Bread!

On any given day if you were to drop by my house you may very well find me covered in flour. I love to bake and my husband loves to eat bread. We make a good pair he and I. One of our favorite breads is Artisan French bread from The Better Homes and Gardens cookbook (a classic cookbook and a MUST for every kitchen). It takes a little more time than most breads - but it is totally worth it. And, you can even bake it in a propane grill should your power go out just you have it in the last rising stage - and it will taste JUST as good as if you did it your oven!
This bread is perfect as is or you can add freshly chopped garlic and snipped basil or sundried tomatoes. It is perfect with pesto and a schmear of goat cheese.
Since I know you are now DYING to make this, here is the recipe!

1 cup warm water
1/4 tsp yeast
1 cup bread flour
1 TB rye flour
3/4 cup warm water
1 cup warm water
3 o 3 1/2 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons of salt
1/2 tsp yeast

1. Combine the 1 cup warm water and the 1/4 tsp of yeast; set aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine 1 cup bread flour and the rye flour.

2. Stir yeast mixture (make sure the yeast has fully dissolved); add 1 TB of the mixture to the flour mixture (discard the rest). Add the 3/4 cup warm water to the flour mixture, stirring until combined. Cover with plastic wrap for 8-24 hours.

3. Add the 1 cup of warm water to the flour mixture and stir until combined. In a large bowl stir together 3 cups of bread flour, the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of yeast (if desired add 2 large cloves of chopped garlic and 2 TB of fresh basil), I also add 2 TB of vital wheat gluten here. Add the water flour mixture to the dry mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

4. Turn dough out onto a well floured surfaced. Knead dough only a couple of strokes (It will be VERY sticky). Cover and let rest 20 minutes.

5. Knead dough for 3-5 minutes more (dough will be wetter and softer than you are used to). If it is too sticky to work with, knead in up to 1/4 cup more flour. Dough should be smooth but still sticky after kneading. Place in an ungreased large bowl - cover with plastic wrap (don't let the plastic wrap touch the dough). Allow to rise for 2-2 1/2 hours or until doubled in size

6. Turn dough out onto a heavily floured surface; divide dough in half (handle the dough gently, trying not to disturb the air bubbles). Using floured hands gently form each half into a small rectangle. Cover each rectangle with a large bowl. Rest for 30 minutes

7. Using floured hands, gently pull each piece of dough into a 12 inch baguette. Place on parchment paper and then place the parchment paper/bread onto a baguette pan. Cover and rise for 30-45 minutes (until doubled).

8. place a pan of hot water in the oven and then preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

9. Bake for 20 minutes until deep, golden brown.

Bon appetit!

Pilot Post

So I have been feeling quite unmotivated to truly get started blogging. My friend, Kim suggested I blog about the Biscotti she inspired to make. However, today as I was working on my bible study (Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden) I was inspired to write on another topic.

What is Truth? This question was asked by Pontius Pilot (John 18:38). Relativism is overwhelmingly prevalent in our society. In fact, a recent Barna poll revealed that as many as 67% of Americans believe that there is NO such thing as absolute truth. People want to believe that it doesn’t matter what they believe as long as it makes them feel good and doesn’t step on anyone else’s toes. They say “look – if you found something that makes you happy, then great – but don’t tell me about it.” The danger of not believing in truth is that it prevents people from even searching for it. The fact of the matter is, we live our lives every day acting on beliefs we hold to be absolutely true! In courts of law lawyers’ present evidence to help judge and jury decide what the truth of the matter is. If someone strikes our parked vehicle we certainly want the police officer to side with truth and declare us innocent.

Truth is what is “really real”. We can believe something all we want – but believing something neither makes it fact or fiction. When I was a small child, I believed that I could see Germany when I looked inside a flashlight. Sadly, I was mistaken. I grew up and I learned that Germany was actually across the ocean. What if I chose to continue to believe that Germany lay at the bottom of that flashlight? People would consider me a fool! Well, Psalm 14:1 says “The Fool says in his own heart – There is no God”.

I often wonder why it is that people will adamantly deny the existence if God, yet expect people and society to work on the premise or Absolute right and wrong. Now, if there is no absolute truth, then there is no basis for deciding what is right and what is wrong. We would each get to decide what was right or wrong for ourselves. That would mean that as long as it is “good for me” – I can rob, murder or steal. Let me tell you – this doesn’t work. Every man for himself means every man BY himself. The fact that we even believe that there is right and wrong doesn’t whisper but SHOUTS that there is a GOD.

I challenge you to seek the truth. Luke 11:9 says “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Furthermore, Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”