Summer Lovin' from the Oven

Fall and Spring enchant me with their cool weather and interesting foliage, but nothing compares to the wonders and freedoms of Summer. Sure, summer still has the to-do lists, the work (along with the required procrastination), and the stresses, but the overall presentation is a little different, a little more leisurely. Beneath the consistent warmth of the summer sun, everything seems just a little brighter. Waking up isn’t so painful when you know you have a warm cup of tea, the daily paper, and a lovely view of a cool, clean pool waiting for you downstairs. Work seems easier when it’s done in the comfort of your own room to the tune of your favorite music.

Another way that summer amazes me is how it has yet to lose its proclivity for spontaneity. Longer days and warmer weather lend themselves naturally to openness to adventure. Since I’ve been home, I’ve spent a week as a camp counselor for energetic 5^th graders, perused the works of local artisans, ate sushi on a picnic blanket overlooking my home town, and heard the cannon roar of a civil war reenactment. And, the summer hasn’t even officially started. Like a child on Christmas morning, I eagerly await the new possibilities that each summer day brings. When I wake up, I love being able to ask, “What will I do today?”

The other day, when I asked myself that question, I decided to start my day by baking a fresh loaf of bread using one of my pinterest recipes. My insatiable love for oatmeal, cinnamon and bread made the oatmeal bread recipe an obvious choice. What goes more perfectly with a breezy morning than the sweet smell of baking bread? The recipe didn't actually call for any cinnamon, but my addiction to the scent of cinnamon made the addition absolutely necessary. I added a teaspoon of cinnamon when heating the oats and the mild, and I brushed the top of the loaf with butter and cinnamon suagr before baking. Despite my obvious bias, I felt the cinnamon lent itself to the warm flavors of the wheat flour and oats (my mom agreed as well).

The recipe was definitely a winner! Though the bread took a while to rise (as most do), the loaf turned out hearty, airy and worth the wait.

The Recipe was found at CookiesCakesPiesOHMY, but I didn't add the sunflower seeds.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread

1 cup oatmeal
1 cup milk
(1 tsp cinnamon)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp yeast
1 Tbl sugar
1/2 cup white flour
1½ tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1½ cups wheat flour
1¼ cups white flour

For topping:
1 tbs butter/ benecol (melted)
cinnamon sugar

In saucepan combine oats and milk. Cook over medium heat until oats are soft about 5 minutes. (Stir in cinnamon) Remove from heat. Stir in sunflower seeds and oil; cool to lukewarm. In large bowl, dissolve yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water with 1 Tbl sugar. Pour oatmeal mixture into yeast. Add the 1/2 cup white flour, salt, and sugar, blend. Mix in remaining wheat flour and white flour to make a stiff dough. Knead. Turn into greased bowl, let rise about 1 hour. Punch down and make into one loaf. Put in greased bread pan, let rise 45 minutes. (Brush with butter and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.)  Bake in 350° oven for 38-45 minutes.

Look at that cinnamon sugar.... MMMM!