Multigrain Bread

With today being New Years Eve, a lot of people are thinking about their New Year's Resolution... I'm here to help! How you ask....

Maybe your resolution is to save money by making more of the food you consume at home...

Maybe your resolution is to eat healthier...

Maybe your resolution is to reward yourself and eat more delicious, soft, moist, hearty bread! (oh-that's just me? Oh well...)

Even if your resolution did not fall into any of these three categories, I can assure you that you will still enjoy this bread recipe!

1 1/4 cup white flour

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons flax seed

2 TBSP. wheat germ
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoons salt
12 ounces barely warm water

4 tsp. vital wheat gluten

Directions:

1. Proof yeast - add 1 pkg. (2 1/4 tsp.) fast acting (aka quick rise) yeast to 1/2 cup warm water. Let sit a few minutes - if bubbles form, your yeast is good to go!

2. While waiting for yeast to 'proof itself' (hehe- punny joke!) you can get started mixing the dry ingredients together. This includes... well everything but the water. Just throw in all together in a bowl or stand mixer and combine!

3. Add another cup of warm water to your water/yeast mixture

4. Slowly pour water/yeast mixture into dry ingredients and begin mixing

5. As your water becomes fully incorporated you will begin kneading the dough - note: you may need to add a touch more flour or water to get it to the right consistency. This dough should be elastic, not very sticky and slightly heavy

6. Knead for about 6-8 minutes (or 4-6 if using the kneading attachment on a stand mixer)

7. Place in a bowl and cover with a dry kitchen towel. Place in a warmish area and let rise until double - about 1-2 hours.

8. After it has doubled - punch dough down and allow it to rest another 10 minutes

9. Remove from bowl and shape into your loaf. Place in a greased & floured loaf pan and cover again with a dry kitchen towel and allow to rise for another hour.

10. Preheat your oven to 350* F

11. After dough has risen, place in over and bake for 45 minutes (bread should be slightly browned)

12. Cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting - this will help create a nicer texture that won't crumble as you slice it

BREAD! Alpine Valley Bread #obsessed.

Ok, let's get some stuff straight...
1. I LOVE bread all carbs - but especially some good bread
2. I have dont some great product reviews in my short time blogging and am extremely grateful
3. I would much rather make my own homemade bread than eat bread from a company

And to further clarify: #1 still stands, #2 still stands, #3 is out. the. window.

Yes-I admit-I've found been blessed to have the best bread company EVER come into my life!

Alpine Valley Bread. It's the BEST bread company I have ever come across, not lying. Their bread is so delicious, healthy and smile-inducing. (yes, that is now an adjective)

I don't even know how to explain it - it's just soooo soooo.... ahh! Smile-inducing!

Alpine Valley Bread was generous enough to send me a few different loaves of breads. They arrived while I was away at college so my mother kindly kept them in the freezer until I got home (which was about 1 month). You'd think that would lower their taste... NOPE! Even after a month in the freezer this bread was the most amazing non-homemade bread I have ever had in my entire life. I have been home 5 days and already on loaf #3... little obsessed-maybe?!

Although my family is definitely helping me out though, which right there says a lot about how delicious this bread is because they would not eat something just because it is healthy. But, since we are on the subject, the bread is crazy healthy!

They have both all natural bread and organic bread. On average, one slice has about 60ish calories, 2 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein plus a little iron. It's very low in sodium (about 3%) and low in carbs as well.

The bread is soft and moist. Makes extremely great sandwiches, but also flavorful enough to just be eaten plain. They have so many varieties, I'm sure everyone will find one (or 20) that they just love. I know I have. Everything that goes into these loaves of bread is delicious and wholesome, and the end product is nothing short of delicious and wholesome itself.

Yum.

Yum.

Yum.

Their Multi-grain with Omega 3 toasted with some pears and Greek yogurt for a delicious breakfast

Some Spelt bread with a peanut butter & honey smoothie makes for one delightful bedtime snack!

So no matter who you are - if you are able to eat bread, GET ALPINE VALLEY BREAD! The sooner the better! Check this out to see where the closest place to pick up these little slices of heaven are to you!

Thanks Alpine Valley Bread Co. for an amazing, delicious product that I am now obsessed with! *These opinions are all my own, the only thing I received from Alpine Vally Bread was their samples. 

Overnight Oats

Yes, I'm joining the bandwagon! I'm sure many (if not all) of you have seen a recipe or two (or ten THOUSAND) for a little thing called 'overnight oats'. But have you tried it yet? NO!? WHAT!? Are you people crazy! Overnight oats are the easiest, healthiest, fastest and one of the most delicious (a close tie with banana pancakes) breakfasts. This simple breakfast is so crazy good for you-full of protein, healthy carbs, healthy fats, fiber, and a bazillion vitamins and minerals! Talk about kickstarting your day!

It's cool, creamy and sweet-not to mention chock full of nutrients! But...it can also be made warm - all you need to do is throw it in the microwave for a few minutes.

So do I have you convinced you need to try it? No?! Wow, you guys are a tough crowd... well maybe this picture will do the trick:

You're ready to try now? ...ya-I thought whipped cream and sprinkles would change your mind :)

Basic Overnight Oats

Ingredients: 

-1/3 cup dry oats (or any other dry 'hot' cereal)

-1 TBSP. flax seed

-1 TBSP. chia seeds

-1 TBSP. wheat germ

-1/2 cup milk (any kind will work just fine!)

-1/2 cup Greek yogurt (but if you only have regular that is fine too! ...man I'm very agreeable today!)

Directions: 

1. Throw everything in a small mason jar and shake to stir it all together! OH WAIT! -be sure to add the jar's lid first! :)

2. Clean up the kitchen if you starting shaking your mason jar BEFORE reading the part about adding the jar's lid

3. Let sit overnight (or at least 6 hours) in the refrigerator

...there are so many variations of this-by adding different milks (almond, soy, chocolate!) or different yogurt flavors. You can also add fruit (fresh, frozen, canned), nuts, or any extracts & flavorings you may be feeling 

For this berry version I added to the basic recipe:

-1/4 cup berry blend frozen fruit

-1 tsp. vanilla extract

-1 tsp. almond extract

-1 TBSP. slivered almonds

topped with whipped cream and sprinkles!

Feel free to mess around with the basic recipe and create some new combos all your own! Leave a comment and let me know your favorite recipe for overnight oats! I'd love to try some new varieties out :)

Nutritional Info:

 

Hodgepodge Granola

Hodgepodge...such a fun word! It means a heterogeneous mixture; a jumble and that is EXACTLY what is going on in this granola. It is a crazy mixture of a wide variety of shapes, sizes, tastes and textures that will leave your taste buds guessing what is coming next. Even more than that though, is the fact that it is CRAZY healthy! It combines some of the world's most nutritious grains, topped with spices that have almost magical healing powers!

I love granola with just about anything and everything... yogurt, fruit, ice cream, pudding, smoothies, steak-okay, maybe not that far-just making sure you're paying attention!

Ingredients:

-1 cup oats

-2 TBSP. chia seeds

-2 TBSP wheat germ

-2 TBSP. flax seed

-1 egg white (not pictured-sorry!)

-1/4 cup Splenda (or sugar, or any sugar substitute)

-1 TBSP vanilla (also not pictured, man where was my brain today?!)

-1 TBSP. cinnamon

-2 tsp. ginger

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300*; Beat egg white until it is fluffy

2. Add sugar & vanilla and mix well

3. Add all other ingredients and stir until each is coated and starting to form clumps

4 Spread onto a parchment lined cookie sheet

5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until granola is beginning to slightly brown and get slightly crispy

          ~Don't worry if your granola isn't very crisp, in my experience it always gets crispy after it is removed from oven and has time to cool

Delicious! Don't you wish you had some of this to top some frozen yogurt with right now?! I DO!

 Nutritional Info (1/8 of recipe-about 1 ounce):

Peanut Butter Energy Bites

A few days ago I posted a new recipe for Energy Bites. I hope by now you have already tried them, loved them, and reveled in their deliciousness! If by some reason you are already bored of the original flavor, I have concocted a new and completely unique flavor! This way you can continue to enjoy the simplicity and convenience of Energy Bites but give your taste buds a wake up!

I don't know how many of you out there are obsessed with peanut butter... As hard as it is for me to believe it, I realize there are a few people out there that aren't as completely heads over heals for peanut butter like I am... in fact.. there may even be some of you that don't like peanut butter (I shudder at this thought!) For those of you who love it like myself-you'll love this new recipe... For those of you who don't (really, could there be anyone who doesn't like peanut butter?!) just bear with me during my peanut butter recipes!

These little spheres of peanutty goodness are filled with nutrition in each bite! Healthy fats, some fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. etc.... these guys have it all!

Ingredients:
-3/4 cup peanut butter
-3/4 cup oats
-1/4 cup nuts (any kind will work-use peanuts for an even more distinct peanut butter taste!)
-1/4 cup shredded coconut
-1/4 cup all bran cereal (i.e. bran flakes)
-1/4 cup wheat germ
-1/4 cup ground flax seed (you have to grind flax seed to ensure your body will absorb its nutrition)
-7-8 dried prunes (or any dried fruit will suffice)

Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth

The mixture should resemble something like this...

Roll into desired shapes/sizes

I got about 24 good sized bites

Nutritional Info: