that hawaii life

Hello and Happy Summer!

A note, to start: This post is heavy on the photos and light on the words. And it doesn't have all that much to do with food. But honestly, I needed a place for this. A place for this memory to sit, so that one day we can look back on it and comment on how blue the water was and how young we looked.

In late April, we ventured to the big island of Hawaii, a trip I had been anticipating more and more with the record-breaking rainfall and dreariness we had been enduring in Seattle. We stayed along the Kailua-Kona coast where it is gloriously sunny and dry and I practically cried tears of joy and relief upon arrival. 

Things I want to remember about this trip:

carry-ons stuffed full with stacking cups that clang a little too loudly, the heaviest story books of all time, and rolls and rolls of washi tape (for sticking on and peeling off the back of the airplane seat in front of you, of course) / seafood all day, every day / constant toddler pleas to be in the water / strappy sandals or sandy toes with no other options / socked-in storms and hikes in the pouring rain / farmers markets in small towns, stands brimming with sweet breads, lilikoi jam, and eggs in colorful cartons / eating every meal outside / the unrelenting inspiration and hope that comes from travel.

And let's talk about all that color! The ocean seemed to change by the hour - light aquas and deep turquoises that turned to sapphire blues with ripples of pink and purple as the sun began to set. Fruity little drinks were garnished with slices of sunny yellow pineapple or coral-hued papaya. Jet black molten rock juxtaposed with lush greenery. I love my earthy Pacific Northwest palette, but gosh, I needed some tropical vibes.

Now, back at home, we are basking in sunshine day after day and it is glorious! We've dusted off the grill, picked berries in the countryside, and slurped down more ice cream cones than I can count. I'll be back with some sort of summery post.

xo,

Carrie

a really good oatmeal bread

Hello and Happy Spring!

It's been a pretty wet one so far around here and I'm more impatient than ever for the sun to show itself a bit more. Perhaps out of desperation, we went to go get ice cream in the rain last weekend, willing warmer weather to come with each spoonful and lick.

In the meantime and until brighter days are here to stay, I'm distracting myself in the kitchen with some new baking projects. Crew is my accomplice. He's all about scooping dry goods into bowls, stirring them up with whisks and wooden spoons, and stealing tastes of the ingredients as we go. I've learned to embrace the chaos and messiness and unpredictability that is baking with a toddler: flour plunked from the bowl and scattered onto the floor like a dusting of snow, baking powder that may or may not have made its way into the batter, and an extra handful of chocolate chips haphazardly tossed in, or more likely, taken out. And yet, no one seems to be complaining about the results around here.

With all the cookies, muffins, and even cakes we've had on repeat as of late, I wanted to look for something a little less sweet and a little more wholesome. Something for breakfast - toast, perhaps. Yes, toast!

This oatmeal bread is inspired by a recipe in one of my favorite baking cookbooks, "Good to the Grain" by Kim Boyce. She has a bakeshop in Portland that I have yet to visit, but I'm highly considering a trip down I-5 for the spring onion croissant alone. I've made some changes to the recipe, adapting things to what we always have in our pantry, and added metric measurements. It's hearty from the whole wheat flour and rolled oats, but the crumb remains soft with just the right chew. And slathered with butter and the best jam you've got? Or maybe even some flaky sea salt?! Yes, yes, and yes. 

We also like it smeared with crunchy peanut butter and a drizzle of honey in our house. Almond or sunflower seed butter is nice too. Crew, in particular, favors it this way and shoves it into his mouth with reckless abandon, always (always!) asking for more before he's finished chewing.

Do you ever wake up in the morning and suddenly remember that you have something exciting to eat for breakfast and proceed to dance your way into the kitchen? No? Just me? Well, this bread is one of those somethings.

It really isn't too much trouble if you're going to be around for the better part of a morning or afternoon. You'll just tend to it from time to time while you get other things done. And the moment you smell the fresh bread smells, you'll be convinced. It was worth it.

a really good oatmeal bread // makes 1 loaf

adapted from "Good to the Grain" by Kim Boyce

The original recipe for this bread doesn't include weight measurements. Results can vary remarkably when baking depending on how you fill your measuring cups. I've included weights here, but if you're planning to use cups (especially for the flours), here's how I recommend you go about it: First, take a spoon to stir up and loosen the flour in whatever vessel it's in since it tends to get packed down. Then, to measure, spoon the flour into your measuring cup rather than dunking it in. Fill it until it heaps over the brim, then sweep across the top with the back of a knife to let the excess flour fall back into the container.

Once baked, try to resist the urge to cut into it too soon so the crumb has time to set and the flavor can develop. I know, the struggle is real. I'm a fan of finding the sweet spot - where "cool enough" and "still slightly warm" meet. Be sure to settle in for a good slice right then.

butter for the bowl and pan

3 tablespoons honey

1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast

325 g/2.5 cups whole wheat flour

260 g/2 cups all-purpose flour

110 g/1 cup rolled oats, plus a bit more for scattering on top

2 oz/1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

1 tablespoon sea salt

Lightly butter a large bowl and a bread loaf pan about 9x5x3 inches. The dough can also be formed into a boule (round loaf) and baked on a baking sheet.

Measure the honey into the bowl of a standing mixer. Add 2 cups of warm water and sprinkle the yeast on top. Stir on low for 10-20 seconds, then turn off the mixer. Give it one more stir by hand with a wooden spoon, making sure the honey is dissolved and mixed throughout. Set aside, allowing the yeast to bloom for about 10 minutes, until it begins to bubble. (If it doesn't, it may be inactive; throw it out and start over with a new package.)

Measure the flours, oats, and butter into the bowl with the yeast mixture and stir together with a wooden spoon. Cover with a thin towel and let stand for 30 minutes.

Attach the bowl and a bread hook to the mixer. Add the salt and mix on medium speed for 6 minutes. The dough should come together around the hook and slap around the sides of the bowl without sticking to them. If the dough is sticking at any time during the mixing, add a tablespoon or two of all-purpose flour until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be soft, supple, and slightly sticky.

For the first rise, scrape the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead it a few times. Put the dough into the buttered bowl, cover with a thin towel, and leave it to rise for about 1 hour (or until it is doubled in size).

To shape the dough, scrape the dough back onto the lightly floured work surface (and add more flour if needed). Press down on the dough, working it toward a square shape while depressing all of the bubbles. Fold the dough down from the top to the middle, then up from the bottom to the middle. Next, bring the newly formed top and bottom edges together and pinch the seam with your fingers. Pinch the sides together and roll the shaped dough back and forth, plumping it so that it's evenly formed and about the size of your loaf pan. Place the dough in the pan with the seam side down and press it gently into the corners of the pan.

For the second rise, cover the dough with a thin towel and let it rest in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until the dough rises to half again its size or puffs up just over the edge of the pan. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 400°F.

When the dough has finished its final rise, sprinkle the top of the loaf with oats, if desired.

Bake for about 40 minutes, rotating halfway through. The loaf is ready when the top and bottom crusts are nicely browned. To see if the bread is ready, give the top of the loaf a thump to see if it sounds hollow. If it doesn't sound hollow, give it another few minutes or so. Remove the finished loaf from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

Note: This is best eaten within a few days, but will keep well at room temperature wrapped up a bit and placed into a paper bag.

xo,

Carrie