Tuesday, January 27, 2015

GRANDMOTHER OLIVE'S TIPS ON BAKING WITH WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR

People seem to have a hard time when using whole wheat flour.  Susan made whole wheat bread one time and it came out as hard as a door stop.  She was in tears.  I went in the kitchen to help her make another one.  The second one came out much better than the first.  We could eat the second one.

First, let me explain whole wheat flour.  I will use bread but the same applies to pancakes, crackers, bread or cupcakes.  Whole wheat flour contains germ and bran which other refined grains also contain but white bread does not.  Germ and bran have minerals like zinc, magnesium and iron and also omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.  Also contained in germ and bran are many nutty flavors to bread or whatever you are baking and a fuller texture.  Germ and bran also soak up more water than white flour will.  Shortage of water can make a dry loaf of bread or make it crumbly or hard as a rock.  Germ and bran also make the dough heavier which can cut its capacity to rise.  But, if you make the items correctly bread or whatever you are making can be light, and healthy to eat.

First, you can not take a recipes that calls for white flour and just subsititute   whole wheat flour for white flour.  It won't work.  You will have to change more in the recipe than just the flour. In fact you will probably have to revise the whole recipe. So make sure the recipe you are using was written for whole wheat flour.

Second, is liquid, liquid, liquid.  This is the biggest mistake that most people make in baking with whole wheat flour is water.  They don't use enough.  Whole wheat flour needs a great deal  more water than white flour does.

Third is not in any medical book and I am not a doctor, but my feeling that using sourdough yeast  that it is great for the digestive tract.  With the yeast, germ and bran it will take the items with whole wheat dough more time to rise.

Fourth is don't over knead the whole wheat dough.  In the brain are flakes which can really cut the dough.  Cutting the dough will change the consistency and structure of the dough and cut its ability to rise.

Fifth because of all the above it will probably mean that it will take more time for the whole wheat dough to rise than white flour dough would.  On the other hand if the fermenting yeast continues metabolizing the sugars in the wheat, the dough stops rising and reverses.  Should your dough over ferment then the gluten deteriorates, and the dough can collapse.

So you should allow the dough to rise for 20 minutes.  Then punch down the dough loaves and allow three more hours for then to rise.  Then place them in your preheated oven.

I hope these help you in baking using while heat flour.  It does become easy. To me, whole wheat flour items taste so much better than while flour.

Elmer was at Jean's house using the phone for the post this week as his cell phone died and it is charging here.  Albert heard Elmer mention the trip to Pinecraft that he and Anna are taking.  Albert looked at me and asked why we don't go to Pinecraft anymore.

Albert and I use to go to Pinecraft in November and stay until April.  A few years ago we stopped as it seems one of us had a medical problem and stayed here for treatment.  Albert says it seems that we are pretty healthy this year or at least as we can be for old folks our age.  I told Albert it was too late this year to rent a place anyway.  Plus that I do not ride buses that far anymore.  I use to enjoy riding the bus and talking with everyone, but I just couldn't sit that long on a bus anymore.  Thinking that was that, I didn't mention it again.



The men went off to our section of the house while Jean, Anna and I sat at Jean's kitchen table.  About an hour later Albert comes out and asks me if I could suffer a car trip to Rochester, NY.  I said, of course, I could.  It's just sitting in one for twenty-four hours was to much for me even with car stops.  Back Albert went.  We ladies continued talking.

Albert came out again and said we are going to Pinecraft.  I told him, he was silly.  He said it is all taken care of.  I said I wouldn't ride a bus or car that far.  He said we aren't - we are going Amtrak. After Albert calling people he knew and Elmer calling people he knew, he rented a place for us to stay.

I tried to give reasons we couldn't go.  What if we got sick?  Albert said there are hospitals and doctors there.  What if something happened here?  Albert said Jean and David could take care of it.  If it was an real emergency, he was sure that Bishop Joseph would let us fly back due to the emergency and our ages.  Every excuse I could think of, Albert had an answer for.  Finally, Albert said Olive, we are going to Pinecraft - that's it.  So we are going.

Albert won't tell me when we are leaving because he said I would find an excuse not to go.  He will tell me when the time comes so I can pack.  He even got us a room or cabin or whatever you call it on a train that we can sleep in.  Albert thought of everything on this one.

Be With God,
Olive




27 comments:

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Folks,

Have to turn on the TV and see how bad the snow is around New York City, but where I ham we didn't have much snow last night. We still have our power. It is starting to snow again, but so far not bad.

Marilyn

magnoliasntea said...

Grandmother Olive, I like how your husband removed all the obstacles from your trip to Pinecraft-Sarasota. It sounds like he wants a vacation, and the train ride should be nice. I hope you have a wonderful time in Florida.

Anonymous said...

If that picture of whole wheat bread is a loaf of yours, please would you post the recipe? Beautiful!

Countryside Reflections said...

I always eat whole wheat bread but I never baked it myself. It's nice to know what the difference is between white and whole wheat when baking.

I think going to Florida on a train would be fun. You'll be able to walk around when ever you want.

Doreen

Vanssmomc said...

Grandmother Olive, do enjoy your trip to Pinecraft. I love how your husband had an answer for everything you could think of as a reason for not going. He obviously knows you very well. Enjoy the warmer weather. Cathy in Webster

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Magnoliasntea,
When Olive was telling me that to put on here, I was laughing so hard. Albert really talked her into it.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Anonymous,
The picture is not of Grandmother Olive's bread. I got the picture out of free bread pictures to put on here. I will see if I can get her recipe for whole wheat bread, though.

Marilyn

Angela Tucker said...

I took a class on bread making several years ago. We took parts of the liquid, yeast, and whole wheat flour (in the right portions) mixed well and let sit for 30 minutes. Once it started the bubbly process, we mixed it with the rest of the ingredients and finished the loaf. This gave the wheat flour extra time to break down. And yes, more liquid, liquid, liquid! LOL I am not very good at bread making, but there is nothing like the smell of fresh bread that makes a home smell like a home. And I think it's wonderful that Olive is getting her trip. What a sweet thing for Albert to do for her.

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Doreen,

Will see that Grandmother Olive gets your message. I have never made whole wheat bread either.

I have never been on a train either.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Cathy,
Like I said, Grandmother Olive was telling me and I was laughing. He usually lets her have her own way, but once in a while he puts his foot down and this is one of them. I will see they get your message.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Angela,
Your course sounded interesting. The smell of home made bread is fantastic. I think it is sweet what Albert did, too. Will see they get your message.

Marilyn

Tom said...

I never knew that baking bread could be so complicated. Great to learn something new today. Be sure to pack your sun screen and have a wonderful time. Tom The Backroads Traveller

Vickie said...

hahaha! Oh did I laugh with this one. Too funny. Good for Albert!! I have never been on a train. Tell Grandmother Olive that. And also please tell her I would like to know what she thought of train travel. Keep warm Marilyn and Pierre!

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Tom,
Guess we are always learning something new. Will see that Grandmother Olive gets your message.

Try and stay warm,
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Vickie,
This post was so funny with her telling me about the trip. Will see that she gets your message.

You keep warm with Mable and Henry,
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tips on whole wheat, Grandmother Olive. And it's wonderful your husband made the decision for the two of you to go to Pinecraft! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time! Blessings and safe travels, Carol

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Carol,
Will see that Grandmother Olive gets your messages. I think they will have a great time at Pinecraft, too.

Blessings to you and yours,
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

I haven't been on a long train trip in years, but I've always found them to be enjoyable. The rocking of the train puts me right to sleep. Grandma Olive will be able to get up and walk around as much as she'd like. There's usually a dining car and also a lounge car where people sit around and talk. It's a neat way to travel. The long-distance trains do tend to run late, as they have to yield the tracks to freight trains.
Stacy

Anonymous said...

I forgot to mention:
Last year, when I visited Lancaster, I bought a loaf of wheat bread from an Amish woman at a roadside stand. Although the bread was delicious, I found that it was too soft for making sandwiches. This did not stop me from eating the entire loaf of bread, of course.
Stacy

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Stacy,
I will see that Grandmother Olive gets your message. Do believe they have been on a train before. It is so nice that trains have dining car and you can walk around on one. Will also tell Grandmother Olive about the bread.

Marilyn

Rosemary said...

You have got to love Albert. He covered all the bases. I am still laughing because he will not tell Grandmother Olive exactly when they are leaving. I have never ridden overnight on a train. I hope you will tell us all about it Grandmother Olive.

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Rosemary,
In all the time I have know Grandmother Olive and Grandfather Albert, this is the first time I knew him to do anything like this. It is funny. I will see that they get your message and ask Grandmother Olive to tell us of her train ride.

Marilyn

Willow's Quiet Corner said...

I would also love to have Grandmother Olive's whole wheat bread recipe, if she would be willing to share it!

And, it sounds like Grandmother Olive and Albert's exchanges on the Pinecraft trip would have been extremely entertaining to witness! I'll bet their trip will be great! Any chance she will share her experience on the train with us? :)

Willow's Quiet Corner said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Willow's Quiet Corner,
Grandmother Olive has her recipe in her head. Which means she has to figure out what it would be written out. You are the second person that asked her to tell us about the train, so I am pretty sure she will in a future post.

Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Thank you (Grandmother Olive) for the tips. Glad to hear about the trip to Pinecraft! I hope they have lots of relaxing fun.
Carol in SC

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Carol in SC,

Will see that Grandmother Olive gets your messages.

Marilyn