Two for One Deal
Today, it was time to do something constructive. It was time to make bread. When, I moved into the house, some ladies from my church gave us a bread maker. They are wonderful, if you don’t want to deal with the mess. But, mine bit the dust. So, I made whole wheat bread from scratch – the old fashioned way.
I don’t know where I found the recipe, but it is sooooooooooo easy. It is only 4 ingredients – five, if you want whole wheat.
1 1/4 cup warm water (not too hot, or it will kill the yeast)
2 tbsp yeast
1/2 cup sugar
3 1/2 cups flour (half white and half wheat, if you want whole wheat bread)
Mix water, sugar and yeast. (If you are not sure if your yeast is good, leave it sit for 5-10 minutes. You should see the mixture kinda bubbling)
A recipe with say three and a half cups of flour. But, I have done it enough times, I don’t even have to measure anymore. Don’t add all of your flour at once. Add about 1/3 at a time. When it is still sticky, but getting hard to stir, it is time for . . .
The Two for One Deal
It is time to get some arm and hand exercise!
Dust your hands with flour, or the dough will really cling to your fingers. Put some flour on top of the dough and dive in – so to speak. Squeeze the dough, turning it and flipping it, kneading every time.
You do not want to put two much flour in your dough, or it will be too heavy. You will know it is ready to raise, when the dough is still stretchy, but not too sticky. Cover it with a dish cloth and let it raise in a warm place for about an hour. (I usually barely turn the oven on, just so it is warm, not toasty. Then, I turn it off, when I put the dough in to raise.
After an hour, knead the dough again. It will probably stick to the sides of the bowl, so you will need to dust it, and your hands with more flour. Don’t worry about getting messy. Anything that sticks to your hands will wash off.
After you have kneaded it again, roll it around in your hands until it is about the size of a small loaf of bread. Plop it in a bread pan and let it raise for another hour.
Make your House Smell GOOD!
Take the dough out of the oven and set it aside. Heat the oven to 350. Put the dough back in, and bake for about 25 minutes. Ovens vary, so I usually check a couple minutes early. When the top is golden brown, take it out of the oven.
To cut the bread, I use an electric knife and a bread slicing guide. Then, it isn’t hard to cut nice pieces, even when it is just out of the oven.
If you don’t want to use an electric knife, you need to get a bread knife with a serrated edge. It will be harder to cut when warm. The slices will still taste good. But, the slices might not maintain their shape.
Two for One
Making homemade bread is a great way to exercise your hands, even if you are living with cerebral palsy, and have something yummy to show for your efforts.
Many bread recipes want you to add milk, honey, oil, etc. I don’t know if I found this recipe because I didn’t have the other ingredients, or because I like recipes with 5 ingredients or less. Either way, it is yummy!
But, don’t worry if your first loaf doesn’t turn out spectacular. If you know me, you KNOW I don’t like to cook. But, I have made this bread often enough that I know when the dough feels right, and I don’t ever cook it quite as long as most recipes say, otherwise the crust is too done.
Also, if you double the recipe, you can split the dough in half and roll it out for yummy cinnamon rolls. I made a loaf of bread and a pan of rolls on Tuesday. Thanks to my growing son, they were gone on Wednesday. Today, I made two loaves of bread. We will see if it lasts beyond tomorrow.
Yesterday, I looked at the counter that checks how many hits my website has in the last 24 hours. I was shocked to discover that it was 600 and counting! Thank you!
Philip Stephens, age 72, a long term resident of Fresno and one of the founders of the independent living program at California State University, Fresno died quietly in his sleep on Sunday morning, September 25,2011. His death at the Hinds Hospice marked the end of a long life of service to the community. While burdened with significant physical disabilities from birth, he managed to live fully and to give generously to programs to benefit students with disabilities and the Fresno community generally. Born in Akron Ohio and raised in Pennsylvania, Phil moved to California in 1962, living in Hanford for 11 years with his family before moving to Fresno in 1973. He received a BA degree from the University of the Pacific in 1975 and a Masters degree in economics from CSUF in 1977. During his student days at CSUF, Phil, along with his long-time friend, Weldon Percy, became the driving force in improving opportunities for disabled students at the university. His work in the Disabled Student Office, for which he declined any compensation, lasted for more than 20 years. Phil was a constant presence for many decades at the CSUF and created a large cadre of friends and coworkers. His infectious smile and his commitment to helping others defined his character and his life. He founded the ‘Percy Prize’ in 2005 as an annual scholarship to honor a successful disabled student at the university. He was also active in the University Presbyterian Church and the St. Paul Newman Center. Phil is survived by his brothers, Michael Stephens of Arlington, Virginia and Melville Stephens of London, England. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul Newman Center, 1572 E. Barstow Ave. in Fresno on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. The family asks that contributions in lieu of flowers be made to the Hinds Hospice, 1616 West Shaw Ave., Fresno, Ca. 93711.
