100% Whole Wheat Bread

While Dana and I were stirring the Playa Del Rey Pepper Jack, Lindsey went to work on a 100% Whole Wheat Bread.  A quick Google search turned up this recipe at RecipeZaar (love the spelling, btw).  This was her (and my) first attempt at making bread, and I must say I am most impressed.

Although it's probably not the healthiest of breads (no water--only milk and butter!), it sure is tasty.  That bonus "sheen" on the loaves is all the butter we slathered on top.  Hey, that's what the recipe called for!  How could we say no?

Yes, the bottle of wine was empty by the time we got to the documentation.

Rosemary Focaccia & Fresh Mozzarella

Click image for a larger view

In a stroke of karmic genius, Sarah brought over a Focaccia dough that she whipped up a few minutes before leaving her house. I had been planning on making a 30-minute mozz (considering this was Sarah & Stephen's first time making cheese, I wanted them to actually get to sample something... four months is too long to wait to sneak a taste!)...

While we were working on the Gouda, she let the focaccia dough rise a bit, and sprinkled on some rosemary and a few other spices (I was so busy with the cheese... salt? pepper? that might have been it).

The bread was absolutely incredible, and the mozzarella was pretty durn good too (I've finally learned how to "salt to taste"... meaning: "Add more salt, stupid!")

We sliced up an organic Roma tomato, and opened a bottle of Curtis Roussanne that I had been saving for an afternoon such as this, and... voilà! Deliciousnessosity!

1 Gallon Trader Joe's Organic Whole Milk
1/4 tsp. Citric Acid, dissolved in 1/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. Double-Strength Vegetarian Liquid Rennet, dissolved in 1/4 c. water
Approx. 2 tsp. Cheese Salt
(No lipase this time...I think I prefer it without, as the lipase seems to add a somewhat skunky flavor, IMHO)

(Note to self: Get focaccia recipe from Sarah!)