Friday, February 19, 2010

What I Made Today

I watched a sewing program on PBS today. I came in on it late so I don't know if the instructions for the cutting were given or not. I set the dvr and rewound it later for the sewing instructions after I got some fabric cut. I just wanted to see if I could make the darn thing....hers was sew cute. I grabbed some fabric that I didn't care if I messed up and gave it a shot. It didn't appear to be coming out correctly...until I got ALL the corners sewn.. and then it made sense. I CAN FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS...yay me!

I guessed at the cutting, as I said I was just curious to see if I could make it. I was feeling like a challenge. Anywho, this one is smaller than the one from the program, so I will make another...with nicer fabrics...and make the cuts larger so the little bag is larger. I just thought in the end, it came out cute! I'm going to keep some stuff in this one for my hand sewing...needles, thimble, small scissors etc. It will make a cute gift too!


It's kinda a mini-version of the one on PBS today....




Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Honey Wheat Bread Recipe....mmmm.....





I was sew impressed with this recipe I found in the newspaper around Christmas that I bought a new bread bowl (Merry Christmas to me) with the idea that I was gonna give it a try. The cottage cheese ingredient intrigued me.

I guess the cottage cheese is the ticket...or that the honey and whole wheat were made for each other...a true marriage of great flavors in this bread. I will make it again...and soon...I hope. It was the maiden voyage of the new baking bread bowl, however, I was not as impressed with that. Used once and already a chip on the edge. :( I thought the bread would be more rounded. I think next time I will bake it in a regular bread pan...will be easier to slice. I'll get the cobwebs and dust off my bread machine and give that a try too, just to see if it turns out the same.

Here is the recipe. Although it is for two loaves, I cut it in half and made only one. I wanted to be sure I would like the recipe first.

HONEY WHEAT BREAD

1 cup cream-style cottage cheese
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons salt
2 envelopes dry yeast

Heat 1 1/2 cups water, cottage cheese, honey and butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until very warm (120-130 degrees).

In a large bowl, combine saucepan mixture, 2 cups of the flour, the whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Stir enough of the remaining flour by hand (or use dough hook on heavy duty mixer) to make a stiff dough. Knead 2 minutes. Place in greased bowl. Cover and let rise in warm place until double in size, 45 to 60 minutes (mine took longer...about 1.5 hours). Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake bread for 40 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped. Remove from pans to cool. Makes 2 loaves, 12 slices each.

Per slice: 164 cal (14 percent from fat), 2.5 grams fat (1.4grams saturated, o.6 grams monounsaturated), 6 mil cholesterol, 4.7 grams protein, 30.9 grams carbohydrates, 1.5 grams fiber, 336.7 mil sodium.

If you try it, please come back and post your results, good or bad....would love to hear, oh.. and... a pic would be awesome too!