I could eat Ezekiel bread all day, every day. Okay, well, not all day — but I think you get my point. I can’t buy a white bread. Hm mm. No way, no how. I just. Can’t. Do it!
My husband? Complete opposite. Ezekiel bread? Uh uh. No way. No WAY. He claims it is really something more a kin to cardboard and that if he took a bite of actual cardboard, followed by a bite of Ezekiel bread he would likely not be able to tell a difference. [Insert eye roll here…]
I share all of this with you lightheartedly of course, but I’m betting you’ve experienced a similar “house divided” feeling some where along the way when it comes to food preferences as well. Especially if you’re married or have been together with someone awhile. Yes? I know, I know — I’m psychic.
You see, I grew up eating whole wheat or whole grain breads — never a white bread to be found in the house. Nick grew up, as I’ve found out more recently, having a specific brand of white bread that he would only eat. And in all our years of marriage I’ve never once bought him that bread. So when I say we’ve had our disputes over bread some days, perhaps I’m really just not giving the man enough credit on his ability to compromise. Thanks babe ;)
All that said, I realized it was time I work a little harder at the compromising as well. Instead of putting my foot down and denouncing all white bread from ever entering our house, I simply resolved I would never buy it. I mean have you ever read the ingredients on store bought white bread before? Or almost any store bought bread for that matter? Scary isn’t even a strong enough word.
Alas, compromise.
I asked for a bread maker for Christmas and not only did I get the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker with Yeast Dispenser I lusted after, but my dearest other half also provided me with an amazing bread making book off of Amazon: The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook [in which I found the honey white bread recipe I’m sharing with you today]. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this cookbook — the author goes into great length about nutrition, history and all sorts of other information you want to know about bread and how to best nourish your family.
I’m not sure I would use the word nutritious and most definitely not nutrient dense to describe this honey white bread. But when it comes to a sweet, soft + fluffy white bread to use — I’m gonna go ahead and say it’s as close as it’s gonna get ;)
Below I’ve transposed the recipe as I used it, listing any specifics and/or brands that I think are key in making it a more desirable and more “Laura-approved” white bread recipe ;)
HONEY WHITE BREAD
1/2 cup filtered water
1/2 cup organic whole cow’s milk
1 1/2 tbsp organic/non-gmo canola oil (Spectrum)
2 tbsp raw local honey
2 7/8 cups bread flour (Bob Red Mill’s)
1 tbsp vital wheat gluten (Bob Red Mill’s)
1 3/4 tsp active dry yeast
1. Place all ingredients in bread machine and follow baking instructions specific to your bread machine.
Find the original recipe from The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook here
My next experiment is replacing the all purpose bread flour with whole wheat flour and using the exact same recipe — you know to make it just a little better? I’ll let you know how it goes! In the mean time, try slathering a slice of this recipe with peanut butter (or almond butter) and chia seeds. Totally packs a nutrient dense punch! #fistbumpyo
What are your thoughts on including bread in your diet? How do you see food preference compromises play out with you and your loved ones?