Future Bakers

Today it has snowed nonstop. It's the most we've gotten all winter. Since I knew I was not going to leave the house I thought it would be a perfect day for baking. Last night I got out my Nutrimill, that I got around Christmas time and never used and set it up and got it all cleaned. I was really excited and had a hard time falling asleep. So first thing this morning I grinded my wheat and made 2 large loaves of bread and one small. We ate the small one for lunch. It was so good and it was 100% whole wheat, no white all purpose flour. I plan on making our bread from now on. I'm trying to incorporate my food storage into every day living and beings as I have a year supply in bread ingredients I better start rotating. Here's the recipe I use:

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

6-7 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup honey
1/4cup shortening
1tablespoon salt
2 packages regular or quick active dry yeast
2 1/4 cups very warm water (120°F to 130°F)
Butter or margarine, melted, if desired

1. Mix 3 cups whole wheat flour, honey, shortening, salt and yeast in large bowl. Add warm water. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.
2. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place 40 to 60 minutes or until double. Dough is ready if indentation remains when touched.
3. Grease bottoms and sides of 2 loaf pans, 9x5x3 or 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches.
4. Punch down dough and divide in half. Flatten each half with hands or rolling pin into rectangle, 18x9 inches, on lightly floured surface. Roll dough up tightly, beginning at 9-inch side, to form a loaf. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Press each end with side of hand to seal. Fold ends under loaf. Place seam side down in pan. Brush loaves lightly with butter. Cover and let rise in warm place 35 to 50 minutes or until double.
5. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 375°F.
6. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire rack. Brush loaves with butter; cool.

I've never used a recipe that calls for vital wheat gluten and dough enhancer. Most food storage recipes call for it but I like this one because you don't need it and they rise just fine. I bought two foil extra large foil pans (12 inches long) and made the recipe 1 1/2 times and got two large loaves like you would buy at the store. You can buy some that are 16" long online but they are about $50 so I'm holding out and hoping these foil pans ($1.47) will do the trick for awhile. My bread machine had a hard time handling 10 cups of flour so I'm thinking about getting a Bosch Universal mixer but they are $400 so that's a couple years down the road I'm sure. A Bosch is supposed to be able to make 9 loaves of bread at once. I never did get a Kitchenaid mixer so I think I deserve a Bosch.

After the bread I decided I'd start making some of the brownie bites and of course the boys wanted to help so I was in the mood to let them.
I was even brave enough to let Sammy crack the egg and you can guess what happened.

By the time the first pan was baked it was time for lunch. I got the boys lunch and looked out the window and it was coming down so I knew I needed to shovel. Neil and I vowed we would not drive on the snow after having an ice skating rink for a driveway for 3 weeks the last time we put off shoveling so I put Mikey and Sam to bed and started shoveling. It took me 45 minutes to do my side of the driveway. Conner was 15 minutes late for school because of it. Two hours later it was time to shovel again before I picked Conner up. It only took 10 minutes this time. When I got back I started shoveling the other side and the kids were coming home from school. The Hastriter's came by (family of 7 kids) and saw me shoveling and said we'll be right back. The 4 youngest (4-10) all came back with shovels and helped me finish shoveling Neil's side. That side was up to my knees. With all 5 of us it didn't take long at all. I was surprised at how helpful they were. Miriam kept telling me it's just a blessing from heaven and it was. I had told Neil to come home early so he could finish shoveling and now he could work later which he needed too. I had baked the brownies but never got around to cutting them out and dipping them (2 cookie sheets) because of all the shoveling and I was so glad because I was able to cut the whole family some large brownies to show my appreciation. I am really so thankful. I had planned on shoveling it myself since Neil only has so much time with the boys each night and I have YW so it was a huge blessing. I hope my boys are as helpful as they are. I didn't even ask them. Such cute kids, too bad they are moving in June (airforce family).

I don't know if you can tell but the snow banks on the side of the driveway are as tall as I am. I'm having a hard time throwing the snow much higher. I'm sure my back is goint to hurt tomorrow.