Fresh Bread!

I just love hot out of the oven, fresh homemade bread!!  And don't forget the butter .. not margarine .. Butter!

Doesn't everyone love fresh homemade bread?  Many more folks are giving up this wonderful food. It really makes me sad for them.  There is so much going around now about "gluten-free" - I really have mixed feelings about it... After all the Scriptures say alot about bread and how it's good for you and such.. But, I'll leave that for another time.

    So, if you are not in the "gluten-free" camp, I hope that this recipe will fill your tummy with delight.  

YUMMY OATMEAL WHEAT BREAD

Makes 2 dozen rolls or 4 loaves -- Plenty to share or freeze for later

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Tblsp yeast
• 3 Tblsp sugar (or honey)
• 5 Cups warm (not hot) water
• 2 Tblsp *Real* Salt (not processed table salt - available at most grocers but not at Walmart or Target ) {CLICK HERE to read more about the benefits of REAL SALT}
• 1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 7-8 Cups of Unbleached White flour
• 1/4 Cup oil (I prefer olive oil but vegetable or sunflower oil is good, too)

(Opps! I forgot to include the oil and whole wheat flour in the photo)

-- Put water, yeast, sugar, and Whole Wheat Flour in bowl -- stir and let sit for 5 minutes or so to allow the yeast to "burst". This is when the mixture looks bubbly and frothy

(This is my Bosch mixer.  I love it!  It makes awesome mashed potatoes, too)

-- Mix in oats, oil,salt, and white flour - mix WELL with wooden spoon, hands or in your mixer (using the dough hooks)
-- Knead dough for approximately 4-5 minutes until the dough forms a large ball and is "tacky" to the touch. Not "sticky" to your fingers
-- Let rise 45 minutes

-- Punch down and form into balls place on a greased cookie sheet (I use Pam spray, well the winco brand) *OR* divide into four log shapes and put into sprayed loaf pans 

--Let rise another 30 minutes (near the oven, the warmth will help the dough to rise better)
--Preheat oven 425
-- Bake rolls for 20 minutes *OR* the loaves for 25-30 minutes -- top of bread will be golden brown.

Serve hot with butter and ENJOY!

  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. - Psalm 104:15

Good-Bye 2015

Saying good-bye can be bittersweet; but I've found that moving forward has great reward. 

 We can cherish the special moments, learn from mistakes, all the while keeping our eyes on what the LORD has for us in the days to come.2015 was a year full of special surprises and sad news .. Our first grandbaby was born!  It's a BOY!  I was privileged to help our daughter through her long back labor and delivery.  After 50+ hours she held the most beautiful healthy baby boy!  Praise the LORD, mom and baby did great!!    

Our first born son met his sweetheart and announced their engagement to married! 

All of our 6 children are now official drivers.  (when did they grow up so fast?) 

We bought the cutest puppy, a Great Pyrenese and realized that our yard set up and my puppy patience was not suited to his needs; so we sold him to a nice family who live in the mountains and raise goats.  Milo, the puppy, is enjoying his God-given purpose to the fullest!      

My husband's father finally let the family know that he has cancer...advanced.  This has been a great struggle for all the family; but by the grace of God and by the LORD's abundant mercies, we take each day .. one by one.      

I have finished many hand working projects!  I say "finished" because I have many projects on going all the time, so, it's AWESOME to get them done!  1 baby quilt -- for our grandson!  1 lap quilt for our youngest daughter, 2 pairs of fingerless mitts for friends, 1 set of hand stitched napkins, 2 hand sewn hexagon chair covers, 1 wall quilt for the livingroom, 2 pencil pouches, 2 hexie pin cushions, and 1 Bible cover.  Wow! I didn't realize how many things I made... it's been therapeutic and joy-filled gift giving *smiles*      

I'm sure that we all have accomplished far more than we take time to consider.  The beauty of this is that the LORD knows what we've done (or not done) and that as we move forward this new year we will keep one thing at the forefront of our motivation -- 

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." -Colossians 3:23-24 

 Happy New Year, dear ones!

~Cristina