When a pandemic has hit the world and you need to stay close to home as much as possible, what do you do?

I still get out and walk. One of the hardest things, for me, is social distancing from the dogs! The humans get it, not so sure the dogs do. (Animals are smarter than us in many ways, don’t you think?)

Last Friday, I wished I had a puzzle, thought about pulling out my sketch pad, then decided to bake some bread. My husband was making his awesome spaghetti sauce and pasta, a fresh green salad was in the frig, and the bread ingredients were already on hand, not as rare as toilet paper!

I received this recipe from a gal named Shelly I worked with years ago; she invited me and our mutual friend Jackie over for a bread-making party. The recipe is entitled Al Barnhill’s Bread. I’ve Googled. I have no idea who this person is, but the bread recipe is awesome. My special tweaks (because I, again, Googled, come below.)

Al Barnhill’s Bread

Combine:

1 T dry instant yeast (Rapid Rise)

1 T sugar

2 C flour

1 tsp salt

Add:

2 T vegetable oil or melted butter

1 C hot tap water

Stir well. Add additional flour (1/2-1 cup) until kneading consistency is reached. Knead 3-5 min. Brush with olive oil to keep from drying out and let rise until doubled in warm area, approx. 30-40 minutes. Shape. Brush with egg wash (mix together 1 egg white and 2 T water) or butter. Rest 5-10 min. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Makes either 1 loaf bread, 1 pan rolls (12-15), 1 large pizza crust, one dozen bread sticks.

Notes:

*Bread rises better in a warm house.

*If using a metal bowl for mixing, warming it with hot water before beginning is helpful in allowing the bread to rise.

*If you are making rolls for an event at some later point, put them in the refrigerator immediately after shaping. Take rolls out of refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature/rise then bake.

*If you would like, the oil and sugar can be doubled in this recipe to make a slightly sweeter dough.

*If you are making pizza dough, skip the rising step.

I made garlic parmesan bread twists – so very good and not so very healthy. Every once in a while we need an indulgence, right? This is one.

Combine about a half cup of melted butter and/or olive oil with crushed garlic and/or garlic powder.

Have an equal amount grated parmesan cheese.

Roll out the risen dough into a large rectangle shape. Brush it with the butter/olive oil/ garlic mixture. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Fold the prepared dough in half.

Cut into strips – about 12 – twist, and place on two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Brush with additional butter/garlic mixture, sprinkle on some coarse salt, and possibly a cheaper version of parmesan cheese, like that which comes in a green can.  

Bake according to Al’s recipe.

We can certainly afford the indulgence of nice, rich homemade bread right now.

Panic and negative thoughts, not so much.

Be safe, stay healthy, in control of your thoughts…become even more creative and willing to share of yourself in different ways. This is your time to shine, to become more of who you already are.

According to research done by UCLA, the average human being has around 70,000 thoughts per day. And out of those thoughts 80% of them are negative, with the majority of those thoughts carrying over to the next day. Based on everything I’ve read and observed, digesting negative news is a leading cause of this frightening statistic. –Dean Graziosi, from Millionaire Success Habits

Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change. –Dr. Wayne Dyer

Please spread the love and pass this along to a friend!

Love Your Voice and Voice Your Love,

Laura

Lake Oswego’s Transformational Voice® Teacher (Transformational Voice® is a registered trademark of Transformational Voice® Training Institute, LLC, and Linda Brice.)