Tuscan Bread

This recipe comes from someone's More Bread Machine Magic book, but works just as well self-risen and baked in the oven. I learned this one day when the machine inexplicably decided to stop working. 

Tuscan Bread

Dissolve 1 packet of dry yeast in 1.5 cups of warm water

Mix in: 2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt, 1 tsp sugar

3 cups flour

I also mixed in a jalapeño, and a half of a zucchini, both diced finely. 

(You could do shredded veggies of all types). 

Rise ~2 hours, beat once in between if that's your style. Roll into a luscious log, or a toad stool, or a regular looking baguette. I cut a star into the top of mine too and the veggies peaked out.

Baked at 375 degrees F for 40-50 minutes. Use a knife test to see if yours is done. 

And just for fun, here is a real toad stool (Amanita Muscaria) seen the other day at Sibley Volcanic Preserve when some friends and I climbed the top of a volcano. There were bright red mushrooms everywhere after the long rainy days we have had. 

Quilts in Progress

These are two quilts I have been working on for a little while, both for amazing women that I work with who are having babies next year. The first is a material I posted a photo of a long time ago, and just finally found the most perfect gray fabric to back it. It has little puffs all over and will match the colors nicely. The second is a log-cabin quilt and my first time using a real pattern and not just slapping remnants together. The dark/light fabric will continue around and hopefully look a little bit like a gradient or steps.