The past month has been a challenging time for many reasons and no time or energy to write blogs. However, an article in the Chicago Tribune yesterday spurred an idea for me to come back to the computer and write one. Here’s how it all started. I have been working on filing recipe cards in my new (old,classic) card catalog. I have been searching for just the right one ever since my old card catalog was destroyed in a flood. I finally found the perfect one that wasn’t ridiculously expensive and not too far away to pick up. It was being sold by the Racine Art Museum in Racine, Wisconsin. I love it. As I was filing away my “Breads” recipes this past weekend, I came across one from Angela Lansbury called “Angela Lansbury’s Power Pack Brown Bread.” I added the recipe to the others and didn’t think of it again. But then in Sunday’s Tribune there was an article about September 30th being the 40th anniversary of Lansbury’s popular TV show, “Murder, She Wrote.” It made me think of the bread recipe I had recently filed. I went to retrieve the card from the file and take a further look. “Murder She Wrote” was about to become “Bread, She Baked.”
I carried the card with me to look it over as I put my feet up in my comfy chair. Usually when I want to relax I watch shows that are non-violent, easy to watch, and I don’t have to think about any stresses of the day. I turned on a Hallmark movie because you don’t have to think when watching them and you won’t get nightmares. However, I got bored of them and started flipping channels. I came across “Murder, She Wrote,” a show I actually never watched when it aired on CBS for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996. I got hooked on it and still enjoy watching while I relax. It’s fun to find an old show belatedly and learn how good it is. The show won multiple awards in many areas. I realized that I was getting tired of all the streaming series that you sometimes have to wait for months or even close to a year for the next installment. (Although, I loved Downton Abbey). But I now seem to prefer a show that goes from beginning to end in a single episode and each one to follow is new.
Now for the bread. I didn’t have time to make it but here is the recipe in honor of Angela Lansbury and her character named Jessica Fletcher. I’ll try the bread on some snowy cold Illinois winter’s day, but if you decide to make it please tell me about it!
- 2 cups boiling water
- 1-1/2 cups cracked wheat cereal
- 3 Tablespoons soft shortening
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon table salt
- 2 packets active dry yeast
- ⅔ cup warm water (103 to 115 degrees)
- 4 cups stone-ground whole wheat flour
- 2 handfuls bran flakes
- 2 handfuls quick-cooking oats
- ½ cup wheat germ
- Pour boiling water over cracked wheat cereal and stir. Add shortening, honey and salt. Set aside to cool to lukewarm.
- Dissolve yeast in warm water and add to cereal mixture.
- Gradually stir in 3 cups whole wheat flour. Stir in bran flakes, oats, and wheat germ. Mix very well. Cover with a damp tea towel and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
- Punch down and knead in remaining flour as needed, until fairly elastic and smooth. Divide dough in half. Place each half in an oiled loaf pan. Cover and set in a warm place and let rise again. Place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven and bake until nicely browned, about 40-45 minutes. Remove to cooling rack and let sit about 5 minutes before removing from pan. Let cool completely.
Wishing you some peace and more relaxing times. The bread looks quite hearty.
Thanks, Lisa. The bread sounds very hearty!
This is my go to background tv show. I grew up watching it and hearing Jessica’s voice is comforting for me. I particularly enjoy the Cabot Cove episodes, with Dr. Hazlitt and the sherrif(s), so I like to skip the others and watch these on repeat. Jessica (and Dr. Hazlitt) are great foodies and are always cooking or eating together. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I agree with all your comments, Alina! If you make the bread I would love to hear about it. Thanks for writing!
Good morning, Debbie!
I’ve never watched “Murder, She Wrote!”, but my parents did. Like you, I haven’t found that I relax with crime stories. But because of your recommendation, I t hink I’ll give this show a try. My parents used to watch it, so perhaps it will remind me of times spent with them.
My mom is a bread baker, so I’ll share this recipe with her. If she makes it, I’ll send you her reviews.
I’m sorry to hear that the past months have been challenging. I hope that finding the library card catalog and filing those treasured recipes has been theraputic.
Thank you, Denise. If you start watching the show, I hope you enjoy it. Yes, filing the recipes in the card catalog is very therapeutic, especially when I find some of my mom’s or grandma’s recipes that I thought were lost.
I’m so excited that you to hear that you discovered some of your mom’s and grandma’s recipes! What a gift.
Denise, finding my mom’s and grandma’s old recipes is like finding buried treasure!