Nutritious High-Protein Breadmaker Bread, Seasoned Breadcrumbs, and Butter

Why waste your money on unhealthy store-bought breads, when it is so easy to make fresh, nutritious bread, in an inexpensive bread machine! An efficient 1-pound loaf bread maker from a department store is only $39.99, does all the cooking for you, and will make healthy bread for your family throughout the years.

My deliciously healthy, high-protein bread recipe took me close to 10 years to perfect, and I urge you to try it on your family. Almost as nutritious as Ezekiel bread recipes (I've been unable to find all those exotic grains) this is highly nutritious, with easy-to-find ingredients, and can be a base for adding other whole grain flours, seeds, nuts, or sun-dried fruits and veggies.

High-Protein Breadmaker Energy Bread

Protein is important for repairing every cell in the body, helping our kids grow while losing fat, and maintaining a healthy weight. Using your breadmaker, add the ingredients in the order I've listed them. Wet ingredients first (on the bottom of the canister) and dry ingredients added over the liquids, or it will not rise properly.

Wet Ingredients

¾ cup water, heated 1 minute in the microwave

1 tsp. salt

¼ cup sugar

2 eggs, no need to beat first (bread machine paddle blend)

1/3 cup olive oil or cottage cheese (cottage cheese will significantly increase protein grams beyond that of eggs)

Dry Ingredients

3 cups bread flour

½ cup oats, old fashioned or instant

½ cup baby cereal flakes (extra vitamins and minerals) optional*

2 tsp. yeast, bread machine or rapid rise, packets or jar

Optional Extras

¼ cup wheat germ

1 tablespoon cinnamon, ¼ cup chopped walnuts, and ¼ cup raisins

¼ cup shelled sunflower seeds, or flax seeds

½ cup sundried tomatoes, green onions, and garlic cloves, all chopped together

1 tablespoon lime peel zest, ¼ cup flaked coconut, and ¼ cup pineapple (drained)

Easy Directions

Add all the wet ingredients into the bread machine canister. Add the dry and optional ingredients over the wet ones, and create a small hole in the heap of flour to measure, and pour in yeast. Place the canister back into the breadmaker, and plug into a counter top electrical outlet.

Following the prompts, set the breadmaker on "L" or "light" crust, which will be a 3-hour mixing, rising, and baking cycle. The machine will begin to mix the dough slowly at first, yet as soon as it begins the faster-mixing cycle, use a spatula to scrape the mixture from around the sides, back into the center dough ball.

Most machines will sound a beeper, alerting you to add all the optional extras, depending on your preferences. Close the lid and allow the remaining cycles to continue unassisted. Your home will begin to smell as delightful as a bakery into the second hour of baking, and the loaf will rise considerably in the final hour.

Unplug the breadmaker, and using pot holders, lift the container out of the machine. Loosen the bread from the side walls and gently place your hand over the top of the loaf, knocking it free from the canister with your other hand, over a plate. Allow bread to cool slightly, before slicing (refrigerated homemade bread slices easier).

Seasoned Bread Crumbs

Because there are no preservatives in your home-baked bread, it can leave crumbs while slicing. These crumbles can be saved and mixed with dried herbs and seasonings for use in meatloaf, meatballs, and casserole toppings. Freeze extras to have nutritious seasoned bread crumbs on hand whenever needed.

Easy Homemade Butter

A friend passed this recipe on to me, and we are going to start making healthier butter too. Only 3 or 4 ingredients are necessary, and easy to find; unpasteurized cream, olive oil, and salt. To make your own butter in a food processor, mix cream on high until firm, gradually adding olive oil with a dash of salt (and/or sugar) to taste.

Keep homemade butter in the freezer as it lasts a long time. My friend promises after eating homemade butter for a month, you will never be able to eat store-bought again, while saving money.