Quote of the Day

"Until I am aware that my needs are already met in Christ, I will be motivated by emptiness to met my needs.  When by simple faith I accept Christ's shed blood as full payment for my sins, I am brought into a relationship with an infinite Being of love and purpose who fully satisfies my deepest needs for security and significance.  Therefore I am freed from self-centered preoccupation with my own needs; they are met.  it is now possible for me to give to others out of my fullness rather than needing to receive from others because of my emptiness.  For the first time, I have the option of living selflessly."  Larry Crabb (from The Marriage Builder)

A Marriage Poll

This week our church's Bible study is studying marriage.  One week and done.  We're crazy for trying to fit such a large topic into one week, don't you think?

But it is such an important topic, and I hope that even spending one week studying it in God's word will be a blessing for us and for our husbands or husbands-to-be!

Would you do me a huge favor and vote on my poll (on the top right of the page)?

 I'm curious to know what topics become hot-button topics for you and your husband, and maybe you'll find out that you aren't alone!

Garlic Rosemary Bread

Photo source, because I forgot to take a picture of my bread!  But it looks like this, more or less. 

Last Thursday I took my Garlic Rosemary Bread to our Bible study's salad luncheon.  Not being much of a salad person I always ask if I can bring bread.  This bread goes particularly well with salad, because it had a fresh, herby flavor.  Oh, and if salad is your thing, you might like to know that this bread is 100% whole wheat, too.

I got lots of requests for the recipe, so here it is:

Garlic Rosemary Bread (makes 1 round loaf, 12 slices)

(which, incidentally, I called Rosemary Garlic Bread in my cookbook, so from now on I reserve the right to use either title)

3/4 cups water

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp. honey

3/4 tsp. salt

3 cups whole wheat flour

2 tsp. instant or rapid rise or dry active yeast (1 pkg. is fine)

3/4 tsp. dried dill weed

3/4 tsp dried basil

3/4 tsp. dried rosemary

1/2 tbsp. minced garlic

1 egg, for glaze

1 tbsp. water, for glaze

In a 2 cup measuring cup, combine water, buttermilk, olive oil, honey and salt.  Microwave for about 30 seconds until the liquid is warm like a mellow hot tub.  In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, yeast, herbs, and garlic.  Add wet ingredients and stir to combine.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes, covered.  Knead well - very well.  I use a Kitchenaid with a kneading hook, on medium power for about 5 minutes.  At this point, if you've used instant yeast you can form the loaf into a ball and let it rise, on parchment paper, until doubled.  If you are using rapid rise or dry active yeast, let it rise until doubled in covered bowl, in a warm place.  Then form the dough into a ball, place it on parchment paper, and let it rise for baking.  After the dough has been shaped, while it is rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Preheat a baking stone if you have one.  Combine the egg and water in a small bowl.  Brush the top of the loaf with the egg wash.  Slash the loaf, if desired.  Slide dough on the parchment paper, onto a baking sheet (or your heated stone).  Bake for 30 minutes.  Remove to wire rack to cool. 

Besides an accompaniment to salad, my preferred use for this bread is grilled cheese.

Yes, this is a Christmas plate.  In March.  What about it??

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich.  This one, my favorite, has Tillamook cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, a sprinkling of Penzey's shallot salt, and a sprinkling of smoked Spanish paprika (also Penzey's) all layered on my Rosemary Garlic Bread.  Oh, and another very important thing...

The George Foreman Grill.  Yep.  I've made a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches in my time, even putting considerable effort into perfecting the cast iron grilled cheese sandwich.  But nothing beats this handy little tool that we got as a wedding gift.

And then, wouldn't you know it, as I was eating my yummy sandwich, I knew it was missing something.  You know, too, don't you?  Yes, it definitely needed some soup.

So I pulled out a bit of Pioneer Woman's Sherried Tomato Soup and made a meal of it!

I hope you enjoy this bread as much as I have!



Public Service Announcement: Sorry my pictures are so terrible in this post.  I used my phone because I couldn't find my camera.  This is why...