Monday, December 7, 2009

Random Notes

The Azure order deadline is this Thursday for locals! The group is getting so big that we had to move our drop spot! We are now code number 525629 which is the parking lot of First Family Church's new building on SE Magazine.

I accidentally ordered unrefined coconut oil last month and it tastes like coconut! If you prefer a neutral flavor (like me!), I suggest the refined coconut oil. I'm trying Wilderness Naturals this month because I think it's cheaper.

On the Azure website, check "Specials" then "Produce" for this month's produce. Sometimes, you can find organic produce for cheaper than grocery store non-organic produce.

Irene, grassfedmeat@yahoo.com, has all kinds of meat and eggs that she delivers right to your house! We've been getting delicious eggs for a long time ($3/dozen), and this time, I got some boneless chicken breast too.

I highly recommend viewing "Food, Inc." We ordered it on Netflix, but I'm assuming it's in rental stores too. I'm not saying that I agree with absolutely everything on there, but it's eye-opening and it was fun to show my husband since he will never be interested in reading about this stuff! :)

Friday, December 4, 2009

Basic Bread Recipe

I've made this several times since I last posted it. (I had just switched bread recipes.) I've simplified and adjusted it a little.

1 1/2 cups very hot water
1 cup cold almond milk (can use organic whole cow's milk)
3 eggs (optional)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup honey
1 T sea salt
6 - 7 1/4 cups freshly-milled flour
4 1/2 tsp. instant yeast

Combine water, milk, eggs, oil, honey, and salt. (Temperature should be just right for yeast.) Mix in yeast. Add flour to make a soft dough. Knead by hand or with mixer's dough hook until smooth and elastic (about 8 - 10 minutes). Shape into loaves and let rise until double. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped on top with fingernail. Makes 2 - 3 loaves.

This bread recipe is a little "stickier" than most, and I think it might be because of the eggs but I'm no expert. I like it better though because it stays moist for several days, whereas the recipes I used before dried out so quickly. My KitchenAid mixer has a dough hook, so I don't have to knead it by hand which might be difficult since it's sticky.