Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Money, Money, Money

The recession in our house is in full swing, we have a balky renter, can't or won't pay. That sets us back about 1200 bucks a month in income, not good. We won't starve, but it's far from ideal. Kelly called a lawyer and before long he had taken the case, it's more complicated than normal rentals as it's really a sub-lease of the original renter who never actually stayed in the house. Odd but true. Nontheless we will have them out shortly with any luck. Our plan is to move into that house this winter and in turn rent this one so we can eventually sell that one down the road a bit. It has to do with taxation in our country, you need to actually LIVE in a place for 2 years before you can sell it without staggering financial penalty.
I've begun baking bread(s), bought a nice bread machine and acquired a basic whole wheat recipe with which to practice. The first few loaves were basic doorstops, bricks, lumps...not good. But the instruction manual had ways to repair the loaves the next time, add a bit of this if it looked this way and take away a bit of that if it looks another way. I spent the better of last week trying this and that and over a course of about 10 loaves came up with honest, delicious whole wheat bread.
I will post the recipe for those interested.
Here goes!
Whole Wheat Nut Bread
for Bread Machines:
5 oz (5/8 cup) 7 grain cereal mix
10 oz plus 1 Tablespoon hot water
Combine these for one hour.
14 oz (1 3/4 cup) Bread Flour (high glutin)
4 oz (1/2 Cup) Whole Wheat Flour
2 1/2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 Tablespoon salt
3 oz (3/8 cup) crushed nut meats.

There you go. Combine the water with the cereals for about 1 hr until the temperature falls to below 110 degrees F. Add all ingredients except the yeast, add it last (on top of the rest). Turn on your machine and go play. The results are well worth your efforts. Delicious with a fine crumb.