Homemade white bread

Preston, my wonderful boyfriend, suggested I make some homemade bread from Anissa's Kitchen. I was very scared to try homemade bread without my mom here but it turned out amazing!! This recipe is very easy to follow and I would recommend starting with this if you haven't made bread before. I managed to make everything accordingly without a stand up mixer. It didn't take me a long time and I never felt lost or frustrated. So give it a try!

To say the least, it turned out delicious. Actually, it was so tasty that we almost ate a whole loaf the first night. I tried her variation of cinnamon sugar bread: make sure you roll it out well. I didn't so the cinnamon sugar wasn't distributed very evenly at all. Otherwise, the cinnamon sugar bread was just as good.





White Bread

4 cups warm (105-115^o F) water

2 Tbls active dry yeast

1 Tbls salt

1/3 cup canola oil

1/3 cup honey or 2/3 cup sugar

10-12 cups all-purpose or bread flour

1.       Pour the water into a very large mixing bowl or the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer. Add the yeast, salt, oil, honey, and 5 cups flour, and mix to combine. Gradually mix in an additional 5 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, until the dough is smooth. (Add still more flour, ¼ cup at a time, if necessary.)

2.       Knead by hand on a lightly floured surface, or with the dough hook on low for 12 minutes. Cover with a dish towel and let the dough rise until doubled in bulk, 30 to 45 minutes. Generously grease three 9 x 5-inch loaf pans and set aside. 

3.       Punch down the dough, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly to remove any air bubbles. Divide the dough in thirds, knead each section a few times, and shape into a loaf. Place the dough into the prepared pans. Cover with a dish towel and let rise 30 to 45 minutes. The dough is ready to bake when you press down slightly with your finger and the indentation remains.

4.       Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degree3s. Bake the loaves for 30 minutes. Immediately remove from the pans and cool on a wire rack. To freeze loaves, place in resealable plastic freezer bags and store up to two months in the freezer.

Variation: To make cinnamon bread, roll out each section and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar as desired. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of water over the dough and roll lengthwise. Place in a greased bread pan. Let rise and bake as above.

Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks

A while ago I got my hot little hands on an "All You" cook book. But the best part about it is that it tells you how much each serving costs. These last few months we've been on a very strict budget and we don't have much for food so this cookbook has come very handy. 

I made this recipe for under $10, we even had left overs for Preston to take to work, and it was delicious!!!

This was a very simple and quick dinner. I served these with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Ingredients

1/2 C Soy Sauce

• 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch 
• 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 lb.) 
• Salt and pepper 

Directions

1. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Add 2 Tbsp. water and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly until thickened, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly and strain, discarding solids. Preheat a broiler to high and place a broiling rack 6 to 8 inches from heat source.
2. Arrange drumsticks snugly on a large foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper on all sides. Pour sauce over and turn drumsticks several times to coat thoroughly. Broil or grill until chicken is browned, about 25 to 30 minutes, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife. While cooking, turn pan around from back to front every 2 to 3 minutes and use tongs to turn drumsticks over. If liquid in baking sheet starts to scorch, add water, 1/4 cup at a time.
3. Remove drumsticks from pan and cool slightly before serving.

Quick Update

Yes, I've definitely been MIA and not putting in as much effort as I should have into my blog but I hope this changes soon.

Since my last post. I've found out I'm pregnant!! about 2 weeks ago Preston and I found out we are having a baby boy! Preston has picked out Tanner James for his name. I can't wait until this little bundle of joy comes into my arms. I just want to hold him and tell him I love him :)

Besides from that big news. I've moved around quite a bit since October. But Preston and I have finally settled into a cute apartment in Meridian without roommates (my favorite part)!!! We have made this small apartment into an adorable little home that we both love and put as much effort into decorating and making it feel more home and not just a space.

Now to the good stuff: I've been cooking and baking my little heart out. I haven't been doing any crafts but I will soon now that I have a whole room to myself (for now, until Tanner gets here).

I'll have more posts coming on the wonderful creations I've been making.