Toasty Warm Inside, Blustery Chill Outside

One way to warm the heart, soul, and body is to bake a loaf of bread.  Today was a perfect day for it!  It was 12 degrees outside and the wind was whipping away out there.   I wanted so badly to be moving around out there – so of course, I ventured out.  I did little errands; took out the recycling, checked the mailbox, got some firewood, emptied the compost – all the while, FREEZING.  When I returned to the house it was clear that a baking project needed to occur.

Here’s a fun quickbread recipe I created today.  It was inspired by a recipe for muffins so the loaf is moist and airy. 

MILLET OATMEAL SWEET BREAD

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

1 ½ boiling water

1 cup oats, grind in processor

½ cup millet

½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

½ cup sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

First make oatmeal mix.  Boil water, then combine with oats.  Set aside.

Rinse millet.  Toast in pan with 1 tsp oil.

Sift flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

Cream butter.  Gradually  add sugars, one at a time.  Add in vanilla and eggs.

Combine with oat mixture first, then millets, last flour mixture.

Butter loaf pan.  Fold batter into pan. 

Bake on 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  Poke with a toothpick; when it comes out clean –its ready.

Cool 5-10 minutes before cutting.

Enjoy!