Baking Bread

My latest project (I am never without one) is learning how to bake bread. I'm not sure how I got on this kick. It's probably because I love fresh bread, and the really good stuff costs a fortune from our local bakery or market. I also finally mastered the art of making a Belgian Fruit Tart that is nearly as good as the ones we used to buy in Brussels. That process took me making probably 20 or so tarts, tweaking the recipe each time, and (while still in Brussels) buying the real deal from our local patisserie and taste testing (they are that good and I could not come back to the U.S. without the ability to recreate such an amazing dessert). I'll have to do a blog post on the tart next time I make one . . .

Back to bread. So I've baked bread now twice. The first time I made basic French baguettes. The second I made Honey Wheat Bread. Each time I was amazed that it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had expected. Using yeast isn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. And they were actually pretty good (though not great, and as I'm a perfectionist I'll continuing trying recipes and learning techniques until I can make a loaf of bread I can't live without).

Here we are making the Honey Wheat Bread.

Whisking the dry ingredients.

Adding the warm, foamy yeast mixture.

The mixed-up dough, just before kneading.

Grayson loves to knead the dough.

The dough after it has risen.

This recipe calls for baking the dough in bread pans. I realized halfway through the process that, um, I only own one bread pan and it was in my freezer with a half a casserole in it. So instead I formed the dough into baguettes and hoped it would work out ok (it did).

I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. But here is the French Baguette I made a few weeks earlier. Yummy!

Here is the Whole Wheat Bread recipe I followed. It was pretty good, though a bit salty for my taste.

Ingredients

Makes 2 loaves.
3 1/2 cups warm water, 100 degrees to 110 degrees
3 tablespoons honey
2 packets active dry yeast
4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
3 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup wheat germ
2 tablespoons salt

Canola oil, for bowls, plastic wrap, and pans

Directions

1. Combine warm water, honey, and yeast in a large liquid-measuring cup. Stir until dissolved. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together 3 1/2 cups of the bread flour, the whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon, gradually drawing in the flour until well combined.
3. Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead in the remaining 1/2 cup bread flour a little at a time until dough is smooth and elastic, 10 to 15 minutes. Place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Transfer to a warm place, and let rise until double its original size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with rack in center. Brush two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with canola oil. Remove the plastic wrap from the dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and punch down. Divide dough into two equal pieces. Flatten one piece of dough into an oval, and roll up lengthwise. Place the roll, seam-side down, into a prepared pan. Repeat process with second piece. Cover with oiled plastic wrap. Place the loaves in a warm place, and let rise again until doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes. Bake until deep golden brown, 50 to 60 minutes (the loaves will sound hollow when tapped on the bottom). Transfer pans to a rack, and let cool 5 minutes. Invert the loaves onto the rack to cool completely.

Sweet Home Alabama

A couple of weeks ago Grayson, Max, and I loaded up the car and drove about three hours to Birminham, Alabama to visit my lifelong friend Randa and her family. Tony was on a business trip to Vancouver, so it was a great way to spend two days while he was gone. We played at their house, blew bubbles outside, colored with chalk on their driveway, and visited a really awesome local playground.

Grayson, Jake, and Maddy Rose.

Randa, Maddy Rose, and Max.

Maddy Rose loved being around a baby

The boys had a great time together.

Max did great on the trip. He took his nap on the drive over and back, and slept great at night!

Gotta love this outfit!

After dinner Larry built us a campfire. It was Grayson's first, and he was delighted.

We roasted marshmallows (I don't think I've done this since about third grade).

And made yummy Smores!

We had such a great time!

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday Grayson and Max awoke to Easter Baskets filled with treats and a little egg hunt around our house.

I had soooooooo much fun making Grayson's and Max's Easter baskets. I found the baskets at a Hallmark store, then added the bows and their names using paint pens.

Max just took it all in. Next year he'll be toddling around looking for eggs.

After church we hosted a pot-luck brunch at our house for the families on our street. We brought our Belgian farmhouse table out onto the lawn and everyone ate and the kids played.

After brunch the kids got to go on another egg hunt. About 100 plastic eggs filled with candy were hidden all around the cul-de-sac and in a few neighbors' lawns.

After naps we strapped the kids into the double stroller for a walk to a nearby park (the weather was beautiful!)

Along the way we stopped to admire the hundreds of spring flowers planted at someone's house.

These hydrangaes are actually on the corner of our street.

Pretty purple flowered ground cover.

We took a few pictures, but the lighting was all messed up and by the time I lightened them on my computer they just looked a little funny. Oh well. There will be next year.

At the park Max played.

And Grayson played.

And Tony played!

(and I did too, but there's no picture)

Grayson was tired of posing for Easter photos. He wanted to play!

Easter Saturday

On the Saturday before Easter we walked to Callenwolde (an historic mansion not far from our home) for a community Easter egg hunt.

They sounded the horn and Grayson was off running.

He picked up a few dozen eggs and only paused this once for a picture.

There were hundreds of eggs and hundreds of kids.

Max took in the egg hunt from his stroller (we think he could become a thumb sucker!).

Look at all my eggs Daddy!

Then we stopped for pictures on the lawn.

Max was more interested in the Easter eggs than in smiling.