Mouth watering bread and "Better Butter"

Join others in frugal Friday here.

Nothing is quite as comforting as a piece of fresh out of the oven bread with REAL butter on top!!! "Better Butter" is a frugal way to enjoy a butter that SPREADS straight from the fridge! (see recipe below) Baking bread isn't as hard as most people think... myself included before I learned how. I had always used my bread machine, but when it died after 9 years of hard work we still wanted home made bread! I have a kitchen aid and a friend kept telling me that it isn't really hard to make.... hmmmm, really?? Could I do it?? Isn't it complicated?? After a try I was hooked! (I will work on putting together a "HOW TO" post on making bread.) For now here is one of our favorite recipes... you can use it in your bread machine or with a mixer (or by hand if you have stronger muscles than me :)

Honey Wheat Bread
(This dough can be shaped anyway you want... from rolls to traditional to French bread. Last night I doubled the recipe and made two bread braids.)

Whisk together and allow to sit for 15 minutes for yeast to proof. (it will foam up)
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup honey
1 pkt of instant yeast or 1 TBL yeast ( buy yeast in bulk..will save you a TON)

Add:
2 TBL oil (I use canola)
1/4 cup dry milk powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups white flour
(more flour as needed)

Put it all in your bread machine and push start.... or.....
Mix with mixer (dough hooks) till well blended. Then I just set my timer for 2 minutes and let my kitchen aid kneed away.....
Place in a greased bowl, turning dough once to coat. Cover and let rise for 1 hour. Punch down, shape into whatever you want. Allow to rise 30 additional minutes. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until top is golden and it sounds hollow when thumped. ENJOY!!!

"Better Butter".... nothing is quite as good on bread as REAL butter!!! However, it is a little pricey and it doesn't spread easily unless it is at room temperature. The solution: "Better Butter"! My mom made this a lot when I was growing up!

Better Butter

Equal parts real butter and oil (I use canola)

Allow butter to come to room temp. Place the butter and oil in a blender and blend away till smooth and creamy. Pour into containers and keep in fridge. This will be easy to spread straight from the fridge and it tastes GREAT!

**Variation... I make Honey Butter by adding honey to this mixture. My friend makes cinnamon butter by adding brown sugar and cinnamon. options are endless!***

Have a Blessed day... Be a BLESSING!
I am off to my son's end of the year pre-school picnic. The sun is shining! Yeah... the forcast hadn't been so good.

Heather

I love to cook! Supper can be simple: www.simplefamilysupper.com