Syrian Flatbread

This bread dough can be made in the bread machine and then rolled out and baked by hand, or you can do the whole thing by hand!

Ingredients:
1 1/8 cups water
2 Tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:
1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press start.
If you don’t have a bread machine, add the yeast to the water, then the oil and sugar. Sift together the salt and flour, then mix in. Knead the dough until smooth, put into a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat the dough round, and let rise an hour and a half in a warm place.
2. Preheat oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit
3. Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into eight equal pieces and form into rounds. Cover the rounds with a damp cloth and let rest.
4. Roll dough into thin flat circles, about 8 inches in diameter. Cook two at a time on preheated baking sheets or a baking stone until puffed up and golden brown, about 3-4 minutes, then flip and bake for another minute or two. Repeat for remaining loaves.
(Note: if you prick them with a fork they will not rise to such a great extent. It depends on what you want them for. Also, you may have to play with the baking time—if you want really soft ones, don’t cook them too long, and if you want really nice golden brown ones, then cook them longer, etc.)

Swedish Nutmeg Slices

Thanks to a certain world-traveling family…

Ingredients:

1 cup margarine or butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Beat butter, sugar, and spices until light and fluffy
Add flour, kneading lightly. (Be careful, the dough is sensitive. Don’t hurt its feelings)
Divide into 4 pieces. Form each into a 16” log. Place on parchment-paper or greased baking sheets.
Press down lightly with a fork to make lines in the dough (Stripes can be not straight too…)
Bake on center oven rack for 20 minutes.
Cut each log into 10 diagonal pieces while still warm

Nom nom nom
With a Swedish accent.

Sandwich Bread!

I have used this bread recipe for…a while now. It’s yummy. You’ll like it.

Better Homes and Gardens
Sandwich Bread recipe

1/2 cup warm water
2 Tablespoons yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon salt
2 Tablespoons shortening
6-7 cups flour (I use half whole-wheat and half white)

Dissolve yeast and 1/2 cup water in a medium sized bowl and let sit. Stir in the rest of the water, the sugar, and shortening. Whisk in 2 cups of flour, then mix in the salt to a third cup of flour and add that to the dough. Gradually work in the rest of the flour. Knead for 10 minutes. Spray a clean bowl with cooking spray and put the dough in it. Cover with a damp dishcloth (best if you warm the towel up in the microwave for about 30 seconds before) and let rise 1 hour. Punch down, Divide into two balls. Roll each ball out into 18x9” rectangle. Fold three ways lengthwise, like an envelope, then roll up, starting on the short side. Let rise for an hour in greased loaf pans, then bake at 425 for 25-30 minutes.