Love Thy Neighbor
I was thinking today about what a great neighborhood we live in. Our block is filled with families young and old and our neighborhood is like one that I used to dream about living in. The kids all hang out together…riding bikes, playing games, playing catch. The parents all hang out together grilling hot dogs, drinking margaritas, catching up on the news, etc. We borrow eggs, we borrow tools, we borrow trucks. We have a great time together and I am thankful to have such wonderful families surrounding us.
I also like my neighbors because they never turn down baked goods. I like to bake a lot, if you haven’t figured that out already, and if I ate everything I baked I would be the size of my house. This is when my neighbors really come in handy. I know that I can always count on someone on our block taking something off my hands…making the caloric sacrifice for me.
Today I decided I was going to make one of my favorite mini-loaf bread recipes. I don’t make this recipe often because it is just too good. I am always tempted to scarf each little loaf down myself. This recipe makes 4 mini loaves of the softest most delicious bread. In my mind math challenged mind, I had two loaves to give to neighbors, one loaf for dinner and one loaf for my husband to take with him to work tomorrow. It would work out perfectly. I took the loaves out of the oven and called my first neighbor. After I hung up the phone I looked at my husband who was staring at me with fear in his eyes.
Him - “You aren’t giving away all the bread are you?”
Me - “Of course not… just two of the loaves.”
Him - “Two?? Can’t we just give away one? This is my favorite bread… I promise you I’ll take care of it so it won’t be tempting you.”
Me - “Seriously… do we need three loaves?”
Him - “Yes…we need three loaves.”
I can’t get in the way of a man and his needs. If it is as easy as leaving three loaves of bread here to keep my husband happy, I’m happy to oblige. Of course, his definition of “taking care of it” and my definition of “taking care of it” must be two different things because I have one lonely little mini loaf sitting on my counter tempting me to just snatch a nibble which would then turn into a hunk and then turn into nothing but a pile of crumbs left.
If you feel like sharing the love with your neighbors, give this simple bread machine recipe a try. Nothing says love like something homemade.
From Recipezaar:
| 4 | cups flour |
| 2 | tablespoons sugar |
| 1 | teaspoon salt |
| 1 1/2 | teaspoons yeast |
| 1 1/2 | cups whipping cream |
| 1/4 | cup water |
| 2 | tablespoons butter |
- Put all the dry ingredients into the Bread Machine.
- Add all the wet ingredients.
- Set Machine for 2 loaf size on dough cycle only.
- When cycle is completed make 4 balls and place into a buttered loaf pan side by side.
- Paint the bread with butter.
- Cover with cloth and allow to raise to double.
- Bake at 375°F (oven pre heated) for 35 minutes or until hollow when tapped.
This bread sounds heavenly - is there some reason it needs to be mixed in a bread machine? I don’t have a bread machine and I’d like to try the recipe. I also live at high altitude - should I do anything different?
thanks!