"There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable. ~Mark Twain"
T-minus 124 days until I must fit into a bridesmaid's dress.
One of my friends suggested I try a few methods of getting oneself into shape:
"Tape a picture of yourself at your heaviest on your fridge, don’t drink any beer, remove complex carbs and cheese from the diet, yadda yadda yadda…"
Clearly, my dear friend is a) male and b) someone with self-control in his life.
Don't drink any beer? Okay, easy. Tequila it is. Oh wait, margarita's have a day's worth of calories. Mother of...
Remove complex carbs? But, I thought complex carbs were good and simple carbs were bad? I'm supposed to give up bread? For real? Is that even possible?
Cheese??? Cheese??? Really. Kill me. Just kill me.
No cheese? No bread? andddd I'm supposed to work out? This is going to last about 15 minutes.
... and done.
Tonight, I shall prepare this multi grain bread that is supposedly (with moderation) not like eating glazed donuts and chocolate covered peanut butter balls.
I'll let you know how it goes...
As sent from my mother, please note her comment about at what rate the bread should be consumed:
Super Easy Multi-grain Bread
Makes (1) 2lb loaf
Diet Facts: multi grain, minus the preservatives- just try not to eat the whole loaf in one sitting.
350g/ 12 1/2 oz multi-grain bread flour (or mixed seed or malted grain) OR 1-1/2 cups
300g/10 1/2 oz whole wheat flour OR 1-3/8 cups
1 pkg active dry yeast OR 2-1/4 Tsps.
2 tsp salt1 tsp sugar50g/2oz pumpkin seeds (optional) and/or flax seeds/linseeds
300g/10 1/2 oz whole wheat flour OR 1-3/8 cups
1 pkg active dry yeast OR 2-1/4 Tsps.
2 tsp salt1 tsp sugar50g/2oz pumpkin seeds (optional) and/or flax seeds/linseeds
400-500ml hand hot water
1 Tbsp oil or melted butter
1) Mix together the flours, yeast, salt, sugar and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl.
2) Make a hole in the middle and gradually begin to add the water, stirring with a wooden spoon to gradually incorporate the flour. You want a smooth dough nothing wet or sticky, so don’t add the water all at once.
3) Once it begins to look scraggly and has come together add the oil or melted butter and mix with your hands. Remove from the bowl and knead a few times just to bring it together.
4) Roll into a log about 18 inches longs and tuck both sides back in on each other so that they meet in the middle. Grease a 900g/2 lb loaf tin lightly with oil or butter and drop the loaf in. Gently press down evenly cover and cover with a clean tea-towel and place in a warm place, such as a preheating oven.
5) Heat the oven to 200C/400F Make sure that the rack is in the centre of the oven. Place the bread into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and the tin and then place back in the oven upside down for 5 minutes so that the bottom gets crispy.
6) Remove and try to let it cool or it has a tendency to break up! But this is harder than it sounds. Freezes beautifully pre-sliced if wrapped really well.
