Fresh Baked Buns and Manure

Good Evening! Yet again we had another great day here in Montana, unfortunately the evening skies are showing rain and snow. Before the cold and snowy weather returned Justin and I headed out for another road ride. We have to stick to road riding for now, because Justin sold his mountain bike and his new one isn't expected to arrive for another week or so. 

We rode 47 miles in 2 hours and 20 minutes (averaging over 20 MPH), and boy was it holy hills! Justin took me the route he took yesterday which was through cattle country and it was extremely hilly! Cattle country really stinks...literally, STINKS! At point a truck going in the opposite direction of us carrying cow poop (you may call it manure, but in all actuality its poop) and it was spilling all over the road and for 2 miles all I could do was gag. Call me a city slicker if you must, but that's smell you can never get use too. Road riding isn't for the faint of heart.....or nose....or stomach. I also ended up with a flat on this ride (must of been all the dirt roads we went down), luckily my mechanic was there to fix me up. 

As soon as we got home I got started on Homemade Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns. I originally wanted to use this recipe, but we don't have a bread maker. I had to google around a bit to find a recipe that involved being a little more Little House On The Prairie than high tech machine maker. I found this one from Heavenly Homemakers and it was simple, easy and sure to be tasty. 

Homemade Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns 

5 cups  (+) whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups warm water

2 pkgs regular or active dry yeast (4 1/2 t.)

2 T. honey

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup milk

2 T. butter

2 t. sea salt

In a large mixing bowl, stir together 3 cups of whole wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups warm water.  Set aside to let rest for 30 minutes.  In the meantime, mix together 1/4 cup water, yeast and honey.  Allow this to sit for at least 10 minutes to activate the yeast.

Melt butter, milk and salt in a small saucepan on the stove.  Do not allow the mixture to get above 120 degrees.

Pour yeast mixture and milk mixture into flour mixture.  Add remaining two cups of flour (more if needed). 

Knead for about 10 minutes until dough begins to look “shiny”.  Put dough back into the bowl, cover and let rise for at least an hour…or until it has doubled.

Pull dough onto a clean counter top and knead for a couple of minutes to get any air bubbles out.  Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1/2 inch thick. 

Cut circles from the dough with a large drinking glass or wide mouth jar.  Place circles on in a well buttered baking dish about an inch apart. 

Allow to rise for about 30 minutes.  Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Makes about 18 buns.

The only changes I made was before baking I brushed Wildtree's Garlic Grapeseed Oil over the top and sprinkled some Chia Seeds over it. 

So far my first step into making our bread products is going well. I haven't had the opportunity to shop for G-Free products for me, so I ate mine on a salad! I also saved half the dough so Justin can make a pizza for tomorrow night. I am really excited about the prospect of baking all our baked goods and experimenting more with G-Free products. My cousin Brittany over at Huney Bunches Baking has it down to an art. 

While Justin made the rest of dinner I gave my buddy a special treat....

I love this guy :)

Justin took our local organic beef we got at the butchers and mixed it with Grand Teton Beer and Wildtree's Rancher Steak Rub to make burgers.

Source

 I know we just had burgers the other night, but we are really running low on groceries .... obviously not meat, which was a super good deal last time I shopped. 

We also had Garlic Fries again with Wildtrees Garlic Grapeseed Oil.....obviously, potatoes were on sale too.

On a side note.........Hanson is on Dancing With The Stars, I can't even explain to you the love I had for them in Middle School. Once my family took a vacation to Oklahoma (like who would go to Oklahoma right....well, its our one and only big family vacation ever so don't knock it) and I looked everywhere for them. They also have a new album and I am extremely geeked out about it.....I am proudly a child who grew up in the 90's. 

Have a great night!