What's for Dinner, Sun., March 23, 2025

[chowmama]

5. Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy

Mashed potatoes on the side - DH wants me to mash in some leftover cooked cabbage to make colcannon and I'll probably add some cooked green onion, as well.

I just took 2 loaves of bread out of the oven. I find a cup of liquid generally needs enough other ingredients to make one loaf, so my usual batch has 2 cups. I used some milk to soak rolled oats, but the rest of the liquid was water. 2 cups whole wheat flour, plus the oats, and the rest was white flour to texture. Salt, vegetable oil, a small squirt of honey and a small sprinkle of cinnamon which you can't really taste unless you're looking for it. It makes a nice effect.

When you're working with whole grains and whole grain flour, you need the dough to be a little stickier than tacky. The whole grains soak up moisture during the first rise and if the texture at the beginning is what you'd have for a white loaf, the end result is usually too dry. Sticky = you press your fingers lightly into it and they come away with dough on them. Tacky = the dough follows your fingers briefly, but releases pretty cleanly.

The loaves came out nice and moist without being too dense and damp. I cut up the final 2 inches of the last batch (basic Italian white loaf) and am drying it for breadcrumbs, so I don't lose it to mold.