Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Not Going to the Store and an Easy Frugal Bread Recipe

I peered into my bread basket this morning and what did I see.... Well nothing and that had me immediately thinking that I should run to the grocery store and while I was there I could also pick up some more fresh fruit and......... I am sure that if I had chosen to go to the grocery store this morning I would have come back home with a minimum of $30 worth of items. Instead I took a walk in the cool morning air and thought about the ways that I could make do with what I have and not go to the store and here is what I came up with..

When I got back home from my walk I went over and opened the pantry door and examined it's contents. I noticed that I had some dried fruits (raisins and apricots), applesauce, can fruits and veggies, and plenty of flour among other things.

I felt like I needed to pick up some fresh fruit because I like for my oldest to have a fresh fruit in his school lunch bag. Well whats wrong with apple sauce, dried fruits and can fruits? Absolutely nothing. OK solved that issue. What about the bread???

A few years ago I found a recipe that was published by Amy Dacyczyn (Tightwad Gazette) called Easy Cuban Bread, perfect for the occasion and completely easy and quick to make.

Easy Cuban Bread : Yields 2 loafs

5-6 cups all purp flour (you can use whole wheat or even a combination)
2Tbsp. dry yeast
2Tbsp. sugar
1Tbsp. salt
2cups hot water
1Tbsp. sesame or poppy seeds (optional)

Mix 4 cups of flour with yeast, sugar, and salt. Pour in hot water and beat for 100 stokes. stir in remaining flour until dough is no longer sticky. Knead for 8 min. (I set a timer and let my kids do this:) Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let rise for 15 min. Punch down. Shape into 2 round or rectangular loafs, place on baking sheet. Cut an "X" in the top of each loaf (if using round loaf) brush with water and sprinkle with seeds if you have any. Place on mid shelf in a cold oven. Place a cake pan of water on the low rack in the oven. Heat oven to 400 degrees and bake for 40-50 min.

The smell is divine!!! Enjoy.

2 comments:

  1. Wow, this sounds great. Have you ever tried to mix in wheat flour to the recipe?

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  2. I have made it with a combination of all- purp and whole wheat and it was delish!

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