Off the Beaten Path

Last August, my husband and I visited my in-laws in Ukraine! This was a few months before the war started, and by the grace of God he was able to see his grandmother one more time before her passing. If we would’ve scheduled a trip any time after that, I don’t think we would have made it! Any who, while witnessing his mother’s day to day life (she’s also a homemaker who puts me to shame, let me tell you!), she showed me a few recipes that helps her make food quicker. One in particular is the way she makes bread. My husband is Slavic and after visiting, I noticed majority of Ukrainians love their bread and they love their potatoes. You can almost imagine what a joy it is for me to witness as a lady who thrives on a low carb diet!

Our visit to Ukraine in 2021 with my husband and mother in-law. She taught me so much about homemaking. The biggest lesson I learned was that homemaking is not an aesthetic, it’s a lifestyle.

Now, I know all the rage is currently surrounding the much respected sourdough bread and for good reason! I agree that bread prepped without the use of yeast is much better for us! However, if you don’t have the time to prep starters or you need a quick loaf of fresh bread, I’m going to share the recipe that was shared to me.

Total Prep Time: 5 min | Total Rise Time: 60 min | Total Bake Time: 45 min

Ingredients:

300 grams of warm water

450 grams of organic white flour

1.5 teaspoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of salt

1 tablespoon of avocado oil or olive oil

1 tablespoon of vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar works)

1.75 tablespoons of yeast

Fresh bread in just 2 hours!

Instructions:

1. Mix salt, sugar, vinegar, oil, and warm water in a bowl. Be sure to use a large enough bowl for the dough to rise in. I like hot water but not boiling hot. If the water is boiling hot, it will kill the yeast. If the water is too cold, the bread will take longer to rise.
2. Add in your yeast and stir.
3. Add in your flour.
4. Mix/Knead dough. You can do this step with or without a mixer, I like to use my hands.
5. Once the dough is all mixed up, cover with plastic wrap or cloth and let it sit for 60min. The longer you allow the dough to sit, the higher it will rise. I like to let mine sit for 75min!
6. After the dough has risen, place it in a pan(I like to use bread pans, 8″x4.5″) and place it in the oven that has been set to 375 degrees. Bake dough for 45min.
7. Take out your bread, let it sit for at least 10 min and enjoy!

One of my favorite sandwiches to make! Fresh bread topped with butter, salmon, tomatoes, and seeds & spices!