Cherry Cheesecake Bread

Ok - I think this may be one of my best recipes yet!!

I took a standard amish starter (White flour) - I followed the recipe, except:
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce for 1/2 cup oil (then used 1/2 cup oil as well)
2 small boxes of SUGAR FREE cheesecake pudding mix (instead of large box of vanilla)
roughly 1/2 cup of reduced fat cream cheese
Roughly 1/3 cup of white sugar (instead of the 1 cup recipe says)
about 3/4 cup of cherries (Which I didn't cut as much as I should have - fresh)
I ended up adding milk.. maybe 1/3 - 1/2 cup more then it called for - I skipped the cinnamon

The key to this bread was using the beaters and under baking it a little (about 50 minutes instead of 60) AND THEN REFRIGERATE - we had some after it cooled and then some more the next morning (after beeing in the fridge overnight) OMG sooo good :)

Whole Wheat - Banana Bread

I made banana bread with the whole wheat starter I have.. definitly the best with that starter - I did put cinnamon brown sugar on it this time - (there is another post with the recipe alterations for this - I did use brown sugar this time and ground oats for some of the flour) - the topping added a LOT :)

I also added nuts.. OK this is what I did because as I write this I realize I altered a lot :)

Full whole wheat starter - basic recipe minus oil (used trader joes cinnamon applesauce (1 cup)) Egg substitute (which I'm now using all the time), no pudding mix, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup rolled oats ground in the food processor (I also tossed in some flax seed (which I didn't ground enough)) - about a half cup of walnuts (which I also did not break / grind enough)). 3 medium mashed bananas. Used about 1/3 cup of brown sugar (and no white sugar other then original feed)

It makes a dense bread.. but a good morning bread :)

Whole Wheat Apple Oat Bread

I had been feeding one of my starters only whole wheat flour and it was time to back!

I decided to try apple oat bread.. so I used only applesauce instead of oil, only whole wheat flour, omitted the pudding mix and added cut up apple (I used about a 1/2 apple but wish I had used the whole thing!) and about a cup of oatmeal (could have done more and reduced the flour)

I then subbed agave syrup for the sugar (about 1/4 of what it calls for)

The result was a decent bread.. it could have used more flavor, perhaps cinnamon applesauce, more apples and if I had ground the oats and replaced some of the whole wheat flour, but for a "healthy" bread it was pretty good!

Low Sugar Chocolate Bread

Wednesday was baking day, and I had two breads to make! 1 from the regular amish starter and 1 from a whole wheat amish starter.

Since a friend wanted her own basic starter I made a small loaf with that batch and I'd been craving chocolate so I decided to try a "healthy" chocolate bread :)

I got sugar free pudding mix (chocolate fudge) - I used applesauce instead of oil - I then used Agave Syrup for the sugar (I used a little under half of what it called for) - I did add a few chocolate chips and a some pecans...

After fudging with the milk a little I was a little worried, the "dough" was awful thick for what I was used to, but I decided to try it.

After baking and cutting into it (HOT) I found pockets of green, I think it was the agave mixing with the nuts, but .. either way.. though a little odd, it tasted GOOD and was a good substitute for the chocolate cake I was craving :)

Sourdough Starter

I'm now on day 5 of my sourdough starter. I have bubbles, I have separation, but I don't have froth. Tonight I made mashed potatoes and thus saved some of the water to feed my starter with, good thing too, as I accidentally threw out more then half! I'm hoping this trick of using the "starch" water will be the turning point. I'd like to try sourdough this weekend!

Traditional Amish Starter - Banana Bread

So... day 10 rolled around again and this time I substituted mashed bananas for the pudding mix, cinnamon applesauce for half the oil, omitted the cinnamon (due to the applesauce ;)) and reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup (ish). It was pretty good!!

We are picking at it at home.. first batch my mom has gotten a taste of and she is pretty pleased with it! I saved two separate bags of starter this time, one will be fed "normal" and one with wheat flour. Its also time to reduce the feedings on both bags.. too many bags of goo!!

Sourdough.. A new Starter?

So... after humming and hawing.. and trying this and trying that.. I think I'm going to venture out and try making a sourdough starter and thus.. sourdough bread. I have a few hesitations with this endeavor.. but.. why not right?

I mean if I can figure a way to make REALLY good bread at home.. even if it takes me 36 hours somehow that's better then the store bought bread right? (Come on - RIGHT?) :)

So soon I'll start.. so the start seems easy - I put some stuff in a jar (ooh I have to buy a jar!) and then let it sit.. and hope it "catches" and makes "hooch" I kid you not, these are the terms..

I swear.. something about this.. very cult like.