Cheesecake Factory brown bread

For Yeast Mixture

1 1/2 cup or 375ml water 1 tbsp or 12g sugar 1 packet or 7g yeast For Dough 2 cups or 240g bread flour 1 3/4 cups or 210g wheat flour 2 tsp or 12g salt 1 tsp or 2g Postum 2 tsp or 4g cocoa powder 1/4 cup or 85g honey 2 tbsp or 40g molasses 1 tbsp or 14g butter 1 tsp or 5g oil

Method I like to start by preparing the yeast mixture. To make the yeast mixture we’re gonna take about 1 1/2 cup or 375ml of water to which we’re going to add 1 tablespoon or 12g of sugar and one packet or 7g of dry active yeast. Stir everything up nicely and put it to the side for 5-10 mins or until bubbles form. Then we’re gonna take about 2 cups or 240g of bread flour and 1 and 3/4 cups or 210g of wheat flour. By the way, you can use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour and it turns out fine. Next Add, 2 tsp or 12g salt, 1 tsp or 2g instant coffee, 2 tsp or 4g cocoa powder. Mix all of the dry ingredients up then add 1/4 cup or 85g honey, tbsp, or 40g molasses. Start mixing it. You can use a mixer or do it by hand. Knead until dough becomes soft, while kneed add about 1 tbsp or 14g butter. Finally, shape the dough into a ball and cover it with 1 tsp or 5g oil . Let it rest for 1 hour. After one hour you wanna take out your dough and Lightly dust it with some flour. Some people don’t like to use flour you can also wet your hands and work the dough. At this step, you are removing any air remaining in the dough. Doing this will remove any air pockets and help make a finer bread. I cut this dough ball into 4 smaller balls. You can shape them in any way you like I went for small baguettes shaped bread. Next, we will add some oatmeal on a plate. We’re gonna top our bread off with some oatmeal as that’s how this bread served at the Cheesecake Factory. To apply the oatmeal first take some water and apply it on top of your bread then place your dough on the plate. For added measure sprinkle some more oatmeal from the top so it adheres properly. Again we are gonna let dough reset for another hour before baking. Finally, bake it at 350°F or 180°Celciius for about 30 to 35 minutes. Once you take it out from the oven wait for at least 15 minutes before cutting the bread. That's pretty much it. Hope you like and enjoy it!

Susan Hansen's Beef Vegetable Soup

 Susan Hansen made us this delicious soup.  She said it makes a HUGE amount so either cut it down or freeze some or share with someone else.

1/2 cabbage - cut up into small pieces

6 carrots - peeled and sliced

6 celery - cut into small pieces

6 potatoes - peeled and diced

1 large sweet potato (opt) - peeled and diced

1 large onion - peeled and diced

1 T minced dried garlic

1 t. salt

2 pounds browned ground beef

2 - large cans of tomato juice

3 - 16 oz cans of beef broth

Boil all together ntiil veggies are tender - approx 1/2 hour

At the end add:

1 or 2 cans of corn

frozen peas

1 T vinegar

1 T sugar

1 t sweet basil 0 dried

1 more T dried minced garlic

warm through.  Eat and enjoy!

Freezes very well for quick meals.

Pam Barlows Reubens

 For several years we have spent St. Patrick's Day with Pam and Ken Barlow who prepared our whole dinner:  Corned Beef Reuben, Jello Jigglers in green, Shearers Chips, Pickles, Green Koolaid.  2020 was the last day we were together because COVID shut down the world and our times together.  We hope for another St. Paddy's Day celebration in 2022, if we live that long.  But for this year, 2021, we will be celebrating separately.

Corned Beef with the packet of seasoning...place in a pan of water.  Simmer SLOWLY..flip a few times until the beef is fork tender

Remove beef  to a sheet and place a plate, or a pan or a meat press on top til it cools totally

Refrigerate and when ready trim off the fat.  Slice against the grain so it remains tender.

Heat saurkraut and totally drain.

Layer Rye Bread, corned beef, saurkraut, Swiss Cheese.  Butter the outside of the bread and grill.  If not fully warmed, place in the microwave for a short time til cheese becomes soft.  Serve with Thousand Island Dressing and all the sides.