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Good Eats with Wheat - Page 9

post #161 of 176
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by midwestmom
Heather-I made the pizza dough starter yesterday and this am it still looks kinda flat. What is it supposed to look like when ready for next step? I just want to make sure my yeast was working before I proceed. TIA

Look at the pictures I posted yet? They are a few posts up, and also in the pages with recipes. The first two pics are of the 'sponge' starter after it's rested about 6 hours....it gets even more bubbly and sometimes forms a 'liquidy' film if you go the full overnight, depending on how warm your kitchen is.

That should give you a good idea...it just needs to be a bit 'bubbly' and soft 'spongy' looking. If it's not much different than when you put it together (water, flour, yeast) then I'd be suspicious of the yeast or something having killed them off during the night (too hot, chlorine in tap water, or they were 'iffy' already).

If you are not sure, do the yeast test I mentioned. If you want, add in a TBS of sugar to the sponge, and cover it lightly, and sit the bowl in the oven with only the light on (or just the pilot light if it's gas). In about 1 hour it should be bubbly and look spongy if the yeast are good and alive.

Keep me updated on how it goes!
post #162 of 176
ok, thanks. Just wanted to make sure. I think I am ok. I will let you know how it goes. I really appreciate this post!
post #163 of 176
Okay, newbie here. I just got my grain mill on Friday and have made four loaves since then, none of which have risen well. My yeast seems fresh (although expired; it proofs GREAT though) and the first rise definitely does the trick... however when I get the dough in the pans to rise, the dough barely reaches the top of the pan. WHY?? I'm so sad because I need good sandwich bread for DH and I'm so excited about this mill and making our own bread and whatnot... and my bread doesn't rise

Any tips? I read somewhere that I may not be kneading the bread long enough. That thought crossed my mind, but I'm not sure...
post #164 of 176
I made breakfast pizza today. Actually, the kids made theirs and I made mine. We each had a small circle of the refrigerator pizza dough which we topped with a cheesecake type mix of cream cheese, egg, honey, banana and vanilla. After it baked we topped our individual pizzas with honey, mango, pineapple, pluot (apricot/plum hybrid), apple and banana. The kids loved them! YUM!
post #165 of 176
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bereanmama
Okay, newbie here. I just got my grain mill on Friday and have made four loaves since then, none of which have risen well. My yeast seems fresh (although expired; it proofs GREAT though) and the first rise definitely does the trick... however when I get the dough in the pans to rise, the dough barely reaches the top of the pan. WHY?? I'm so sad because I need good sandwich bread for DH and I'm so excited about this mill and making our own bread and whatnot... and my bread doesn't rise

Any tips? I read somewhere that I may not be kneading the bread long enough. That thought crossed my mind, but I'm not sure...
which recipe are you using?

Kneading develops the gluten which helps trap the gasses for the second rising. so more kneading could be called for depending on the recipe/technique you are using.

I really like making 'one rise' bread and slicing it wider, and then down the middle (like splitting open a biscuit), and then putting the filling in the bread and making it more italian hoagie style....so does Dh. It's very tasty stuff!

I have a 'basic wheat bread, no sponge style' recipe a few pages back that might help for making typical 'loaf style' bread.

Also, what grain did you get, spring, winter, white or red wheat and what company is it from. Do you know the protein content?
post #166 of 176
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinky Tuscadero
I made breakfast pizza today. Actually, the kids made theirs and I made mine. We each had a small circle of the refrigerator pizza dough which we topped with a cheesecake type mix of cream cheese, egg, honey, banana and vanilla. After it baked we topped our individual pizzas with honey, mango, pineapple, pluot (apricot/plum hybrid), apple and banana. The kids loved them! YUM!
OMG, I love pluots...and those sound DELICIOUS!!! Will have to try that combo, as all the fruits you used are some of my favorites!
post #167 of 176
Quote:
which recipe are you using?

Kneading develops the gluten which helps trap the gasses for the second rising. so more kneading could be called for depending on the recipe/technique you are using.

I really like making 'one rise' bread and slicing it wider, and then down the middle (like splitting open a biscuit), and then putting the filling in the bread and making it more italian hoagie style....so does Dh. It's very tasty stuff!

I have a 'basic wheat bread, no sponge style' recipe a few pages back that might help for making typical 'loaf style' bread.

Also, what grain did you get, spring, winter, white or red wheat and what company is it from. Do you know the protein content?
Well, perhaps I didn't knead long enough after the first rise. I sure would love to do just one rise though. Save on time... I'll try your recipe either tonight or tomorrow. I'll probably do some Ezekiel bread tonight...

I use Hard Red Wheat that I buy in bulk from my local Henry's (Wild Oats) market. I don't know the protein content though.

I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for your help
post #168 of 176
Thread Starter 
OK, here is a 'variation' on my 'Sin Cookies'...I think you'll like. You do need Chia Seeds for it though!

Heather’s Chocolate Chip ‘Sin Cookies’ with Chia Seed Gel

2 1/2 cups Organic whole wheat flour or organic all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups Organic Whole Sugar (ie, Rapadura)
3 tsp organic vanilla extract
1 cup (2 sticks) Organic butter or virgin or expeller pressed coconut oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 large eggs (free range if possible)
2 cups (12 oz bag) Mini 'semi sweet' Chocolate Chips or organic brand you like

Optional: 1/3 cup Chia Seed Gel* (pre made and allowed to absorb water over night)


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Soften butter (or coconut oil to room temp), add Rapadura sugar and mix with spoon/beater until it's incorporated as best as you can get it (it won't be smooth like with white sugar). I then add the vanilla extract, salt and stir gently at first, to let it soak in. I keep 'beating' it with my mixing spoon/beater until it gets smooth (the extract breaks down the sugar and it mixes better at this point.)

Then add eggs and keep mixing until it's smooth again. At this point, I add in the Chia Seed Gel if using. Mix to incorporate and then add in the baking soda and slowly add in flour a 1/2 cup full at a time. Mix until incorporated and after each flour addition. I then add in the chocolate chips and stir to coat them.

Drop by heaping teaspoon full sized bits on an ungreased cookie sheet (bake pan), leaving an inch or so in between each cookie.
Bake at 375 for 9-10 minutes. (slightly less if you want a really chewy cookie and slightly longer for 'crisp' cookies. I try to get these off the pan asap, onto a cooling rack. They will be very soft, but set up almost 'perfectly' in a few minutes.

I layer a large tupperware container with some paper towels. I lay a flat layer of cookies, once cooled. Then another layer of paper towels, and then another layer of cookies and repeat until all are stacked this way. I close the container and unless the kid finds it, they will last over a week (at room temp) and still be soft and yummy!

*Chia Seed Gel: Mix 1/3 cup chia seeds in 2 cups water. Whisk as you are mixing the two. Let sit a minute or two, then whisk again. Once they seeds start looking 'hydrated', you can put a lid on the jar and refrigerate over night. This will make up extra gel than you need for the above recipe, but you should be eating a spoonful daily anyway...

Chia Nutritional Profile:
Chia seeds are easily digested and the Omega 3/6 oils are absorbed whether they are ground or not, unlike flax seeds. They are an awesome ‘super food’.

Chia Seed Nutritional Profile:

Vitamins A, B**, C and E
Calcium, Boron, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium
All Essential Amino Acids – It’s a Complete Protein source
Vegan source of Omega 3 and 6 in perfect ratio (no worry of fish contaminated with mercury)
Loaded with Antioxidants that keep the seeds fresh for up to 5 years at room temp.
Protein content: 20-25% (that’s twice any grain)


Note on Vitamin B** content:
Two ounces (about 1/3 cup) contains
2% B-2 (riboflavin)
13% niacin
29% Thiamin (a sparkplug for metabolizing carbohydrates and for energy)
Trace amounts of all the other B vitamins

3.5 ounces of chia (100 grams) compared to 100 grams of milk, has over 5 times the calcium, at 600 grams calcium in the chia, compared to 120 grams in the milk. Plus, the trace mineral boron helps it be super absorbed!
post #169 of 176
Where can you get chia seeds, I've never heard of them, unless they are the same as:

Cha, cha, cha CHIA!!
post #170 of 176
Thread Starter 
Hehe, yes, same seeds, but you want food grade, not the 'chia pet' kind that are probably treated with something...

You can order them online (I know that the 'Grain and Salt Society' has them all the time now) or try your local health food store.

I buy them in bulk to save $$ in the long run. They really rock! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE them as they really have helped with this pregnancy (Nausea, leg cramps, heartburn) and are totally good for you too (baby and mom).

You can google 'chia seeds' and will probably get alot of companies carrying them now. I know my local health food store sells them in little packages, the price per pound is alot, but you only need about 1/3 cup to start making the gel, and it'll last you weeks in the refrigerator if you using just a TBS a day of the gel for health reasons, and the occasional 'cookie' baking...bread baking...etc.

Here are some links:

For a small quantity (a pound or two) this site is good, plus it has a lot of Nourishing Traditions and culturing type stuff:
http://www.celticseasalt.com/Chia_Seeds_C84.cfm

These sites has good bulk prices if buying in large quantities:
http://www.a-tlc.net/chia.html

http://www.chiaseedandoil.com/chiaca...c9df85fa8ec613
post #171 of 176
There are also several retailers on eBay carrying chia seeds, which is where I got mine. Usually, they will only list 1lb per listing but you can send them a message and get them to list more since they will usually combine shipping charges. Make sure you look at the store listings at the bottom in addition to the auctions.
post #172 of 176
I just had to post to say we tried the pizza dough recipe and it was heavenly! Dh actually requested the next day, so the dough only lasted 2 days. That is by the best dough recipe I have tried. It was right up there with our favorite thin crust pizza and really was easy and especially quick to do once the dough balls were done.
post #173 of 176
bumping up for me......
post #174 of 176
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post #176 of 176
Thank you! :



Pat
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