled in size.
6. Dough is ready when finger impression stays on the top.
7. Cut the dough into thirds. Rolls each section, and cut each section into fourths.
8. Roll the small sections into balls and then into ropes about 1 inch in thickness. Shape these into circles and press edges together, overlap about one inch. A drop of water can be used to seal the two edges together if needed.
9. Place the bagels on lightly oiled baking sheets and allow to rise for an additional 20 minutes.
10. While the bagels rise a second time, boil water in a quart saucepan with 1 tbsp of sugar.
11. Drop bagels into the boiling water for 1 minute on each side. Drain and place back on the baking sheet.
12. Bake for 15-20 minutes in a 400F degree oven.
Makes 12 bagels

tortillas

So its been a while since my last post, you can thank graduate school. Have you ever noticed how much time school absorbs?? Well, I'm back until school drags me away again. Lets hope not...

So here is my latest creation that I didn't take a photo of b/c i'm not sure where my camera is........

Homemade Tortillas

1/4 whole wheat flour
1/4 qunioa flour (or more whole wheat if you dont have qunioa or it isn't available...check health food stores)
1/2 cup cornmeal (you can also use corn flour, commonly called: masa harina - which you can find in blue which is great if you want to make these colored naturally)
1 tsp salt
1/2 - 1 cup warm water (use a little at a time)

Whisk the dry ingredients until they are thoroughly mixed. Add a little warm water at time until a dough forms. Knead the dough lightly until it forms a unsticky ball. Cover the dough and heat a nonstick pan or preferably a cast iorn skillet to medium heat.
Keep dough covered working with a small section (about a golf ball size) at a time. Sprinkle a clean/dry surface with a little bit of cornmeal or corn flour and a rolling pin. Roll out the dough til its about 1/8" thick. Carefully transfer the tortilla to the preheated skillet and let it cook till bubbles start to form (depending on pan 3-6 minutes) carefully turn the tortilla over and cook again. Press a spatula on the tortilla to flaten out the bubbles. Cook again for 3-6 minutes. Then remove and allow to cool. While each tortilla cooks, continue to roll out additional tortillas and alternate cooking and rolling.

Makes about 12 8inch tortillas.

to make torilla chips, cut the tortilla into 4 wedges sprinkle with salt and lightly drizzle olive oil on them. Cook in a 350F oven for about 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

Burgers

Burgers are probably one of my most favorite main dishes EVER. I plan on making my feta cheese burgers for labor day this weekend. Hopefully I'll remember to snap a picture.....

Stuffed Feta Burgers
1 lb ground beef, (best with 80/20)
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbed (or fresh goat's cheese)
Grilled or fried onion rings (sweet onions work best)
ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, etc
Hamburger buns

Sprinkle the salt & pepper and the worcestershire sauce over the ground beef. Form the ground beef into roughly 3 ounce patties. An ice cream scoop works well for this. Flatten the patties and in half the patties make an indentation in the middle. Equally divide the cheese among half the patties. Use the other half of patties to cover and seal the edges with your fingers. Refridgerate for 15 minutes. Grill untill desired doneness.

Makes 4.

If you prefer veggie burgers, here is a recipe for a bean burger that can be used with the above recipe:

1 cup dried Anasazi beans
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more as needed
1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup carrots, diced
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg or egg substitute (a real egg works best for this)

What to do with a bunch of fresh cherry tomatos....

3 cheese w/ Roasted tomatoes deep dish pizza

1/4 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, sliced or shredded
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 cup tomato sauce
3 fresh sweet basil leaves, roughly chopped
Roasted Tomatoes (see below)
Prepared Pizza Dough (see below)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the prepared pizza dough in a cast iron pan (or pie pan w/ 1-2" depth). Spread the dough to all sides and allow to rest in a warm place for 15 minutes, the dough will rise slightly. Lightly punch the middle of the dough. Spread the middle with the tomato sauce and layer with the roasted tomatoes and cheeses. Top with the sweet basil. Place
pan in the oven and cook until sides are golden brown, approx. 15 minutes.

Roasted Tomatoes

Cherry or Roma Tomatoes
Olive Oil
Whole garlic cloves, unpeeled
Thyme, Oregano, Basil, etc spices
Salt & Pepper

Half the tomatoes and arrange on a cooking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Use 3+ garlic cloves (to taste) and arrange throughout the cookie sheet. Drizzle the olive oil all over the tomatoes and garlic. Sprinkle the tomatoes with the spices, and salt & pepper to taste. Place in an oven and roast for 2-3 hours at 225F. Tomatoes should be shriveled and leathery but not blackened.

Basic Pizza Dough
1/4 ounce (2 1/4 tsp) active yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 tbsp honey
3-3 1/2 cups flour (i use a multi grain mix)

Let the yeast, water, and honey proof for 10 minutes. Mix into the flours. Knead until elastic. Cover with a damp towel and place in a non drafty area. Allow to double in size. Use as thin crust or deep dish pizza crust.

not so boring boiled potatoes

I made this attempting to use as many ingredients in my kitchen as I had without having to run to the store. So this is kinda a hodge-podge and super easy.

Not so Boring Boiled Potatoes
16 ounces Beef Broth, or French Onion Soup
2-3 medium sized russet potatoes, cubed
2 medium sized yellow onion, quartered - skip if using french onion soup
2 garlic cloves, whole
1 medium carrot, sliced thickly

Pour the beef broth into a large stock pot and add all ingredients. Boil the potatoes until fork tender. Add more broth if needed to cover all ingriedents.