Adding Ground Flax to Bulk Your Bread!

About 6 months ago I attempted making healthy whole wheat bread by hand. My first try didn't go so well but after that I must have gotten the hang of it because ever since I feel like each new loaf is an improvement on the last! You can find my original recipe and bread endeavors HERE.  

One of the things that I find essential is adding honey. It gives the bread a little sweetness that goes perfectly with a sandwich or toast or anything! Lately I've also been adding a bunch of ground flax seeds.

The dough is brown because I always use whole wheat flour. If you look close you can see some of the ground flax. 

Here's a better view. I didn't add all that much the first time because I was afraid it would be too noticeable but it's not at all! 

My first loaves with added ground flax were so perfect and delicious! 

Baked to perfection! Golden brown in all the right places! These loaves don't look all that big but I think the flax actually makes them larger too!

Now I dump a lot of flax into the dough. Probably 1/2 a cup? Not sure. I just pour. 

If you make your own bread, I would recommend adding ground flax because it's so healthy for you but your family probably won't even notice it's there! Flax seeds are rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids and they're low in carbs! You can't go wrong adding them! You can find ground flax just about anywhere these days. I actually got mine from Big Lots believe it or not! It was Bob's Red Mill ground flax and it was about half of what it normally costs. What a score! Plus it was a huge bag that is lasting me forever! 

I have whole flax seeds as well but I feel like ground flax is easier to add into foods without people being like, "Eww what's this???" I like to be sneaky when I add in healthy foods. Hehe. What they don't know, helps them! I think next time I'll use ground flax and then a small handful of whole flax seeds as well. Ooh maybe I'll buy some oats and make my own honey oat nut bread! Mmm!

How do you use flax seeds? Do you prefer whole or ground? Also, did you catch my two accidental rhymes? I should be a poet! Not. 

Till next time,

Catherine

How to Properly Open a Pomegranate

Today, I'm thankful for my friends. Friends who are nearby and friends who are far away. I have friends as far as Nevada and Wisconsin but I still consider them to be close friends. I wish we could spend more time together but separation doesn't change a thing. Most of my friends are back in the Richmond area and some days I wish so bad I still lived nearby. Currently a very good friend of mine is in the hospital suffering from severe pneumonia. Prayers for her would be highly appreciated. It's scary to be so far away during such a difficult time for her and her family. I wish I were close so I could help them out. It definitely seems like a Richmond trip is going to happen this weekend. Having a friend in the hospital just makes me realize how appreciative I need to be on a daily basis for the wonderful friends I have been blessed with! Whether they're here in Lynchburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg, or across the country, I love them all and am so glad to call them friends. I've heard it said before, "Strangers are simply friends you haven't met yet." Being away from where I grew up where I don't know but so many people, I need to hold on to that saying!

Have you ever wondered how in the world you open a pomegranate? It's quite easy, actually!

Pomegranates are beautiful (made for a nice prop with my engagement ring) and incredibly healthy for you. The power of the pomegranate wasn't really noticed until the last 5 or so years. Now suddenly everyone loves them! Most people tend to eat or drink things flavored with pomegranate but buying the whole fruit is delicious too! It may not be common knowledge how to open them but it's not as complicated as you might think. All you need is a knife and a bowl of water!

First, cut the top and bottom of the pomegranate off, about an inch wide section. Don't toss the pieces, you can get the seeds from them as well. 

Next, cut into the rind in 4 places, equally spaced apart. If you look at the pomegranate from the top you can sort of see where the thicker membrane is and you can follow those sections.

 Then, place the pomegranate into the bowl of water and gently separate it into about 4 sections, or however it comes apart.

This is the longest step. You have to gently press the seeds until they pop off the membrane. 

The pieces of membrane will float so all you have to do is strain them out. You may want to swirl the seeds around with your hands and separate any little pieces of membrane that came off with the seeds. Don't forget to grab the top and bottom pieces and get the seeds from them as well! With these pieces it's easy to just invert them and rub the seeds off. 

This is the inside of the top piece...I thought it looked pretty cool!

Once you've strained the bits of membrane out, then strain seeds from the water. You can use a colander, I just didn't feel like dirtying another dish! Plus this strainer spoon is huge!

Best step...enjoy! 

What's your favorite fruit? Is it an odd one like starfruit, pomegranate, or a kumquat? 

Till next time,

Catherine