Microwave English Muffin Bread ...p87

Ready to rise

Bread cooked in a microwave?  My husband's mother, way back in the late 70s, ahead of the times, took a microwave cooking class when the rest of us were terrified that the machine was going to cook the cook and not the contents.  I'm not sure how much the fear was warranted, but the story of the elderly woman who, desiring to quickly dry her poodle by placing it in the microwave, only to have it go poof! had all of us scared to attempt anything more than reheating our leftovers or boiling water....and that at arm's length.

Risen to the top of the loaf pan, now ready to bake.

Well, most of us are still here and the microwave has become standard equipment in just about every household in America.  And if the only thing I ever cooked in a microwave was this bread, I would want one on my counter.

Fully baked loaves.....still pale, ready to be sliced and toasted.

This bread is so easy to make, I often am baffled as to why I don't make it regularly!  If you just slice and eat, you'll find it bland -  this bread is designed to be toasted - just like English Muffins.   Along with some tasty jam, it makes a lovely Christmas gift for your friends and neighbors.

Hardy Appetit!

Bread Pudding ...p85

I'm slacking a bit on the photos here, forgetting to shoot this fabulous bread pudding ensemble.  I truly don't know why I don't make this more often - it is so easy to assemble and absolutely delicious.  I used a stale sourdough baguette this time (admittedly hard to "saw" into pieces!) and let it sit for two days in the frig before cooking it, fearing the bread wouldn't absorb enough milk overnight.  Superb.  Everyone loved it.  It's even delicious served cold the next morning.

In the cookbook, butter is not listed as an ingredient and, after letting the pudding sit for a spell, I almost forgot to put it on top.  I recommend you add it to your ingredients list as butter adds a richness you wouldn't want to skip! 

Again, the critic lost out on this one, critiquing instead food choices at the Methodist Hospital.  Her reaction to their food?  Surprisingly, very positive.

In fact, we decided it is very important to make people aware of their hospital choices and hold some accountable, hence the following mention here in Gene-E Recipes!  Perhaps it will help them improve.  After an execrable stay at East Houston Regional Medical Center months back, Methodist acted professionally, compassionately, reasonably and all accomplished with superb meals and clean rooms.  Conversely, EHRMC showed none of those characteristics.  Hopefully our complaints helped the administration become aware of its problems and afforded them the opportunity to correct them.  

Hardy Appetit!