Whole Wheat Bread

Have you ever tasted whole wheat bread that was 100% healthy, delicious, and still had a wonderful texture that didn’t remind you of a brick?

This last year my Mom gave me her whole wheat bread recipe and taught me the simple tricks for the most perfect whole wheat bread.

Ingredients: 

3 cups Warm Water

1/3 cup melted Coconut Oil

1/3 cup Agave Nectar

8 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1 tablespoon Sea Salt

1 1/2 tablespoon Instant Yeast

2 tablespoons Dough Enhancer

Extra melted Coconut oil for kneading the dough on the counter top and for “glazing” the bread once it’s done.

2 Bread Pans

Instructions:

Step 1) Combine the warm water, melted coconut oil, and agave nectar in mixer.

Step 2) Add 4 cups of the whole wheat flour, the sea salt, instant yeast, and dough enhancer into the mixer.

Step 3) Slowly start to add the rest of the whole wheat flour, about a half cup at a time…

…you’ll know that you are done adding flour when the dough is no longer sticking to the mixer (see the picture above and below for comparison).

You will need more or less flour based on elevation and even the weather – which is why you’ll need to add the flour in just a half cup at a time to prevent putting in too much flour. Add more, if needed.

Step 4) Once the dough is no longer sticking to the mixing bowl, mix the dough on low speed for 6 minutes.

Step 5) Add about a teaspoon or so of melted coconut oil to a clean counter top surface. This will prevent the dough from sticking to the counter top.

Step 6) Roll the dough into a ball…

…and with a sharp knife, cut evenly into two pieces.

Step 7) Roll the dough and shape it into the bread pans.

Step 8) Bake bread for 35 minutes, or until bread is fully cooked.

Step 9) With a basting brush or a paper towel, dip into the melted coconut oil and brush/rub onto the top of the bread. As you can see, it’s a little dry on top, and the coconut oil on top will help with that. I will let the coconut oil dry before putting the bread away.

Step 10) Enjoy! :)

Notes: 

You can use honey, but I have found that the agave nectar works better with the instant yeast.

I grind up my own wheat to make the whole wheat flour by using a combination of 50% red wheat and 50% hard white wheat. I have found that it’s the best combination, but you can always experiment with the ratio of red and white wheat to determine what’s your favorite.

I love making this bread, and once you’ve made it a couple of times, you’ll find that it’s pretty fast and easy to make.

On a budget? Making your own bread is a great way to benefit from healthy bread and save money! For bread this healthy at the store, whole wheat bread can cost about $6 per loaf! I have found that it costs me about $1 per loaf of bread – huge savings!

Go ahead and enjoy your whole wheat bread plain, with jam, or as part of a sandwich!

You. Are. Welcome.  ;)

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Tags: Recipe, whole wheat bread

Not So Devilish Eggs

I absolutely love deviled eggs, but I don’t make them all too often for a number of reasons. To make deviled eggs healthier, I suggest using less yolks and/or a healthy mayo replacement.

Ingredients:

12 eggs, hard boiled and shells removed

1/4 cup Grapeseed Vegenaise

1 tbsp Mustard

Paprika, garnish

Instructions:

Step 1) Cut eggs in half, lengthwise, with a sharp knife. Remove yolks and place in bowl.

Step 2) Mash yolks and mix in the Vegenaise and Mustard.

Step 3) Spoon yolk mixture onto egg white halves and sprinkle Paprika on top.

Tip: For a smooth and creamy egg yolk texture, mix ingredients in a blender or with egg beaters. Also, if you would like the finished product to look more fancy than your average deviled egg, use the creamy mixture with cake decorating supplies and use that to place onto the egg whites.

Image Credit: Jan Leasure (I’m using her pic while my camera is being fixed…)

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Tags: eggs, Recipe

Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup

I love creating new recipes, it’s my way of creating art. As much as I love this creation process, there are few recipes that get me really excited about them. This is one of those recipes that I just can’t stop smiling about. You need to try this recipe out and let me know what you think of it.  Oh yeah, it’s ridiculously healthy too.

Ingredients: 

2 Sweet Potatoes

1/2 cup Maple Syrup

1/4 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground Cloves

1/8 teaspoon All Spice

Cinnamon, garnish

crushed Pecans, garnish

Instructions:

Step 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2) Peel, wash, and cut sweet potatoes into small pieces and place in a baking dish.

Step 3) Mix the maple syrup, nutmeg, cloves, and all spice together.

Step 4) Pour maple syrup mixture over the sweet potatoes.

Step 5) Cover pan with tin foil and bake for one hour or until extremely soft.

Step 6) Put sweet potatoes and maple syrup juices from the baking pan into a bowl. Use a mixer and beat until texture is smooth(similar to that of mashed potatoes).

Step 7) Scoop mixture in a bowl or on a plate and add cinnamon and pecans as garnish.

Notes: 

This recipe is a great new twist to “candied yams” except it’s still healthy once you are done making it and I personally think it tastes better too. The spices give a nice warm flavor to the sweet potatoes, which is unique and something I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

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Tags: all spice, cinnamon, cloves, maple syrup, nutmeg, pecan, Recipe, sweet potato

Baked Kale

Baked Kale. It’s the new potato chip. Tasty. Nutritious. What’s not to love?

Ingredients: 

1 bunch of Kale

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Instructions: 

Step 1) Preheat oven to 250 degrees. You don’t want to have it any higher since olive oil is very heat sensitive.

Step 2) Place kale leaves on a baking sheet. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on each kale leaf and sprinkle with sea salt.

Step 3) Bake kale leaves for 40 minutes, or until fully cooked (leaves should be flaky and easy to break).

Notes:

Kale is a nutritionally dense food that is rich in iodine and has about four times the iron found in beef. Most people don’t know how to incorporate this super food into their current dishes, but an easy way to enjoy the health benefits of kale is to try it as a new healthy snack your family will enjoy.

Baked Kale. It’s easy to make, and surprisingly delicious.

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Tags: Baked Kale, Health, Kale, Kale Chips, Nutrition, Recipe

Bruschetta

Ingredients: 

1 French Baguette

Olive Oil

Fresh Basil

3 sliced Tomatoes

Instructions:

Step 1) Slice the baguette into thin pieces.

Step 2) On each baguette slice, drizzle a small amount of olive oil, add a basil leaf, and then add a sliced tomato on top.

Step 3) Bake for 10 minutes.

Notes:

Bruschetta looks and tastes gourmet, yet it is extremely easy to make!

I suggest using the artisan French baguette from a Target Superstore bakery. This baguette only has about 6 ingredients – all healthy – unlike their whole wheat baguette which has too many ingredients to count, and too many of them too unnatural to consider healthy.

Bon Appétit!

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Tags: basil, bruschetta, Olive Oil, Recipe, tomato