Thoughts while kneading dough

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When you knead bread you have lots of time to think…  (**could be Lost spoilers – Cheryl, this is your only warning! ;-)  You can’t read this post until Saturday!)

  • I’d like a new table
  • I appreciate that this one is low enough to making kneading the dough easier and is smoother than my tile counter tops
  • However, there are cracks in this table that are turning white due to the flours.  I don’t want to worry about cleaning cracks in my table.
  • I’d like a new table that seats 8 easily
  • I wonder if I can get one that big in this room?
  • My hand really hurts.  I thought it was arthritis, but really it feels more like an injury.  Sort of hope it is so that I know it will get better.
  • **I wonder if Sawyer in the flash-sideways is no longer a con-man.  He didn’t try to con Hugo. But he knew Kate was in handcuffs and he still helped her get away.
  • Will I have enough time for this bread to rise before J1’s dentist appt?
  • Maybe I can take him…come back and make my loaves and go back and pick him up during it’s 2nd rise?
  • I’m so happy Eric is finally realizing we need a new bed!  Now if I can convince him we can live with a smaller one too!
  • **Who were the people in the temple?
  • **Is it bad that I find “Man in Locke” so fascinating?  He’s got to be a bad person, right?  Is he a person?!?!
  • I hope I can swatch for the Evenstar Shawl today!
  • It’s pretty cool that J2 is already done with his schoolwork today.
  • However, I wonder if I can sneak in an extra science lesson to catch up a bit.
  • I really need to write those product reviews!
  • And the article!  yikes!
  • I need to get with Ashley about photos!
  • I wonder how Trina‘s bread turned out yesterday?
  • I wonder if my tea is still warm?
  • I really should knit myself a new tea cozy.
  • Man…10 mins is a long time!

Christy’s Whole Wheat Bread

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This recipe makes 4 large loaves of some of the yummiest bread I’ve ever eaten!  And, the kids don’t even notice that it’s good for them!

Christy’s Whole Wheat Bread

Yield: 4 loaves

  • 9 tsp (4 packages if you use those) active dry yeast
  • 4.5 cups warm water (110-115 degrees)

dissolve yeast into the water

  • 6 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup olive oil
  • 2/3 cup honey
  • 2 tbsp salt
  • 10 cups WW flour
  • 4-6 cups white flour

Add ingredients into yeasty water and mix.

Add the flours (ww, then 4 of the white – you’ll add rest as needed while kneading).  Knead for 10 minutes.

Put in grease bowl and cover with plastic wrap and put in a warm place.  Let rise for about 1 hour or until dough doubles.

Punch down; divide into 4 loaves, put into greased loaf pans.  Rise to double – about 30-45 min.

Bake @ 375 for 25-30 min.  Remove immediately to cool.

Tonight’s Dinner: Another Chicken (aka White) Chili

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This one is NOT for the crockpot but we liked it more than the last one we tried.

 

White Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound Great Northern white beans (or 4 cans of white beans)
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast  (I used leftover turkey and chicken and guesstimated the amount)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 4oz. cans of mild chopped green chilies
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 6 cups fat-free chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp. ground cumin
  • 2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
  • 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Salsa

– Soak beans in cold water overnight.

РIn large pot, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat and saut̩ onions until translucent. Stir in garlic, chilies, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, and cloves and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.

– Drain beans and add to pot with chicken stock. Bring to boil and reduce heat. Simmer about 2 hours until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.

– While beans are cooking, saute chicken breast in 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Let cool, then cube.

– After 2 hours, add chicken and 1 cup of cheese to chili and stir until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper.

– Serve with extra Monterey Jack, sour cream, salsa as toppings.

Chicken & Spinach Casserole recipe – YUM!

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This is South Beach Diet friendly and VERY good!  I found it here and of course, I had to double it for my family of 6 (doubled below)

The BEST Chicken and Spinach Casserole

4 cups diced cooked chicken breast
2 – 10 oz. box of frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
1 cup fat-free sour cream
1 cup mayonaise
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon white pepper (or black)
1.5 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup l/f mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350. Combine the chicken and spinach in a greased baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients together. Mix about a 1/4 of the sauce mixture with the chicken and spinach mixture and spread out across the bottom of the dish. Spread the rest of the sauce mixture over the chicken and spinach. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until top is nicely browned. The browner the top is (not burnt though) the better this dish is.

Makes 8 servings

A Winner: Chicken Chili

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Tonight we tried a South Beach Diet Chicken Chili that I found online (no idea where) and modified a bit.  It was great and I’m looking forward to serving it again!  AND, it’s for the crockpot!  Woot!

Chicken Chili

  • 3# skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 large onion — chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves — minced
  • 2 – 14 1/2 ounces chicken broth
  • 1 can diced green chilis (mild for my family)
  • 2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 2 cans Great Northern beans, drained
  • 3 tablespoons lemon or lime juice

1. Mix chicken broth, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, chilis and hot sauce. Place in Crockpot. Add chicken breasts. Cover; cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
2. Remove chicken breasts when tender. Dice into small cubes. Return chicken to Crockpot; add beans,(optional corn), lemon or lime juice. Cover; cook on low until all contents are hot. If desired, garnish with a sprinkle of LF cheese, a dollop of ff sour cream