Friday, May 28, 2010

So you want to DIY do you?

Okay, enough boasting about all of my self-made breads/treats/snacks.  I promised that I would share some recipes so here it goes:

Granola Recipe


3 cups Rolled Oats (not quick oats)
3/4 cup Almonds (slivered or whole)
1 cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 Tbs Wheat Germ
1/2 Tbs Cinnamon
2 Tbs Olive Oil

STIR...

Then add 1/2 cup or Pure Maple Syrup and 1 cup of dried fruit (your choice, I use cranberries and apricots typically)

Spread it all onto a baking sheet and bake @ 325 for 30-45 minutes. Stir 2-3 times while it is cooking.

Voila! Store in a jar or air tight container.


Cracker Recipe:

1 cup Rolled Oats
1 cup Flour
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 cup Butter
1/2 cup Sour Cream or Yogurt

Combing dry ingredients.  Add butter and sour cream (or yogurt) to the dry ingredients.  Roll as thinly as possible on a lightly floured surface.  Cut into squares (or rectangles, triangles, your choice).  Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet and pierce with a fork in several places.  Bake in 350 oven for 10-12 minutes.

You can freeze these or store them in an air-tight container.
(No picture of these because they get eaten before I ever get a chance - seriously!)

Easy "Artisan" Bread

Do you enjoy fresh bread (who doesn't)?  Would you like to have the ability to bake up a small loaf to enjoy each night at dinner?  Well, now you can, and here's how:

In a large bowl, combine 6 cups of flour (6 and 1/2 of you are using US flour)... long story, but just trust me, with 1 1/2 Tbs. of instant yeast and 1 1/2 Tbs of salt.  Add 3 cups of water that is at 100 F (try to get the temperature as close as possible to this number).

Then, simply mix it all up in the bowl and cover with saran wrap for 2 hours - leave it in a non-drafty area of your house. 

After 2 hours has passed, you have two choices: 1) Make bread now or 2) Make bread later.

If you decide to save the dough and make it later, you can store it in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 9 days.  When you are ready to make a loaf (or two or three or four), simply take out the dough, and divide it into however many loaves you want to make.  This recipe will make 4 small round loaves - with one loaf being the ideal size to serve with a dinner for four.  I usually make two loaves at a time on a cookie sheet and put the rest in the fridge.  To make the loaves, simply form 1/4 of the dough into a round loaf, and, using a small amount of flour - work it in just until it is no longer sticky.  Let the loaf rest on a greased baking tray, covered with a tea towel for 40 minutes prior to baking.  Meanwhile, heat the oven to 425 degrees.  After 40 minutes has passed, slice the top of each loaf with a serrated knife (about 1/2 inch depth) and spray with water.  Put the bread in the oven for 10 minutes, spraying the loaves 2-3 more times with the water.  After 10 minutes, turn the oven down to 375 and allow the bread to cook for 15-20 minutes more - it will depend on your oven. 

Serve warm from the oven or save it for toast in the morning.  Oh, and the dough in the fridge actually gets better with age, just remember to cook it within the 9-day time frame.

Happy baking and just let me know if you have any questions!

Marebare xoxo

7 comments:

  1. I was just thinking this morning that I should learn to make granola because it's getting awfully hot here for oatmeal. I'll have to give it a try! I wonder if it would work in the solar oven, I just hate to turn the real thing on when it's over 90 degrees outside. I see an experiment in my future...

    The crackers look fabulous too!

    Do you know of any bread recipes that don't use yeast? Have you ever tried sourdough? I have an allergy to baker's yeast, so I can't eat regular bread. Usually, I make corn bread, zucchini bread and tortillas, but I really miss real bread. Somehow I have fear of sourdough though... the idea of just letting the stuff sit out on the counter makes me a little bit nervous... Any thoughts?

    xoxoxo
    Rebecca

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  2. Lovin's the solar oven... I have downloaded directions to build one onto my computer but I haven't gotten there yet - any tips?

    As for the bread yeast thing - can you have beer? I have some great recipes that call for beer instead of yeast.

    As for the sourdough, it is one of my faves, and it only sits on the counter for one day before it goes into the fridge. I have had the same one going for about 4 months now... and so far, no illness' have befallen us! I did use yeast to get the thing going though, so I wouldn't be of much use there...

    Let me know about the beer thing and I can get you some recipes if you are interested.

    xoxoxo Maren

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  3. Hey Maren,

    OK... I've been contemplating a solar oven post for a while so here it is: http://www.greeniacdigest.com/lovin-my-solar-oven/2010/05/29/

    Let me know if you've got any questions... I totally LOVE mine!

    In terms of bread... I can't drink beer because it gives me headaches, but there's probably not enough of it in a bread recipe to give me problems. Sounds like an adventure I'd be up for. I'd love to see the recipes!

    xoxoxo
    Rebecca

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  4. OMG... I just made both the crackers and the granola and I now understand why you never get a chance to take pictures of the crackers. Those are AMAZING! Who knew you could make your own crackers? I fear I've just scarfed down half a dozen or so and it's taking enormous personal restraint not to make myself ill by horking the rest of them!

    The granola looks and smells incredible too. I can't wait for tomorrow morning to try it out... or maybe midnight snack?

    Thanks so much for sharing these recipes... absolute YUM!

    xoxoxo
    Rebecca

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  5. Hi and wow. I found you through a link on the Clean Bin Project Blog. I work for a regional authority, Metro Vancouver, that's trying to get people to reduce the trash they create because there are no perfect options for dealing with garbage. It looks like you are close if not in our neck of the woods.

    I'd love it if you checked out our latest campaign http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/solidwaste/zerowaste/Pages/WatchYourWaste.aspx

    A big push-back you probably hear as well is "I'm a busy parent, I don't have time.." Bogus! Would you be willing to post some waste reduction tips on our Blog? http://www.metrovancouver.org/Pages/default.aspx

    I'm going to try the artisan bread recipe. Yum.

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  6. What type of flour do you use? Does it make a difference if you use whole wheat flour?

    I have an amazing granola bar recipe that I found (this is a staple in our house, and so expensive to buy them!) Try them if you get a chance!
    2 cups oats
    3/4 cup wheat germ
    3/4 cup sunflower seeds
    1 cup peanuts, crushed
    Combine and toast in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1/2 cup honey
    4 tbsp butter
    2 tsp vanilla
    Combine in saucepan, and bring to simmer, stirring constantly.
    Line an 11x13 baking dish with parchment.
    Mix dry and wet in large bowl REALLY well. Spread mixture into baking dish and use parchment to firmly press mixture until compacted.
    Let cool completely and cut into bars.
    (This makes 24 bars for me, I keep them in the fridge and they travel really well. I wrap them in reusable snack-size ziplocs.)

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  7. Peter! So flattered and excited about the opportunity to share on your blog. We have been flat out the past couple of weeks/weekends, but things should slow down sometime this week and I'll be sure to get something to you soon! Thanks for stopping by and all the best!

    Amy,
    Thanks so much for the granola bar recipe, I am going to try to get to that this week before we head out camping this weekend. As for the bread, you can sub 3 cups of Whole Wheat flour for 3 cups of the white and it makes a delicious recipe as well. You just need to use about an extra 1/2 Tbs. of yeast when you do this.

    As for the diaper question, see my previous post to this one about my really disappointing experience with the cloth diapers (I STILL am in mourning for them!) As for washing them: I used to rinse them on a hot cycle with baking soda and then wash them on regular with detergent. I only use eco-friendly detergents with no added fragrance, sulfates, etc. etc. My latest one is awesome; ECOS liquid laundry detergent. So, so pleased with it!
    Good on you for going the cloth route with Addison - I sure hope that you have better luck with it than I did! :)
    Thanks for reading!

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