Let’s Talk About Bread…Baby!

In the age of gluten allergies and low carb diets…I’m going to go ahead and shout my love of bread from the rooftops!  There is nothing I enjoy more than a fresh out of the oven slice slab of homemade bread lathered with delicious real butter! MMMMMMMM!

Growing up, I almost always had a slice of store-bought butter bread as a “side dish” with my meal. We always had loaves of Wonder-bread or Sunbeam in the house. Cinnamon toast for breakfast, a bologna sandwich for lunch, or a PB&J for a snack were pretty much staples in the Wagner household!  Even as an adult, I find myself offering my own son a slice of butter-bread to go along with his dinner.

When I became an adult I discovered a world of flavors were out there…sourdough (my absolute favorite), pumpernickel, rye, and the list goes on and on. And oh the things you can do with bread!! A french baguette and a bottle of red wine! Bruschetta on top of toasted crostini! It’s the perfect vehicle for getting every last drop of sauce from my plate to my mouth. It always smells heavenly as it’s baking in the oven. (My mouth is watering just thinking about it!)

As a bread lover, I’m constantly in search of ways to make homemade bread. Growing up, my mother was a working mom, so to me “homemade” bread was made from those frozen loaves that you can buy at the grocery store. That stuff is okay…but it just doesn’t quite cut it for my palate these days. Plus, I love the magic of watching those little grains of yeast turn very simple ingredients into something fluffy and delicious. So, I wanted to share with you all two of my favorite, go-to bread recipes.

If you are looking for a loaf-style bread to replace buy sandwich bread from the store, check out Mountain Wife’s Basic Bread Recipe. I use a mixture of whole wheat flour, unbleached all-purpose flour and vital wheat gluten to make a delicious loaf of bread!!

If you are looking for something super easy and rustic, then check out Mountain Wife’s Easy Artisan Bread! This is the favorite in my house. This bread goes with everything!! It’s ridiculously easy to make, and tastes amazing!

If you give either of the recipes a try, I’d LOVE to hear some feedback! Tell me what you think!

I’m always looking for bread recipes, so if YOU have a favorite please share it with me in the comments!!!