The Rural Blogger

Archive for the ‘bread’ Category

My Pizza Bread

I made this bread a week or so ago and posted a note on facebook about it.  I’ve had several requests for the recipe so here it is.  It’s a very tasty bread and comes together quickly using a bread machine.

The recipe is based on a recipe I found on allrecipes.com.  I decided to free form the loaf and bake it in the oven instead of the machine.  I also brushed the loaf with water and sprinkled 2 teaspoons of a garlic herb mix on top before baking.  When I make this recipe again, I will split the dough in half making 2 loaves and baking them in bread pans.  Enjoy!

Directions

1. Place ingredients in bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Start.
2. To bake bread in oven: select dough or manual cycle. Once cycle is complete, shape dough and place in a greased loaf pan. Allow to rise in a warm spot until doubled in size. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the center of the loaf reads 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).

I have had a busy last few days since I last wrote about Annie’s kids.  We’ve had baby bunnies arriving.  Here are the litters born since I last blogged.

I got all my Pickle Bread completed but the guy who was picking them up was in a car accident on his way here so all 28 loaves went into the freezer until he comes to get them.  The freezer meaning the great outdoors.  I just hope it doesn’t warm up before he gets here.

Tanner, Annie’s buckling, came down with Floppy Kid Syndrome yesterday.  So he spent the day/night in the house so I could monitar him.  I started him on Penicillin and Thiamine, which I will continue for 3 days.  I also gave him a shot of CD antitoxin.  He looked much better and went out to the barn this morning to rejoin the family.  Annie was very happy to see him again.

We had twin lambs born as well.  This is number 3-4 for Katadhin lamb.  Sugar had a ram and ewe lamb.  So we are at 2 & 2.  Oreo is not only giving our small flock nice sized lambs, he’s adding a bit of color too.

Rich and I were scheduled to attend the second part of a holistic management class today.  Yesterday, we were at the first part.  After 10 hours of class, my head was on overload.  So this morning, I was up early to get chores done before we were to leave.  I found my Nubian-togg goat, Annie, in early labor.  So Rich went to class by himself.  It was cold this morning with dangerous below zero wind chills, so I stayed home to watch Annie. 

Annie's Buckling

By 8 am, she had delivered twins, a buckling and a doeling.  The doeling needed a little extra TLC from me, so I brought her to the house to warm up a bit.  The buckling was doing just fine, busy nursing on mama.  

Annie's 1st Doeling

By 9 am, I had the doeling warmed up and headed back down to the barn to see if I could get her nursing on Annie.  Lo and behold, Annie had another baby while I was gone!  So back to the house I went with the newest addition to Annie’s family.  This one was a doeling and quite chilled. 

Annie's 2nd Doeling

Madison is usually my helper with house babies but today she was at school so Ellie got to help me.  She just loves to lick new babies clean.  I guess that’s the benefit of being a farm dog who gets to live in the house. 

This little one will most likely become a bottle baby.  Annie is one of my main milkers.  I don’t want to stress her too much by having to raise 3 babies and be milked once a day.  I suppose we could try putting this doeling with Thelma since she lost one of her bucklings.  We’ll see how it goes. 

The rest of the day was spent running down to the barn to check on the Annie’s kids that I left with her, grabbing milk while there so I could feed the baby in the house and baking bread.  I have a large order of bread due tomorrow so I finished them up tonight.  It’s a good feeling to have them out of the way. 

Looks like we have a goat kid in the house for the night.  I hope she sleeps!

Dill Pickle Bread

Some of you already know this but it seems my Dill Pickle Bread is a hit.  I received a call on Saturday from a man named Al, who was looking to add a little something extra to his CSA boxes.  He ordered 28 loaves of Dill Pickle bread.  Think I’m going to be busy for a day?    I love it.  He also inquired about my bagels.  This should be a fun adventure.

So, after taking on this large order, I’ve been making bread, dill pickle bread to be exact, and doing what we like to call Research and Development to make sure I can deliver these goods in tasty order  .  It’s kind of fun as I’ve never taken on something like this before.  I just popped 2 loaves into the oven for more “testing.”  At the moment, I’m thinking a double oven sure would come in handy.  And here Rich thought a double oven was silly when I said I’d really “like to have” onea few years back.  Hmmm..  maybe if this works out, I may “need” one instead just “like to have” one.  Hehe

I also had a friend call me last evening to discuss the possiblity of  shipping the bread to her.  Paula lives a state away in “Packer Land.”  And yes, I still love her despite that little flaw…  Love ya Paula!  So I’m gonna do a little R & D on that one too.

In the back of my mind, I’m trying to come up with a clever name for my baked goods.  I’m really bad at being clever with names so if any of you have a suggestion, please let me know.

Well, I’m off to finish my bread and check on my bunnies!

From The Barn:  

We’ve had a busy few days here on the farm. Our little Apple, meat goat, went into labor early and miscarried twins. She didn’t breed for us last year so I’m not sure if there is something wrong with her or it’s just one of those things. She seems fine now although she does keep calling in the yard. Poor girl. 

We are waiting on the next litters of bunnies, they should be arriving next week. We lost a litter to the cold weather. Today, since it was warm; warm meaning 30 degrees F, I moved our 16 little bunnies out to their mama’s cages. They need to learn to eat and drink like big bunnies. I’m not so sure the mamas appreciated me bringing the little chowhounds down to stay with them. There was lots of thumping going on. After about 20 minutes things settled down and everybody bunny was happy. 

From My Kitchen: 

I’ve been busy in the kitchen. Rich begged me to make my Dill Pickle Bread and so I did that yesterday. The loaf is already gone! 1 1/2 pounds of bread gone. I only had 2 slices and neither of the kids eats it. Suppose Rich really likes this bread????  

Dill Pickle Bread, loaf 2

I tried my hand at making baked doughnuts. Those were tasty. Just look at Madison: 

They really do taste good... I just caught Madison in "mid-chew"

I started my French Bread yesterday and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight to add a bit of sourdough flavor. I baked it this afternoon. Then forgot to take a picture of it before I sliced into it. Here’s the “after” picture: 

My "authentic" French bread

Chas is in respite for the weekend as we have farm classes tomorrow. And I need the break. I’m so happy we are able to use this service as caregivers. 

We are having breakfast for supper tonight, so I better get the pancake batter started. Madison will be home from her basketball game soon and she will be hungry!
~ Carol