Whole Wheat Bread

"If thous tastes a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens." Robert Browning

Good day, my fine followers!
Well, before we get to this week's recipe, I have some updating to do! First of all, the 'Cottage Life' show last weekend was great! Jane Rodmell and I did four cooking demonstrations and I must say, we did a very good job! Our morning demos were for a one skillet brunch of potato and sausage hash topped with eggs and the afternoon demos were for chocolate, orange and walnut phyllo bundles. All in all, it was a fun time as always and the bonus was that Jane and I had our photo in the program! Ha! Also, the winter edition of 'Sideroads of Halton Hills' magazine came out on Tuesday! Yippy! As you can see below, my recipes were a layered cheese terrine, roasted squash with brown butter and sage and butter tarts with cranberries and walnuts (if you click on the photo, it will enlarge and the recipes are easily read! Thank you again Michelle for the great scanning job!). Well, onto today's subject matter: bread. A little while ago, my friend Dana requested a recipe for bread. Something 'wholesome' she said. No problem! Bread is not hard to make, but it does take a bit of elbow grease and some time. Bread, in one form or another, has been around just about forever. Modern bread making was first practised by the ancient Egyptians about three thousand years ago. Next, the Greeks continued to hone the methods and ingredients, until leavened bread was being made and sold across Europe, followed by the rest of the world. Often referred to as the 'staff of life,' bread has been eaten out of necessity, used in religious ceremony and most recently, celebrated as an artisan craft. Consumed at any or all meals, bread is extremely versatile and can be treated in a countless number of preparations. For Dana's bread, I have decided to use a simple country recipe. Made with ingredients you would find on the farm, I have added some rolled oats and seeds to make it a little more 'wholesome.' I hope you like it, Dana!

Simple and Tasty Recipe:

Whole Wheat Bread
(makes 2 large loaves (tin size 11cm x 21cm or 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches))

2 3/4 cups milk, warmed
1/4 cup honey
1 package of dry active yeast
5 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp sea salt
2 large eggs, room temperature (1 for the bread, 1 for the egg wash)
3 tbsp butter, softened
about 1 cup unbleached flour (for kneading)
3/4 cup rolled oats and mixed seeds: I used pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds), sunflower, poppy, sesame and flax seeds (1/2 cup of this goes in the bread, 1/4 is for the top of the bread)

.in a large bowl combine the milk and honey, stir with a wooden spoon until dissolved, sprinkle in yeast, stir to dissolve and set aside for about 5 to 10 minutes until frothy
.add in 3 1/2 cups of flour and stir vigorously for 1 minute, cover with plastic and set aside in a warm place for 30 mins (I like to use a clean, recycled plastic bag for this recipe...)
.next, stir the salt, 1 egg another cup of flour into the sponge
.stir in half the butter with a half cup of flour until the lumps are out (this is when a little elbow grease is needed!), add the remaining butter and the last half cup of flour and stir again until lump free (if I can do it, so can you!!), then finally stir in 1/2 cup of the rolled oats and mixed seeds
.turn the sticky dough out onto a flour covered surface and knead for about 10 mins, adding flour as you go so it won't stick to the counter or your hands, shape into a a nice rounded ball (a.k.a. blob)
.wash out your large bowl, lightly oil it and place the kneaded dough ball inside, cover with plastic and put in a warm place until it has doubled in size (about an hour), meanwhile lightly butter two loaf pans
.punch down the leavened dough, turn out onto a floured surface, knead for a few minutes, mould into loaf shapes and place into your prepared loaf tins, cover with plastic set aside in a warm place until doubled in size again (about another hour)
.turn your oven to 375 degrees and beat the remaining egg in a small bowl or cup
.brush the tops of the loaves with the egg wash and sprinkle over the remaining 1/4 cup of rolled oats and mixed seeds (you could make slash marks across the top of your bread if you like)
.bake 40 to 45 mins until nicely browned
.remove the bread from the tins (when tapped on the bottom a hollow sound will be heard) and cool on a rack before slicing, enjoy!

Making bread form scratch without a bread machine is a labour of love, but a job that will leave one feeling very proud of oneself! With bread that tastes this good and costs so little to make, why go back to store bought?! Of course, any of the seeds I used can be substituted with your favourites. Nuts could also be used. Or, of course, they could all be left out! It's up to you, my crafty followers! This is the perfect time of year to make bread, just the smell alone that will be left wafting your your home is reason enough to make it! I hope this 'wholesome' bread is what you were expecting Dana, I promise it's delicious! Now, make sure to store your loaves in a sealed plastic bags to keep it fresh. Freezing the bread is also fine. Now followers, you better have some bread handy next week, for I will be making bread's best friend... Come on, you know who it is! That's right, butter. Yummy, homemade butter. It's gonna be a good one! Bye for now!

Here are the links to the 'Cottage Life' magazine recipes that Jane and I demonstrated :
http://www.cottagelife.com/index.php?ci_id=41443&la_id=1
http://cottagefeast.cottagelife.com/2010/11/19/chocolate-orange-bundles-recipe/

"As busie as a Bee." John Lyly

Hello followers! Isn't it so cold out these days? Brrrr!

Well, it's that time of year... Autumn is in  full swing and winter is on it's way. I can't believe how quickly Christmas is approaching! Crazy! At this time of year, I always find myself quite busy. So, for today's blog, I will catch you all up to speed. I hope you don't mind! Now, let's see my followers, where shall I start? How bout 'Sideroads' magazine? I am happy to announce that I submitted my Christmas themed recipes and photos for the winter edition of 'Sideroads of Halton Hills' magazine (my deadline was October 29th). John the editor liked 'em, so I hope they are a success! Just like last time, I will attach the article to my blog as soon as it is released for you all to see. Next up: an artisan show. Two weekends ago I worked a Christmas show that my friend Penny was putting on. At first, it was to showcase the silver jewelry that her talented niece Jade makes, but Penny then decided to ask if several of us crafty people could also sell our wares. I decided to make dog biscuits (beef, cheese and chicken), risotto kits (porcini mushroom and herb) and cookie kits (mixed fruit and rolled oats and chocolate and cherry). I showed up at Penny's beautiful country home with hopes that people would like my goods and possibly make some sales. Well, I am happy to say that I sold 30 units. How fun! Since then I have been thinking of selling the kits on etsy.com. Well, that is of course, if I can find the time to do it! Hmm, what else have I been up to? Oh yes, 'the land!'

Last Sunday, me and me sweetie, my parents and Saffy ventured on out to Norfolk County to close up for the winter. Our 10 acres was waiting for us. A chilly breeze, bare trees and a garden filled with the skeletal remains of the bountiful garden of summer gone by. My Mum treated us with bacon and eggs for lunch and then our afternoon of tasks began. My Dad and Kev got the John Deere on the trailer for the trip back to Hamilton for winter storage, I got down to work in the garden and my Mum tidied up the good ol' R.V.. Even after several bouts of frost, we still had some yummy produce to harvest! The last of the Brussels sprouts had to picked (they remind me of a creature one would find on Dr.Who!) and potatoes had to be dug. I love digging up potatoes! It is like a treasure hunt in the garden and especially exciting for a girl like me who's favourite movie has always been 'The Goonies' (happy 25th, by the way!)! My Mum and I were happy that some of our heartier herbs survived and with Saffy's help, we picked some sage and thyme to dry for winter use. What a great day! I'm sad to think the next time we will be up at the land is in early spring. But you never know, maybe Kev and I will sneak up there in the winter time to visit!

Okay, time to discuss what I have going on this weekend: the 'Fall Cottage Life Show.' Held just out of town, at the International Centre, it's a unique show for anyone who has a cottage or for anyone who is planning to build one. Within the show, there is the 'Cottage Kitchen' and that's where I've been doing cooking demonstrations with cookbook author Jane Rodmell for the last four years. 'Cottage Life' magazine is a Canadian publication and Jane is a food contributor. I test Jane's many recipes for the magazine and am her assistant with the spring and fall shows. It's a great time and I absolutely love being in front of a crowd! Don't worry followers, I won't spoil the fun and tell you what Jane and I are demonstrating, because I know I will see you all in the crowd! Now, if that isn't busy enough, let me also mention the corporate Christmas baskets I've been hired to make... Never mind, enough already! This bee won't babble on any longer. Now is the time of year in which comfort foods reign. Don't you just love those warm and cozy evenings in? What makes them even better is good food! I have been thinking about some great recipe ideas and I hope I don't disappoint. Stay bundled up my followers and find your way back next week to see where our
culinary adventure will take us next! Bye!

 

"One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure." William Feather

Hello my followers, it's been a while, hasn't it? I feel the need to explain why... To tell you the truth, my heart hasn't been into blogging as of late. You see, my sweetie Kevin recently lost his Mother. As of today, one month has past. So, with Kevin's permission, I am dedicating my blog today to Sandy Patey.

Sandy had been ill for a while and after a long and hard fight, she finally succumbed to her cancer on October 17th. I am here to share a bit about a wonderful woman who, unfortunately, I only got to meet a year and a half ago. The Sandy that I got to know was a strong, adventurous woman who had a great sense of humour. I suppose you would have to have a great sense of humour to raise four boys. That's right, I said four boys! My Kevin is third in line and I must admit that all of his brothers, Chris, Geoff and Rob are all just as sweet as my sweetie. Sandy did a great job! Sandy loved to sing. She was a member of the Georgetown Choral Society for over 30 years, during which time she sang for thousands of people throughout Europe and North America. Most recently her music kept us company at the hospital, in which we played her choral favourites 24 hrs a day, knowing that Sandy could hear every song. Kevin's Mum and Dad loved to travel and it became a passion! Moving the family to England when Kev was only a boy, Ron and Sandy caught the travel bug and dragged the boys across Europe! As soon as the kids flew away from the nest, Kev's parents began to travel the world. And not just those typical places you would consider, but everywhere from Peru to Namibia, from Bali to China and just about everywhere else in between! If any of us get to see half of the places Sandy and Ron got to visit, we'd be lucky! Sandy even managed to travel across New Zealand earlier this year with Ron and participated in such activities as white water rafting, scuba diving, climbing a glacier and going up in a glider airplane (a life long dream that came true for her!). This is the Sandy that I knew. The strong mother who loved life and was fearless. I miss her very much and really wish that I got to know her better. But, instead of looking back and thinking of all those 'what ifs...' I have decided to cherish the time that we got to spend together. I think you will like the photos we have included, I'm pretty sure that they represent Sandy's spirit. We miss you so much Mum...

Kevin and Sarah

p.s., if you are interested to seeing more photos of Kevin's parent's travels around the world, go to their website at:

http://pateycanada.com/index.html

  

Creamy Asian Marinade, Sauce or Dip

"Have a mouth as sharp as a dagger, but a heart as soft as tofu." Chinese proverb

Howdy followers, how are you? Wasn't the weather lovely for the Thanksgiving weekend? I hope all of you had the chance to get out there and enjoy some warm, fresh air with your friends and family!
So, in my last blog I posted my article that is featured in the current 'Sideroads of Halton Hills' magazine. How exciting! If you enlarge the photo, you can read the recipes clearly (and as always, if you have any questions, just ask!). The spiced pumpkin custards would have been perfect for Thanksgiving, but can be enjoyed anytime this time of year! My next deadline for the winter edition is October 29th. I have been brainstorming like a mad woman and have come up with a couple of good ideas (I hope!). I will keep you all informed as my deadline approaches! Now, onto today's blog... My childhood friend Jane contacted me and made a request for a recipe. Due to dietary restrictions, she has basically become a vegetarian. Luckily for her, it turns out that Jane loves tofu! First made in ancient China during the Han Dynasty over two thousand years ago, tofu is made from soy bean curds. High in protein and iron, it's a great meat alternative. Also, with it's mild flavour, tofu can be marinated in any style and prepared in just about any fashion. Since Jane likes to cook and enjoys experimenting with new flavours, I decided to make her an Asian marinade, which can also be used in many ways...

Simple and Tasty Recipe:

Creamy Asian Marinade, Sauce or Dip
(makes about 1 cup)

1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste) or peanut butter
1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
1 lime, juiced
1 garlic clove, fine chop
1/2 tsp fresh ginger, fine chop
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 to 3 tbsp water
*sambal olek or chili flakes, optional
1 package (350 g) extra firm tofu

.whisk all ingredients together in a bowl
.cut the tofu your fave way, add enough marinade to coat the tofu pcs
.put into an airtight container and refrigerate overnight
.prepare the tofu in your fave manner (I prefer to pan fry in a hot pan with a little sunflower oil. Do not crowd the pan, fry in batches if you have to, to ensure even browning.), enjoy!

Depending on how thick you want this marinade, adjust the amount of water added. Tofu is like a sponge and will soak up any flavour, the trick is to give it enough time. This recipe can also be used as a sauce for a stir fry or a dipping sauce for any Asian treat (i.e. satays, spring rolls or my 'Rice Paper Rolls' found on my 'Recipes' page, yum!). If made with the tahini, this recipe is a great nut free alternative for anyone with allergies! Super easy to make with ingredients that can be found in any grocery store, make it and find out how versatile this recipe can be! And finally... Jane, I hope you like it!

Old Canadian Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

"Food... has the ability to comfort." Norman Kolpas

 

Mac and Cheese photographer: Harry Gils, Prop Stylist: Dana Gils, Food Stylist: me!

Howdy, my trusty followers! I hope you've all had a great week!
Well, I have so many culinary adventures going on, I don't know where to start! Okay, I've got it... Dog biscuits! Ha! That's right, dog bikkies! This week I made several dozen and packaged them up for my friend's new dog grooming business. Mel and Jen's open house was last night and they were giving out my bikkies as presents to their guests. I fed some to my dogs and they seemed to like them, so hopefully I will be supplying the new business with my homemade bikkies. Fingers crossed! The adventure continues tomorrow when I will be in Toronto recipe testing for Jane Rodmell and Cottage Life magazine. Last week we came up with 5 great salad ideas for next summer's issue and Jane sent them into the editor, but now a final testing must be done. When it comes to recipes, Jane sure is a perfectionist! She has the great reputation that her recipes always work, so needless to say, all testing is extremely thorough. No worries though followers, I've been testing Jane's recipes for the last few years and I don't think I've let her down yet! My third culinary adventure is about the food in the picture above that was so lovingly prepared, styled and photographed by me and my friends... Macaroni and cheese! I am making mac and cheese for lunch this weekend for my sweetie and his work mates. Talk about comfort food! My Mum always makes us her famous mac and cheese the day after we host a party (she always offers an amazing cheese platter!). The next day, all the leftover cheese finds it's way into the pot of white sauce. Yum! Unfortunately I haven't hosted any parties lately, so my mac and cheese is mainly old Cheddar. As a bit of a coincidence, this recipe happens to be based upon one that I tested for Jane for her latest cookbook, 'All the Best Recipes.' But come on my followers, you should know me better by now... I have changed it slightly and added my own special ingredient! Tee hee!!

Simple and Tasty Recipe:

Macaroni and Cheese
(makes 1 large)

3 cups dried macaroni
1/4 cup butter
1 onion, fine chop
1 clove garlic, fine chop
1/3 cup flour
1 litre 5% cream
2 cups grated old Cheddar cheese, orange or white
1/2 container (125 ml), Imperial Cheese
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
* pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

.preheat the oven to 350 degrees
.cook the pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to personal doneness, drain and rinse with cold water, set aside, meanwhile...
.in a large pot, heat the butter on medium low heat, add the onions and slowly cook until softened, about 5 minutes or so
.stir in the garlic, fry for 1 min more, season with a pinch of salt and pep
.whisk in the flour and fry for about 30 seconds, whisk in half of the cream and allow to heat up and thicken, whisk in half of the remaining cream, again allow to heat and thicken, whisk in the rest of the liquid, heat and thicken, turn off heat
.stir in the grated old Cheddar cheese and Imperial cheese, a pinch of cayenne and taste for seasoning, adjust if needed
.lightly grease a fave oven proof dish, add in the cooked macaroni and pour in the sauce, give it a good stir
.place in the oven and bake for about 20 to 25 mins, until lightly browned and bubbling (test by placing a knife in the middle and feeling if it is hot), enjoy!

If you prefer, grate an additional cup or so of cheese and sprinkle it on top of the macaroni before baking. Just like my Mum, use mixed cheeses if you like (a little Stilton in the mac and cheese takes it to a whole new level of yum!!). Or, sprinkle on some chopped, cooked bacon, sliced scallions or parsley. Also, a simple bread crumb topping can be made by adding a little melted butter, Parmesan cheese and salt to some fresh bread you have pulsed through the food processor or blender. Now, I have one final culinary adventure to mention... Remember I told you about the magazine I was going to be in? Well, it came out this week! 'Sideroads of Halton Hills' is a quarterly publication in which I am now the resident Chef! Yippy! For those of you who do not live in the area, my sister in law Michelle scanned the article and I have attached it below. Don't worry followers, I will be talking about it more in depth in my blog next week! Till then, my fave followers!!