Cool! Double Prizes!!

Quick! What movie is that from?!?!?!? Alas dear readers, the prize is not two toys stuck together from a Claw machine, but a second post on this Friday!

The Xanax clicked in and I'm raring to go. Ok, that's lie. I didn't take any Xanax. But I did take a shot of the Jack Daniel's sitting in the board room. Mwuahahahahaa!!!

On with the show!

Oooooo, fresh, warm bread. Is there anything better? Yes there is, but I'm not that kind of blog.

I made this bread the other day at work. Yes, I cook at work. About a couple of times a week. See, one of my bosses lives adjoining to our office and shop. She's a wealthy, kinda snobbish, little on the lazy side woman in her 60's. She doesn't do anything for herself. She pays people to do things for her. She doesn't even shop for her own clothes entirely. The owners of her favorite boutique call her when their new lines come in and tell her they have some items she would love. When this owner goes "to market", she always has her eyes open for clothes for Fifi. Yeah, her name is even a tad snobbish.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah. She pays me to cook a few meals for her and her hubby every week. Few bonuses for me: she buys all the food and always buys enough for me to take home half; I get to cook good meals for my family without having to rush it; and I get to get out of the office and into my zen of cooking.

I made this Honey Wheat Bread, you know, to be healthier.

Honey Wheat Bread

1pkg active dry yeast

2 1/2 C warm water

1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 stick softened butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
4 cups bread flour

Directions: proof the yeast in the warm water. Let set till creamy (10-ish mins). I added the honey to the yeast mixture after it had proofed. Fed the yeast a bit, as my Dad would say.

In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. With your hands (remove rings, unless you like picking dough out of the prongs), mix in the softened butter. Create a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture.
Keep working it with your hands in the bowl till it comes together as a ball. Transfer to a floured surface and knead it for about 7 minutes. **For all of you lucky folks that have stand mixers that actually work, you can go ahead and let the machine to the work for you.
You'll know your dough has been kneaded enough when the dough springs back if you press your finger into it.
Place is well oiled bowl and cover. Allow to rise in warm, dry place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hrs.

Punch down the dough (release your aggressions on that poor dough) and form into loaves. Slap 'em in a couple of loaf pans (or bake on a baking stone). Let them rise again. I did another 1 1/2.

Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 mins. Ovens vary so watch it. You want your crust to have a nice golden hue. A good way to tell if it's done in the center is to give it a good tap with your fingers. It should sound kinda hollow. Pull her out of the oven and wait for the crowds to gather.

It never hurts to rub butter on the hot crust. The kids and I sat and stared at the bread until it was cool enough for me to handle and cut. So yummy!