Eating Like Kings

Our house has been shamefully low on food this week. I have a big grocery trip planned for today, and I've been trying to hold us over on what's left in the pantry. I had some dinners frozen that I pulled out, but even those only lasted a few days. By yesterday afternoon I was feeling hungry and without many options for a snack. I decided to whip up a loaf of our favorite bread and let me tell you. Our kitchen may be close to empty, but I sure did feel like we were eating like kings with a hot fresh loaf of bread right out of the oven paired with a thick piece of cheese, or a generous slab of butter or a slice of delicious August tomatoes. It's soft on the inside with a slightly crispy crust and just hits the spot like nothing else does!

We finished off the evening with an episode of Big Brother. Paul's got me into it and we don't always catch all 3 episodes during the week, but we have a habit of watching elimination on Thursdays. Can't believe Helen was evicted! She was my favorite player. I hope she wins the jury competition and gets back in the house! Every time I think I've got this game figured out, my theories are proven wrong. A real brain teaser!

Rosemary Parmesan Bread (slightly adapted from A Hint of Honey)

1 cup of warm water
1 packet of yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons of sugar
2 1/2 cups of bread flour
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
1 teaspoon of sea salt

1 tablespoon of flaxseed
 Pinch of oregano, basil & pepper
1 tablespoon of shredded parmesan

Add water, sugar and yeast in a bowl. Leave to proof 10-15 minutes. Add flour, olive oil, rosemary, salt, flaxseed and spices in and kneed for 5 minutes. Dough should be slightly sticky and smooth. If it's sticking to your fingers and making a big mess, add more flour a spoonfull at a time. Rub bowl down with a little olive oil. Cover and rise 1 hour. Then beat it down with 5-10 punches and round it out on a bread stone or baking sheet. Cover with a cloth and let it rise another 30-45 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle dough with parmesan and bake for 20 minutes or until top is just golden brown.

Try to eat just one piece. It can't be done!