Weekend Update #1

This is the first of at least 2 posts (possibly three) of some weekend cooking.  I have to work this weekend, so I’m packing my bentos and heading into the office. Friday evening, I decided I wanted to haul out my bread machine.  I have used the thing very little since I purchased it a year ago.  The main reason is because I’ve been unable to find myself a great bread recipe.  This weekend, I found one at Recipezaar.  I wanted a simple light whole wheat bread.  I’m not sharing the process since it’s an add-to-a-machine recipe.  Just follow the instructions.  However, if you’re searching for a plain whole wheat bread recipe that’s easy and tasty, this one is it.  Just beware the yeast.

One of the great things about Recipezaar is not just the recipes but the comments left by users of those recipes. Many people forewarned that they had to cut back on the yeast in the recipe. Some didn’t mention that issue. I left it alone. I checked my bread about 3/4 into it and noticed the top had collapsed. BAH! I think maybe it over rose (is that a term?) because of the yeast. The bread itself is really tasty. It just has no top. I felt like the mom on the TV special whose souffle has deflated.

Regardless of the deflated top, it made for beautiful, tasty bread. This just might become my all around, everyday bread. This was easy. The clean up was a breeze. It also didn’t leave my bread machine’s inner container too hard to clean up. A winner for sure.

Peanut butter and honey became my dinner with a few chips. YUM! I even broke out the tea to drink with it.

Here’s a shot of the whole shebang with a cup of this tea. I’m learning that if I drink it enough I start to get used to it’s non-existent taste.

This morning, I broke out the bread to make a sandwich. My biggest problem is I keep cutting off way-too-thick slices. I’ve gotta work on that. Cheese was liberally strewn about.

And now it’s ready to be grilled.

It did make for a very tasty breakfast.  I had to pop to the store this morning before making this dish to purchase some mayo for my upcoming bento for today.  I picked up a Bigelow tea sampler pack, based on Sarah’s brand recommendation.  I also chose to brew the Earl Grey tea version based on Yvo’s comments.  I didn’t have the cream and Splenda that Yvo suggested.  I did have a bit of milk and some regular sugar.  This wasn’t so bad.  It ended up looking faintly similar to cafe au lait in the cup.  It’s a taste I have to get used to but it’s a far cry better than this orange/chocolate disaster I’ve been trying to get used to.  So, things might be looking up on the tea front.  We’ll see.  I need to look at the library to see if we have a book on tea.  I’d like to learn how people doctor this stuff up.  I doctor up my coffee too.  I’m a wimp when it comes to caffeinated beverates, I suppose.

Have a great weekend everyone!