Favorite Yeast Bread w/ Pinto beans



           Most every Sunday, we have bacon for breakfast.  We cook a whole slab, and make sandwiches or what ever later in the day.  I have taken the bacon and put it in bread with fresh onions, and black olives.  It is so good that I have made it three different times.  So today's blog is pinto beans and this wonderful bread.

           To start with put the yeast in the bowl.  I now use three teaspoons of yeast instead of the two and a quarter teaspoons it calls for per loaf.  I have also changed the flour to four and a half cups instead of three and a half, to get that nice round top.

           Another change I have made in my bread baking is the mixer.  I use the wooden spoons I make to mix and I believe it taste better.  After sifting my flour we are ready.  I a mixing cup I put two tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon of butter, one tablespoon of honey ( do not measure just add), then a quarter cup of milk and microwave for one minute.  When it comes out add a cup of water, then check the temperature.  We want one hundred degrees.  Let that set for a minute while chopping 8 to 10 black olives, half an onion, and crumble about six or seven strips of bacon.  Lightly flour these before adding to the bowl for mixing, so they don't stick together.  Add one teaspoon salt, and stir in one hundred degree liquid to three cups flour, and other ingredients.  After mixing well about a minute or so add another cup flour, then add the other half a cup or so kneanding.

             If using Bread Machine Yeast like I do just let bread sit on counter for ten minutes.  If using Rapid Rise place in oiled bowl and cover for one hour, until rise double.  Took me awhile to understand the differents in these two yeast.

            Next step is bunch down and roll flat with bread roller.  Form a rectangle brush with olive oil soaked in chopped garlic. (yum good stuff, good on pizza, french bread, or just plain toast.)  Roll dough and place in bread pan make you slice marks in the top.  Place in a warm spot to rise for one hour.  While this rises, put half a bag of pinto beans in a pot of salted water and turn on medium.

This will simmer while the bread rises.

While we are waiting let's admire one of my spoons.

Here we have added the rest of our left-over bacon and diced onion.

            Our bread should be ready.  Preheat oven to 375 and when oven is ready, put in your bread and turn the oven down to 350.  After fifteen minutes take bread out brush with olive oil, garlic mixture, and return to oven.  Place aluminum foil on top of bread to prevent burning.  Total bake time about thiryfive minutes.

My reward the first slice.

For the bread

3 tsp yeast

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp butter

2 tlb sugar

1 tlb honey

crumbled bacon

chopped black olives

chopped fresh onion

For the beans

1/2 bag of beans

salted water

chopped onions

bacon or ham