Wicked Simple Hearty Honey Oat Bread Recipe

 

  

So I confess….I sucked out on the 30 day post.  I made it 13 days somewhat consecutively.  Don’t judge!  I truly had good intentions.   Any hoo…I made this bread the other day and it was delicious and Maine Man really liked it too.  I will be so kind and share it with you because it is easy and it is a must to save in my archives.  Basically you mix up the ingredients, put it in a bread pan, let it rise for 1 hour and bake.  That’s it!  NO Kneading….SWEET!!
2 cups hot water
1/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons salt
2 ½ teaspoons yeast
¾ cup oats
2 cups white flour
2-2 ½ cups wheat flour
1. Place the oats in a large bowl and pour half of the water over them. Let stand about 5 minutes to soften the oats. Meanwhile, combine the rest of the water, honey, and salt, and yeast together in a small bowl, and let stand until the yeast is dissolved and beginning to bubble, 5 – 10 minutes.
2. Add the yeast mixture to the oats, then add the white flour, and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for 2 to 3 minutes. Continue beating as you gradually add the whole-wheat flour. Add just enough whole wheat flour to make a stiff, heavy, sticky batter – it should not be thick enough to hold its shape outside the bowl.
3. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and smooth the top with wet fingers. Cover and let rise to the top of the pan, about 1 hour.
4. While the loaf is rising, preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until browned on top and pulling away from the sides of the pan. Turn out of the pan and cool on a rack. Let cool 2 to 3 hours before slicing; cool completely before bagging.

This recipe comes from Maine Huts & Trails blog…..Enjoy!


 

Never a dull moment....day 13 of 30

Short & Sweet.....day 12 o 30

 

 

A message to a dear friend of mine.  Despite great distance we manage to stay in touch with one another. I often tear up when I write to her as we reminisce over a great man, her uncle, whom we both loved deeply. Blessed that we’ve maintained contact over the last couple years since his passing.  He still continues to work his magic, shining down from above!

 

 

Though miles lay between us, we are never far apart.  For friendship doesn’t count miles. It is measured by the heart.

 

 

 

 

  

Utilizing leftovers....day 11 of 30

 

 

Sorry I skipped a post again yesterday.  Maybe I should have agreed to do 30 consecutive posts not necessarily daily.  My bad!  Possibly I’ll post two today, or not.
As I sit in my bed typing this post this morning I pause to reflect on how fortunate and grateful I am.  Listening to the hens hackle and the rooster crow while sipping my coffee fixed just the way I like it….a splash of raw milk and couple teaspoons of maple syrup.  Not only did Maine Man prepare and deliver coffee to my bed but he also brought my laptop & camera up and he even made me an omelet.  Every woman should be so lucky!   Have I mentioned lately how much I love and appreciate that man?


 

Back in high school I was a waitress at my grandparents restaurant.  One of our cooks was named Flo.  She was a wild and crazy gray-haired older lady SO full of life! I loved her!  I often wonder if she is still alive.  That was over 20 years ago so I am doubtful.
Every Sunday we served boiled ham dinner.  On Mondays she would make the best dang hash from the leftovers.  For years I have thought about how she made it.  About a year ago I attempted to cut up the leftovers really small and cook it…..epic fail.  Then a while back it came to me.  Take the leftovers and run it through a processor until it reaches the consistency of small chunks, not baby food!   Season with a bit of salt and pepper.  Add a slab of butter in a pan, I prefer cast iron because it lasts for ever, isn’t toxic, and I’m an old-fashioned girl at heart.  Cook until crispy and in this case I fried an egg to top it off with.  This can really be made up with any leftovers that includes meat, veggies, and potatoes.

Flo would be so proud even though it took me 20+ years to recreate her fantabulous hash!

 

A day late, thoughts on diet.....day 10 of 30

 

This post I am about to share is my thoughts exactly about diet.  It is titled “Why I stopped being Dogmatic about my diet” by Prairie Homestead.  Click on the link to read a GREAT post.  I could not have wrote this post any better then she!

Not one, not two, but three.....day 9 of 30

“Tell your kids I have a gift for them.”  is never a good thing in my neighborhood.

So I have this cat named Sparky.  He thinks he lives at my neighbors, Biker Stacy’s house.  So apparently while visiting BS he decided to kill a mother chipmunk and injure 2 out of 3 of her babies.  Her biological cat then saved the baby chipmunks bringing them back to the house.

Can you guess who’s house they are at now?  Can you guess who will become their caretaker after the newness wears off?  Contemplating payback….

 

BBQ at my in-laws....day 8 of 30