Everybody knows what's cooking today. . .

I am sure everyone is going to be fixing turkey today, getting ready for tomorrow.  I am very fortunate that I only have to fix a few side items and something sweet.  Can anyone guess what I will be fixing? 
Yep, bread, I am making beer bread for both houses.  I found a good recipe on Pinterest.  It is easy and not as expensive as buying those ready mix boxes.  I made homemade crackers last night with my sourdough starter.  They are good but could use more salt and I never say that.  My sister is the best, she gave me some of her sourdough starter.  It is wild yeast starter, which means you do not add yeast to get it started.   She is amazing in the kitchen, she makes most everything from scratch.  She also told me about the Pocket Farmer and that is where I got my cracker recipe, you can check them out online at www.thepocketfarmer.com.  These crackers are kinda like the ones that Daryl's used to serve with ranch dressing.  My starter had some whole wheat flour in it so mine are a little more brown than those that Daryl's used to serve.   

Lots of sadness this week, we lost a cousin suddenly and two teenagers were killed in a car accident from the high school.   It changes the way you look at things, how fleeting life really is.  You never really know how long you have on this earth so cherish every moment with those you love.   I am thankful we will be spending time with family tomorrow and will make every moment count.  Hope you all have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.   

Bread is Cooking again. . .

I promise I will be posting things other than bread but today, I am in a bread mood.  I found this copycat recipe for Subway bread on Pinterest.  It is easy and I love their bread,  I do hate watching them slap a sandwich together, that is another post though. 
In proper fashion I did not keep to the recipe.  Here are the ingredients: 
1cup warm water (110 F)
1 1/2 tbsp yeast (almost 2 pkgs)
1tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
4tbsp olive oil
3-3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
This recipe uses a mixer.  I do not use metal anything when making bread so I did this by hand. 
Add yeast to your warm water then sugar and salt.  Set aside, in another bowl put one cup of flour then slowly add your yeast mixture a little at a time,  alternating flour and yeast mixture till it is all incorporated adding the olive oil for moisture.  Knead 8 minutes till dough is smooth.  I put mine in a bowl covered with a dish towel to rise for about 40 minutes.  Once it has risen, turn it out and punch it down.  Divide into fourths and shape into long skinny loaves,  cover and let rise  for 1 hour.  Bake 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.  Take out of oven and rub with butter and cover with dish cloth to cool.  Per the recipe this last step keeps the bread soft.   This was posted on Pinterest by www.blessthismessplease.com  and she has the copycat recipe link.

As you can see I should have made my loaves a little skinnier.  Nothing I make ever turns out the way it is supposed to.  It is always good but never quite looks just so.   It smells absolutely wonderful!!  Cannot wait to try it tonight.  Until we eat again.

What's Cooking Wednesday. . . Beer Bread

My first official post for my new line-up.   I am trying a new recipe for beer bread.  I used to sell  kitchen products and we carried beer bread.  It was really good but expensive for what you get.  I found a homemade version, and homemade is always better than prepackaged.  
Not to brag or anything but bread is one thing I am very good at making from scrarch.  My bread making started out from necessity.   My dear hubby was diagnosed with severe food allergies and he could not eat anything that was prepackaged.   My mom used to make our bread when I was growing up, so I got her recipe, it was actually my grandmother's recipe, and I started making our bread from scrarch.  It was wonderful!   Everytime I made bread I felt a little closer to my mom and grandmother.   This recipe was white loaf bread and made several loaves at a time.  
Back to my beer bread.  Obviously I have beer left from my dear hubby's run to Wal-Mart and I am going to try this new recipe.   I found this on Pinterest at jwww.livingwellspendingless.com.   I used all purpose flour so I had to add the salt and baking powder and I added a little extra beer because my batter was dry.   Here is a little tip when baking bread.  Do not use metal utensils or a metal bowl.  The metal plays havoc with bread and its ability to rise.   I like to use bamboo or silicone utensils and I prefer glass or ceramic bowls for mixing.   

The end result, pretty darn good if I do say so myself.   I will keep this recipe close by.   It is easy, quick,  from scratch, and really good.