Month: August 2006

links for 2006-08-17

Free Stuff I Like Rocks!

Work shwag is usually limited to Koozies, chip clips and occasional movie passes. But through a happy accident I managed to get in on a free pair of shoes. And not just any random shoes, but Salomon Trail Runners. The shoes I wore stomping all over Mexico were Salomons. Stomping up and down ruin after ruin and city streets and not even a hint of a blister or foot pain. Really. Not once did my feet ache. And I sit on my ass for a living. So to get another pair is joy, it really is. As a matter of fact, I’m going to wear them today to celebrate!

Vegan Bread Machine Challah

I’ve posted this before, but since it’s stuck in my old archives I wanted to repost it since I’m still seeing search requests for it. Adapted from a recipe I found online to be vegan.

1 cup warm water
½ cup natural sugar
1 tablespoon agave nectar
½ cup vegetable oil
2 ½ teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons flax seeds
4 cups bread flour
¼ teaspoon turmeric
2 ¼ teaspoons bread machine yeast
1 tablespoon poppy seeds or sesame seeds, optional

Mix turmeric with flour until well combined.

Grind flax seeds in a coffee/spice grinder until fine. Whisk with 6 tablespoons of water.

Place warm water, sugar, agave nectar, vegetable oil, salt, flax mixture, flour/turmeric and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. This order works in my Sunbeam. Select Dough cycle; press Start.

After the machine is done, take the dough out, and place it on a very lightly floured board, punch the dough down, and let rest for 5 minutes.

Divide the dough in half. Then divide into 3 equal pieces, roll into ropes about 12 to 14 inches, pinch three ropes together at one end and braid into a loaf. Do the same with the remaining other half.

Gently put the loaves on a greased cookie sheet, mist with water or wet hands and run over dough surface, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm, draft free place, until double in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). If desired, sprinkle loaves with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, etc. Bake in the center of preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. If it begins to brown too soon, cover with foil.