Chew on This | Oatmeal Bread

We planted a nice garden this year. Tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, lots and lots of different types of peppers, celery, zucchini, and many types of herbs. Things are growing beautifully! Mimi has helped greatly with our garden success thus far because she cared for our tender seedlings while we were away on vacation.

It's always a delemia planting a gorgeous garden and then going away for days right when the vegetables and herbs need your care the most to get established. Mimi happily came to our rescue and watered and weeded daily while we were away. The result of her dedication is a thriving plot. Thank you, Mimi - bundles of fresh veggies coming your way in the near future!!

Each one of us is looking forward to something different that will be harvested from our little garden plot. The Sprite can't wait to pick and pickle the cucumbers. The Boy specifically wanted to plant celery for peanut butter and celery snacks. The Husband is thrilled for the tomatoes and the Easy Roasted Salsa I'll make from them. I planted the eggplant for Mimi (for this recipe). And I long for all the types of peppers I've planted, for all kinds of dishes. And the zucchini. Oh, the zucchini….yum.

Though I'm certainly not wishing this fabulous summer to move any faster, I do look forward to harvesting some goodness. So while I wait for things to grow and ripen, I guess I'll make some delicious Oatmeal Bread. This recipe is easy, quick, and bonkers good. Bread now, veggies later. Win.

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Here's the recipe:

Oatmeal Bread

(recipe via Pennies and Pancakes)

1 1/3 C. lukewarm water

2 tsp. dry active yeast
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. oil
3 cups flour 
1 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 tsp. salt
honey

In a large mixing bowl (or standing mixer with bread hook), combine the water, yeast, sugar, and oil. Allow to rest about 10 minutes, or until mixture has foamed a bit. Next, add the flour, oats, and salt. Mix thoroughly, then knead by hand for about 8 minutes (if using a stand mixer, just knead about 5 minutes). 

Cover the bowl with a dish towel or plastic wrap. Let dough rise 90 minutes, or until double in size. Punch down the dough, and knead by hand, turning the dough over on itself several times.

Coat a 9x5" bread pan with non-stick cooking spray and shape the dough into a loaf. Place the dough into the pan and cover with a dishtowel. Allow dough to rise about 45 minutes.
While the dough is rising in the pan, pre-heat an oven to 375℉. When the dough has risen about 1-2 inches above the pan, coat with some honey and place the pan into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remove bread from oven and allow to cool at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!!