My homemade French Baguettes! Don’t they look delish?

I’ve always been intimidated by breadmaking. It’s long been a skill I’ve wanted to gain as an up-and-coming Homesteader. But could I really do it?

Heck yasss! Yaasss I CAN! Look at my french baguettes. Are you proud of me?

“But Josie, you claim you avoid most carbs to stay fit. Why the hell are you gnawing on large bread loaves?”

Thank you for asking.

Carbs are a treat, not a daily event. They go into the same category as the occasional cakes and pies and other delectable foodstuffs I love to stuff into my jawbone. I typically eat carbs only once per week, so figured, why not make the bread myself, using basic ingredients that contain no artificial crap, no preservatives and no other weird surprises. Makes sense, right?

HOMEMADE FRENCH BREAD

3 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon yeast1/2 tablespoon salt1/2 tablespoon sugar1.5 cups water1.5 teaspoons melted butter

Yields three loaves, approximately 11-inch by 4-inch in size. Double the recipe if you have more hungry mouths to feed.

DIRECTIONS

Combine all dry ingredients into large bowl and mix by hand.Add water.Knead dough by hand into ball — only long enough to form the ball.Do not add extra flour at this point. Let dough sit for 10 minutes to absorb the moisture.Knead dough by hand for 8 minutes.Put dough ball into very large bowl and let sit for 3-4 hours. The dough will double in size. You know the dough is done when you poke your finger in the dough and the hole remains. If the hole closes back up, the dough isn’t ready to bake yet.Lightly spray baking pan with oil.Lay dough on pan and cut into 3 equal sections.Flatten dough to form its shape, then fold dough over itself longways and pinch the side shut.Use a knife to cut the decorative slices into the top of dough. Slice a little less than half-way through.Baste top of dough loaf with about 1/2 teaspoon melted butter.Bake in hot, 450-degree oven approximately 15 minutes.

I kid you not when I tell you this is the best bread I’ve ever had. It was warm and moist with the just the perfect amount of chewy. I broke the bread open with my bare hands and smathered on the melted buttery goodness, of course.

I dare you to do something you never thought you could do. I bet you’d be good at it. Now get to it!

——

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French Meadow Bakery Sprouted Cinnamon Raisin Bagel Review

French Meadow Bakery offers a line-up of organic, all-natural products, many of which are yeast-free, vegan, or Kosher Parve. After already trying the French Meadow Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread, I decided to check out the Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, which has more fiber and protein.

They suggest that you freeze their product to keep it fresh longer, which implies that you will need to toast them in order to enjoy them. When toasted, they obtain a crunchy exterior that encases the warm, chewy center. It's a delicious eating experience.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 bagel (99 grams)
Calories: 270
Total Fat: 1.5 grams, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 270 mg, 11%
Carbohydrates: 50 grams
Fiber: 7 grams, 2%
Sugars: 11 gram
Protein: 15 grams

These bagels are a bit different in texture than your average bagel, having a dense nature and chewy texture, enhanced by the multitude of grains that go into each bagel. French Meadow Bakery Sprouted Cinnamon Raisin Bagel provides 290 calories, 1.5 grams of total fat, no saturated fat, 270 mg of sodium (11% of the daily value), 1.5g of fat (2% of the RDA), 7 grams of fiber (29% of the DV), 11 grams of sugars and 15 grams of protein. The ingredient list is short and to the point, which is always nice to see.

Thanks to the surplus of sprouted grains (wheat berries, barley, millet, lentils, soybeans and spelt berries), this bagel packs a welcomed protein punch. Five hearty bagels will set you back $4.49, which is a bit steep; but I could see paying that from time to time for a delicious and nutritious accompaniment to your meals.

Some other good choices are Olde Hearth Select Health Crunch Bagels, which weighs less (81 grams), but has 8 grams of fiber (34% of the daily value) in addition to 9 grams of protein. Also, Western Bagel: The Alternative Bagel and Kim's Light Bagels weigh in at only 54 grams, making them much smaller - and perhaps, that's about the size you need for a bagel, if it's part of breakfast with fruit and/ or yogurt

(Photo Credit: Teens Eat)

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Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express French Toast with Turkey Sausage Review

You've got mail! And in the package was Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express French Toast with Turkey Sausage. I thought this was an ambitious undertaking as a frozen, microwaveable food product, so I was really curious as to how this would turn out.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 126 grams (1 pkg)
Calories: 280
Total Fat: 8 grams, 12%
Saturated Fat: 2.5 grams, 11%
Sodium: 570 mg, 24%
Carbohydrates: 38 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugar: 18 grams
Protein: 14 grams

Inside the box are 2 french toast slices, 4 small sausage ... bits, and a packet of syrup. I followed the directions to microwave, and the result was a pretty decent tasting breakfast meal. The french toast was slightly sweet on it's own, and of course, with the added syrup, the sweetness factor explodes. And the turkey sausage was like what a slightly smoky, salty turkey sausage should taste like. If you've ever looked at the astronomical fat content of sausages, you'll understand why there was not more included in this meal. The question I asked myself is, would I rather purchase this product for $3.09, or make my own french toast? More on that later ...

The contents of each package of Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express French Toast with Turkey Sausage provides 280 calories, 8 grams of total fat which includes 2.5 grams of saturated fat (12% and 11% of the daily value), 570 mg of sodium (24% of the DV), 2 grams of fiber, 18 grams of sugars and 14 grams of protein. The ingredients list is quite the lengthy diatribe you would expect it to be since this is not an all natural product, and this is 7 Weight Watchers Points.

This product retails for $3,09, so, back to the question, would I buy this instead of making it myself, especially since it's so easy to make? For me, french toast & sausage is an indulgent breakfast, and Weight Watchers Smart Ones did a good job of providing a portion that wasn't too high in calories and fat, but this is not something I would really be eating if I were following a "Weight Watchers" plan, or trying to lose weight. If I were indulging as a weekend breakfast for example, then I would prefer to make it myself. But as I said, WW did a good job on the taste.

What do you think? Would you buy this?

{Website: Weight Watchers Smart Ones}

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French Meadow Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread

French Meadow Bakery offers a line-up of organic, all-natural products. In addition to products that are yeast-free, vegan, made with sprouted grain and Kosher Parve options, they have quite a few gluten-free options as well, including the French Meadow Bakery Sprouted Cinnamon Raisin Bagel, which they sent me to try out.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 slice (50 grams)
Calories: 150
Total Fat: 5 grams, 8%
Saturated Fat: 3 grams, 15%
Sodium: 270 mg, 11%
Carbohydrates: 22 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 6%
Sugar: 2 grams
Protein: 2 grams

The French Meadow Cinnamon-Raisin Bread is described as, "an all-natural bread, with plump juicy raisins, fragrant cinnamon, and a touch of honey." Are you a fan of sweet breads? I don't eat them much and contemplated how best to enjoy it. In the end, I decided to spread 2 toasted slices with light cream cheese and had it with my morning oatmeal (I kept the loaf in the freezer because I knew that I wouldn't be eating this right away, so I wanted to make sure it remained fresh as long as possible).

The toasted, cream-cheesed bread was absolutely delightful. It had a pleasantly sweet flavor, but not overly so, and the texture was similar to regular bread. There were quite a few raisins dotting the landscape of the bread as well. I found myself eating the crust first - something I don't do ever - because it was a little sweeter and crunchier than the bread "insides." For folks who eat a gluten-free diet, there is no absence of taste with this product!

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Each slice of French Meadow Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread provides 150 calories, 5 grams of total fat, 3 grams of which is saturated (8% and 15% of the daily value), 270 mg of sodium (11% of the DV), 2 grams of fiber, sugars & protein.

I think this is a wonderful gluten-free bread option, but for folks watching their calorie intake, be mindful of the saturated fat content, especially with your toppings. Use real butter or regular cream cheese which has about 5 grams per tablespoon (25% of the DV) very sparingly. Peanut Butter & Co All Natural Peanut Butter Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Spread might go great with this as well, but again, don't use more than the 2 tbsp serving, which has 11% of the DV for saturated fat and 24% of the DV for total fat.

For some reason, I think of this bread more as a treat. I could eat one slice with tea as a snack and be quite satisfied. As I mentioned before, I received samples from the company, but the bread costs close to $5.00 in the grocery stores. Yikes! But it seems like most gluten-free products are more expensive than "regular" products.

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French Meadow Bakery Coupons

We recently reviewed the delightful French Meadow Bakery Organic Fat Flush Tortillas and if you would like to try it, makes sure to take advantage of the coupon for $1.00 off gluten free French Meadow Bakery products via the French Meadow Bakery website.

Anyone else a fan of French Meadow Bakery products? What should we try next?!

View the original article here

French Meadow Bakery Coupons

We recently reviewed the delightful French Meadow Bakery Organic Fat Flush Tortillas and if you would like to try it, makes sure to take advantage of the coupon for $1.00 off gluten free French Meadow Bakery products via the French Meadow Bakery website.

Anyone else a fan of French Meadow Bakery products? What should we try next?!

View the original article here

French Meadow Bakery Coupons

We recently reviewed the delightful French Meadow Bakery Organic Fat Flush Tortillas and if you would like to try it, makes sure to take advantage of the coupon for $1.00 off gluten free French Meadow Bakery products via the French Meadow Bakery website.

Anyone else a fan of French Meadow Bakery products? What should we try next?!

View the original article here

French Meadow Bakery Organic Fat Flush Tortillas

French Meadow Bakery offers a line-up of organic and all-natural products including yeast-free, vegan, sprouted grain and Kosher options in many forms including breads, tortillas, bagels and desserts. The sprouted grain French Meadow "Fat Flush Plan" Tortillas certainly caught my attention, and held it enough that I bought a pack (10 inch size).

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 tortilla (56 grams)
Calories: 100
Total Fat: 1.5 grams, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 210 mg, 9%
Carbohydrates: 35 grams
Fiber: 7 grams, 28%
Sugar: 2 grams
Protein: 11 grams

I actually didn't know that there was such as a thing as The Fat Flush Diet - but apparently there is (check out DietsinReview for more info). Okay... but I'm not on a diet plan; I am just interested in healthy food that tastes great. The texture of these tortillas is not soft and doughy like one might expect, but firm and pliable. The sprouted grains add an element of chew and texture, while also providing for a very filling product that will keep your tummy satisfied as you power through the rest of your day - depending on what fillings you pile into the tortilla of course. My latest creation involves tuna mixed with salsa, refried beans & some shredded lettuce. Protein & fiber power baby !

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Each 10 inch French Meadow Bakery Organic Whole Wheat Fat Flush Tortillas provides a satiating 100 calories, 1.5 grams of total fat, no saturated fat, 210 mg of sodium (9% of the DV), a whopping 7 grams of fiber (28% of the DV), 2 grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein. The organic ingredient list is incredibly short and lists, organic sprouted wheat berries, organic vital wheat gluten, organic malt extract, organic sprouted barley, organic sprouted millet, organic psyllium husks, sea salt, organic sprouted lentils, organic sprouted soybeans, organic sprouted spelt berries (wheat), guar gum.

While this might not taste like a typical soft, doughy "typical" tortilla (not as tasty as Mission Plus 96 % Fat Free Burrito Tortillas), but don't write it off. The ingredients list is so much better, and you can't beat the amount of fiber and protein! I might not purchase French Meadow Bakery "The Fat Flush Plan" Tortillas every single week; but they will certainly be back in my kitchen from time to time, to help keep things interesting. A pack with 6 large wraps costs about $3.50.

{Website: French Meadow Bakery}

View the original article here

French Meadow Bakery Organic Fat Flush Tortillas

French Meadow Bakery offers a line-up of organic and all-natural products including yeast-free, vegan, sprouted grain and Kosher options in many forms including breads, tortillas, bagels and desserts. The sprouted grain French Meadow "Fat Flush Plan" Tortillas certainly caught my attention, and held it enough that I bought a pack (10 inch size).

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 tortilla (56 grams)
Calories: 100
Total Fat: 1.5 grams, 2%
Saturated Fat: 0%
Sodium: 210 mg, 9%
Carbohydrates: 35 grams
Fiber: 7 grams, 28%
Sugar: 2 grams
Protein: 11 grams

I actually didn't know that there was such as a thing as The Fat Flush Diet - but apparently there is (check out DietsinReview for more info). Okay... but I'm not on a diet plan; I am just interested in healthy food that tastes great. The texture of these tortillas is not soft and doughy like one might expect, but firm and pliable. The sprouted grains add an element of chew and texture, while also providing for a very filling product that will keep your tummy satisfied as you power through the rest of your day - depending on what fillings you pile into the tortilla of course. My latest creation involves tuna mixed with salsa, refried beans & some shredded lettuce. Protein & fiber power baby !

sponsor

Each 10 inch French Meadow Bakery Organic Whole Wheat Fat Flush Tortillas provides a satiating 100 calories, 1.5 grams of total fat, no saturated fat, 210 mg of sodium (9% of the DV), a whopping 7 grams of fiber (28% of the DV), 2 grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein. The organic ingredient list is incredibly short and lists, organic sprouted wheat berries, organic vital wheat gluten, organic malt extract, organic sprouted barley, organic sprouted millet, organic psyllium husks, sea salt, organic sprouted lentils, organic sprouted soybeans, organic sprouted spelt berries (wheat), guar gum.

While this might not taste like a typical soft, doughy "typical" tortilla (not as tasty as Mission Plus 96 % Fat Free Burrito Tortillas), but don't write it off. The ingredients list is so much better, and you can't beat the amount of fiber and protein! I might not purchase French Meadow Bakery "The Fat Flush Plan" Tortillas every single week; but they will certainly be back in my kitchen from time to time, to help keep things interesting. A pack with 6 large wraps costs about $3.50.

{Website: French Meadow Bakery}

View the original article here