I'm trying to write a paper about childhood-onset bipolar disorder. As I sit here reading about the various characteristics of euphoria (part of the "manic" stage of "manic-depressive"), I realize I'm actually experiencing enough of the component symptoms to have a positive diagnosis: decreased sleep, racing thoughts, distractibility...oh, crap. What's going on??
And then I remember.
Somebody called me girlfriend yesterday. :)
(It wasn't by mistake, either. Ha, ha.)
Yup. There's this boy and he's amazing and he makes me smile and I feel like an idiot but I also kind of feel like a princess and I think I'm totally pissing my roommate off with my incessant happiness but you know what it's okay. And that, friends, is all you really need to know about that. :)
The end of the semester is a week and a half away (not counting finals), and I'm only half-ready. Being gone half the year made this semester seem really short. This paper/presentation (which I am having one heck of a time concentrating on) is my last such thing, and then I have two tests and two finals and it's over. (So few tests. I feel like a bum. How do I not have more things to do?? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm sure I'll find plenty of things to do.) And then on to summer, which I'm very, very excited for. Most of the people I care about are going to be here in the Lou with me for another hot, sticky, wonderful summer, and I am so ready for three months of cooking and reading and not having homework. What up.
I have some new plans for the future, and some other minor life changes. But I'm honestly having a hard time focusing on those now too. If I had known this whole relationship business was going to destroy my concentration so much...no, let's not lie, I totally would have done it anyway. So since I don't have the attention span to think about those, I'm going to distract you with this video my father sent me.
Now let me tell you about the text conversation that followed.
Me: WOW that's the coolest thing I've ever seen!! [My mind was literally blown.]
Dad: I've come across several of those out in the woods over the years [my dad is a forester], but never thought to video it and put on youtbue.
Me: Wait really?? They just exist randomly in our woods??
Dad: Different songs, but yeah...
I can't even tell you how excited I was. New plan for time at home: go FIND those things.
2 hours later, he calls me: April Fools!
Me: Um, a) it's not April Fools, and b) what are you talking about?
Dad: Well, it's April. And I've never actually seen one of those music things, obviously.
Ha. Thanks, Dad. Most pointless and disappointing April Fools ever. But at the same time he's kind of awesome.
MLIG.
<3
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Christianese
I had a piano lesson this morning. Normally they go for an hour, and lately they've been going pretty well because I actually practice. This morning, it started with my teacher asking me to play a C# minor scale and me blithely launching into E-flat major, and ended 35 minutes later with her sending me away and instructing me, not unkindly, to "go drink some more coffee."
I think that's pretty representative of how this week has gone.
But anyway, as I was walking back (without the familiar solace of my iPod, because it's dying on me for real this time and I really want it to live through spring break) I was thinking about this essay I wrote a few weeks ago in which I used repeatedly the phrase "pour into [someone's] life". My most excellent proofreader friend did the digital version of emphatically circling that phrase and writing little red question marks all over, and I realized that while it's a term we use relatively often in the Christian circles I'm in, it's really not a standard phrase at all. (For the record, it totally should be. I dislike the fact that I don't see it happen very often outside of said circles.) It really means just what it sounds like - pouring time, energy, love, encouragement, occasional discipline, and just yourself into someone's life solely for the purpose of seeing them grow as a person (or as a Christian, as the case may be). It's friendship to the next level. And I love being a part of it.
But beyond that one phrase, there are a lot of other words/phrases we as Christians use so often that they take on slightly new meaning, some that we've completely made up, and some that are just used so often it's not even clear to us anymore exactly what we mean by them. This is known popularly as "Christianese," and it can make discussions with Christians about Christianity sound really strange, I'm sure. Why is "God's grace" so much better than normal grace? Which one is "the prayer"? What the heck is the "KGP" and why does it sound so sketchy?? (I actually don't know why that particular acronym was necessary.) And how exactly does one "share their faith"? I know there are a lot more, and I've had conversations with other Christians about it. It distresses me a little to think that when I talk about my faith, half the things I say probably have way less meaning to the people around me than intended. It makes me feel like I'm in a cult or something (which, contrary to some beliefs, I am NOT). And I really want my faith to be more open than that.
So I think for Lent this year, rather than giving something up (like coffee, which I considered for all of 1.5 seconds before realizing there was NO way), I'm going to work really hard to avoid using terms that I can't immediately and clearly define to myself or anyone else. And you can hold me to that.
<3
I think that's pretty representative of how this week has gone.
But anyway, as I was walking back (without the familiar solace of my iPod, because it's dying on me for real this time and I really want it to live through spring break) I was thinking about this essay I wrote a few weeks ago in which I used repeatedly the phrase "pour into [someone's] life". My most excellent proofreader friend did the digital version of emphatically circling that phrase and writing little red question marks all over, and I realized that while it's a term we use relatively often in the Christian circles I'm in, it's really not a standard phrase at all. (For the record, it totally should be. I dislike the fact that I don't see it happen very often outside of said circles.) It really means just what it sounds like - pouring time, energy, love, encouragement, occasional discipline, and just yourself into someone's life solely for the purpose of seeing them grow as a person (or as a Christian, as the case may be). It's friendship to the next level. And I love being a part of it.
But beyond that one phrase, there are a lot of other words/phrases we as Christians use so often that they take on slightly new meaning, some that we've completely made up, and some that are just used so often it's not even clear to us anymore exactly what we mean by them. This is known popularly as "Christianese," and it can make discussions with Christians about Christianity sound really strange, I'm sure. Why is "God's grace" so much better than normal grace? Which one is "the prayer"? What the heck is the "KGP" and why does it sound so sketchy?? (I actually don't know why that particular acronym was necessary.) And how exactly does one "share their faith"? I know there are a lot more, and I've had conversations with other Christians about it. It distresses me a little to think that when I talk about my faith, half the things I say probably have way less meaning to the people around me than intended. It makes me feel like I'm in a cult or something (which, contrary to some beliefs, I am NOT). And I really want my faith to be more open than that.
So I think for Lent this year, rather than giving something up (like coffee, which I considered for all of 1.5 seconds before realizing there was NO way), I'm going to work really hard to avoid using terms that I can't immediately and clearly define to myself or anyone else. And you can hold me to that.
<3
Monday, March 7, 2011
Springy things
(I'm sitting here studying with friends supposedly working on a presentation that's due Wednesday. But I have a really terrible stomach ache that's making it really hard to focus. Sooo here we go.)
Spring break is next week and I could not possibly be more ready. It's just that time. I was doing great until about a week ago when I realized I felt like I hadn't slept in a month and I couldn't focus to save my life. Oops. So it's a good thing I'm going to a conference in...FLORIDA!! Heh heh. I'm really excited. This will be my third year going down there and I never fail to get inordinately excited about the promise of sun, sand, ocean, palm trees, condos on the beach, sunsets over the water, and a whole week with some of my favorite people in the world. I'm even excited about the 11-or-something-hour drive down there because my car is going to be awesome repeat AWESOME. (I don't know who engineered that but I would very much like to thank them.) And I'm especially excited because there was a moderate fiasco with my registration and the conference people faked me out and told me I couldn't go. Long story short, things have been solved, to my immense satisfaction and gratitude to God. And now I can go. So. Five days aaaand counting.
This week's recipe was cinnamon-raisin bread, the baking of which happened on Sunday after church with this awesome guy I know. :) The recipe was his, and the flavor turned out really well but the bread definitely did not reach desired consistency. (I'm pretty sure it was my fault because I was the one doing the first round of kneading and definitely didn't add enough flour because I didn't want to add too much and mess things up. Therefore it was too dense and didn't rise. Leave it to me to have all acquired baking skills fly out the window when I need them most. *Glare.*) Nevertheless, it was a great time. And I'm going to definitely get the recipe to try again another time. So, apologies for another post without a recipe.
Fun activity of Saturday night: my roommate and I got dressed up all hot and hauled one of our guy friends out to be a photographer and took random model pictures in one of the lecture halls (don't ask why). As she put it, long story short = we clean up good. They're up on Facebook now to lure in boys. Just kidding. Maybe.
Happy news from a couple of weeks ago - one of my high school friends just got engaged! It makes me just the teeniest bit jealous because she's distinctly younger than me (definitely didn't predict that beginning to happen for another few years), but I am really, really happy for her. Sadly they'll be doing the wedding in the middle of next spring (at home, in South Dakota), so I won't be able to make it, but I'm sure it'll be beautiful. She's wonderful and beautiful and she's found a great Christian guy and I'm ecstatic for her. :)
Alright. Now that it's past midnight, I guess I'd better see about that presentation. My single redeeming hope for its success is that it only has to be five minutes long. I think - think - I can talk coherently for five minutes without making a complete idiot of myself. I think. Wish me luck.
<3
Spring break is next week and I could not possibly be more ready. It's just that time. I was doing great until about a week ago when I realized I felt like I hadn't slept in a month and I couldn't focus to save my life. Oops. So it's a good thing I'm going to a conference in...FLORIDA!! Heh heh. I'm really excited. This will be my third year going down there and I never fail to get inordinately excited about the promise of sun, sand, ocean, palm trees, condos on the beach, sunsets over the water, and a whole week with some of my favorite people in the world. I'm even excited about the 11-or-something-hour drive down there because my car is going to be awesome repeat AWESOME. (I don't know who engineered that but I would very much like to thank them.) And I'm especially excited because there was a moderate fiasco with my registration and the conference people faked me out and told me I couldn't go. Long story short, things have been solved, to my immense satisfaction and gratitude to God. And now I can go. So. Five days aaaand counting.
This week's recipe was cinnamon-raisin bread, the baking of which happened on Sunday after church with this awesome guy I know. :) The recipe was his, and the flavor turned out really well but the bread definitely did not reach desired consistency. (I'm pretty sure it was my fault because I was the one doing the first round of kneading and definitely didn't add enough flour because I didn't want to add too much and mess things up. Therefore it was too dense and didn't rise. Leave it to me to have all acquired baking skills fly out the window when I need them most. *Glare.*) Nevertheless, it was a great time. And I'm going to definitely get the recipe to try again another time. So, apologies for another post without a recipe.
Fun activity of Saturday night: my roommate and I got dressed up all hot and hauled one of our guy friends out to be a photographer and took random model pictures in one of the lecture halls (don't ask why). As she put it, long story short = we clean up good. They're up on Facebook now to lure in boys. Just kidding. Maybe.
Happy news from a couple of weeks ago - one of my high school friends just got engaged! It makes me just the teeniest bit jealous because she's distinctly younger than me (definitely didn't predict that beginning to happen for another few years), but I am really, really happy for her. Sadly they'll be doing the wedding in the middle of next spring (at home, in South Dakota), so I won't be able to make it, but I'm sure it'll be beautiful. She's wonderful and beautiful and she's found a great Christian guy and I'm ecstatic for her. :)
Alright. Now that it's past midnight, I guess I'd better see about that presentation. My single redeeming hope for its success is that it only has to be five minutes long. I think - think - I can talk coherently for five minutes without making a complete idiot of myself. I think. Wish me luck.
<3
Friday, February 25, 2011
Recipe: Charlie's Famous Chicken Salad
Last week when I went shopping, I did something completely out of character for me: I bought meat. I know, I know. You thought I was vegetarian. Well, that is false and you should cease listening to the vicious rumormongers who tell such lies. Anyway. I was sick of not being able to cook meat, so I bought a package of chicken breasts and resolved to use them.
I cooked them Sunday night by sauteeing them in olive oil after using a "brining" technique that several websites recommended, which basically entailed covering them with water mixed with a ridiculous amount of salt and sugar (probably not the healthiest thing?) and letting them soak it up in the fridge for an hour. They tasted delicious, but I should probably go for something healthier (aka not involving salt, sugar, and oil...?) next time.
So basically I was super proud of myself for actually cooking meat. Unfortunately, the next morning when I went to make it into chicken salad, I was distressed to discover that although I probably wasn't going to die from eating it, I really should have cooked the chicken about half a minute longer. There was still just the teeniest, tiniest bit of pinkishness in the middle. Whoops. Having had a friend go through food poisoning the week before, I wasn't monstrously excited about following suit, but it tasted fine, I had tested some the night before and wasn't dead yet, and I wasn't about to waste all my effort. So I nervously made the salad.
It was good! It made more than I wanted it to, because now I've been eating it for days and am going to have to throw out the last little unused bit. But it did last a commendably long time. I also didn't get food poisoning, which is key. I used cucumber instead of celery and omitted the onion, and I really liked it. (Also I accidentally bought Extra-Tenderizing Worcestershire sauce...? Who knew that existed? But it seemed fine.) Next time I'll use red grapes instead of green for better flavor. But overall I recommend it. Super fast, pretty delicious. I give it four stars.
How easy is that?
(PS- No, I don't know who Charlie is. But he sounds cool.)
<3
[Recipe credit: Food.com, http://www.food.com/recipe/charlies-famous-chicken-salad-with-grapes-53508]
I cooked them Sunday night by sauteeing them in olive oil after using a "brining" technique that several websites recommended, which basically entailed covering them with water mixed with a ridiculous amount of salt and sugar (probably not the healthiest thing?) and letting them soak it up in the fridge for an hour. They tasted delicious, but I should probably go for something healthier (aka not involving salt, sugar, and oil...?) next time.
So basically I was super proud of myself for actually cooking meat. Unfortunately, the next morning when I went to make it into chicken salad, I was distressed to discover that although I probably wasn't going to die from eating it, I really should have cooked the chicken about half a minute longer. There was still just the teeniest, tiniest bit of pinkishness in the middle. Whoops. Having had a friend go through food poisoning the week before, I wasn't monstrously excited about following suit, but it tasted fine, I had tested some the night before and wasn't dead yet, and I wasn't about to waste all my effort. So I nervously made the salad.
It was good! It made more than I wanted it to, because now I've been eating it for days and am going to have to throw out the last little unused bit. But it did last a commendably long time. I also didn't get food poisoning, which is key. I used cucumber instead of celery and omitted the onion, and I really liked it. (Also I accidentally bought Extra-Tenderizing Worcestershire sauce...? Who knew that existed? But it seemed fine.) Next time I'll use red grapes instead of green for better flavor. But overall I recommend it. Super fast, pretty delicious. I give it four stars.
Charlie's Famous Chicken Salad
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
- 2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
- 1 cup finely chopped celery
- 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or 1 cup pecans (optional)
- 1 small minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
- Combine all ingredients; chill.
- Serve with just about anything- crackers, chips, rolls, bread or bagel.
How easy is that?
(PS- No, I don't know who Charlie is. But he sounds cool.)
<3
[Recipe credit: Food.com, http://www.food.com/recipe/charlies-famous-chicken-salad-with-grapes-53508]
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Musical genius
"Lil Wayne is a musical genius."
This was how my lab master greeted me as he charged into the lab (he really only charges into anywhere. Not walks, not even boldly strides - charges) last Thursday. I looked up from my peaceful (read: mindlessly repetitive) work scoring behavioral task responses (I work in a psych lab...have I mentioned that?) to hear exactly what nonsense he was spouting. As it turns out, Lil Wayne, in his incredible ingenuity, has taken the lyrics of some random old song ("I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood" - I'll let you try to figure out how the meter works on that one, I still don't get it) and infused them into some rap. I dutifully listened to the proffered sample, and when it was over mumbled something vaguely complimentary and happily wiggled my earbuds back into place. And that's when my ears were filled with musical genius, thanks to that wonderful wonderful invention fondly known as Pandora.
If you've never used Pandora, I'm just going to come out and say it: your life is not complete. No, really, it isn't. I'm going to assume you at least know what it is (if not, where exactly have you been for the past like five years?) and not take the time to explain it to you. I was totally skeptical when I started using Pandora. You can't just tell me what kind of music I like. Music can't be quantified. Stupid computer program. Well, false. Pandora, upon input of one of my favorite artists, can completely recreate a good 60% of my iTunes library (the other 40% being the stuff I don't actually listen to), and then throw music at me that I don't understand how I've never heard of because it's so awesome. I've found the key is to not use the Like/Dislike buttons too frequently, or else it gets really niche-ified and not as good. Also it sometimes goes way off track, like the time last week it decided I would really enjoy Paul McCartney live. Over and over and over again. A few emphatic thumbs-downs did the trick. But in general it's awesome. Favorite station right now is based on the song "The Show" by Lenka - it comes out on the chill/artsy end of my spectrum of musical tolerance and I like it a lot.
So. Although I retain the opinion that computers can never be truly intelligent (a topic for another day), this particular computing system has musical genius down to a science. (It hopefully goes without saying that Lil Wayne, in this blogger's own humble opinion, definitively does not.)
In other news, I successfully applied for a senior honor society this week. (Successfully meaning I finished the application, not I got in. I even turned the application in a whole 8 minutes early. Yeah, that's right.) My proofreaders deemed my eye-roll-inducingly cheesy essays sufficient, so I sent them in and crossed my fingers. Fingers still crossed. I think I find out sometime next week. The people-pleasing side of me wants to be accepted primarily for the fact that it would make my parents really proud. The legitimate side of me is ridonculously excited about the prospect of going to local libraries and promoting literacy to children (read: reading to them, I think). So, I just really hope I get in.
In other other news, I finally found out that I passed all my Edinburgh classes!! Some more emphatically than others, so to speak, but all perfectly passed. That really kind of wraps it up for Edinburgh, which feels weird. I really, really miss it. Every time I think about it I come back to how happy I am to be home again. Also, it sort of feels like it didn't really happen. But I still miss it.
High of the day: chilling with the grad students in my lab discussing the possibility of getting a lab Settlers of Catan game. It was unanimously determined that that needs to happen ASAP. Also, I'm now officially a Children's Studies minor. :D
Low of the day: not realizing that it was supposed torain pour. Keds = worst shoe decision ever.
<3
This was how my lab master greeted me as he charged into the lab (he really only charges into anywhere. Not walks, not even boldly strides - charges) last Thursday. I looked up from my peaceful (read: mindlessly repetitive) work scoring behavioral task responses (I work in a psych lab...have I mentioned that?) to hear exactly what nonsense he was spouting. As it turns out, Lil Wayne, in his incredible ingenuity, has taken the lyrics of some random old song ("I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood" - I'll let you try to figure out how the meter works on that one, I still don't get it) and infused them into some rap. I dutifully listened to the proffered sample, and when it was over mumbled something vaguely complimentary and happily wiggled my earbuds back into place. And that's when my ears were filled with musical genius, thanks to that wonderful wonderful invention fondly known as Pandora.
If you've never used Pandora, I'm just going to come out and say it: your life is not complete. No, really, it isn't. I'm going to assume you at least know what it is (if not, where exactly have you been for the past like five years?) and not take the time to explain it to you. I was totally skeptical when I started using Pandora. You can't just tell me what kind of music I like. Music can't be quantified. Stupid computer program. Well, false. Pandora, upon input of one of my favorite artists, can completely recreate a good 60% of my iTunes library (the other 40% being the stuff I don't actually listen to), and then throw music at me that I don't understand how I've never heard of because it's so awesome. I've found the key is to not use the Like/Dislike buttons too frequently, or else it gets really niche-ified and not as good. Also it sometimes goes way off track, like the time last week it decided I would really enjoy Paul McCartney live. Over and over and over again. A few emphatic thumbs-downs did the trick. But in general it's awesome. Favorite station right now is based on the song "The Show" by Lenka - it comes out on the chill/artsy end of my spectrum of musical tolerance and I like it a lot.
So. Although I retain the opinion that computers can never be truly intelligent (a topic for another day), this particular computing system has musical genius down to a science. (It hopefully goes without saying that Lil Wayne, in this blogger's own humble opinion, definitively does not.)
In other news, I successfully applied for a senior honor society this week. (Successfully meaning I finished the application, not I got in. I even turned the application in a whole 8 minutes early. Yeah, that's right.) My proofreaders deemed my eye-roll-inducingly cheesy essays sufficient, so I sent them in and crossed my fingers. Fingers still crossed. I think I find out sometime next week. The people-pleasing side of me wants to be accepted primarily for the fact that it would make my parents really proud. The legitimate side of me is ridonculously excited about the prospect of going to local libraries and promoting literacy to children (read: reading to them, I think). So, I just really hope I get in.
In other other news, I finally found out that I passed all my Edinburgh classes!! Some more emphatically than others, so to speak, but all perfectly passed. That really kind of wraps it up for Edinburgh, which feels weird. I really, really miss it. Every time I think about it I come back to how happy I am to be home again. Also, it sort of feels like it didn't really happen. But I still miss it.
High of the day: chilling with the grad students in my lab discussing the possibility of getting a lab Settlers of Catan game. It was unanimously determined that that needs to happen ASAP. Also, I'm now officially a Children's Studies minor. :D
Low of the day: not realizing that it was supposed to
<3
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Love is in the air - Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Love is: the things I got in the mail yesterday/today.
- A 2-kg box of amazing chocolate from my dearest Tina, my German flatmate. She mailed it about a month and a half ago, and by the best luck in the world (/God?) it came on Valentine's Day. There is now a massive pile of European chocolate on my desk that I'm slowly and remorselessly getting fat on. Because Tina is so amazing, about a third of it is marzipan-filled (favorite), a third is hazelnut-filled (second favorite), and the final third is hot chocolate mix. OHMYGOODNESS I'm going to die of chocolate bliss. (There are also a couple of non-nutty things, which I will share with you at the earliest possible moment, you-know-who-you-are. The rest of you are also welcome. Just ask.)
- A card from my grandmother. Predictable. BUT this year it's age-appropriate AND had money in it to "Go have a latte," in her words. Done.
- A flamenco skirt!!!!!! EEEEEEE!!!! I am in love with it. I just ordered it Thursday (Friday?), so it got here surprisingly fast, and I am pleased. Color choices of this particular skirt were red (too fiery), black (too plain), and blue (the color of 3/4 of the things I own). Guess which one I got?? That's right, it's beautiful and blue and ruffly and swishy and perfect. I've been stomping happily around my apartment in it + my flamenco heels since it arrived, constantly prepared to run quickly into my room if the door opens.
Love is also: the bread I made on Sunday.
I got the recipe from the back of my bag of flour. I figured it had to be pretty legit for them to use it on there, right? RIGHT. SO RIGHT. It made two very beautiful, deliciously fragrant loaves of honey whole wheat bread. I love it because it's flavorful, healthy, and perfect for sandwiches. It was totally, totally a success. (Of course, the banana muffins I made at the same time are less than good. But we're going to forget about those.)
- A 2-kg box of amazing chocolate from my dearest Tina, my German flatmate. She mailed it about a month and a half ago, and by the best luck in the world (/God?) it came on Valentine's Day. There is now a massive pile of European chocolate on my desk that I'm slowly and remorselessly getting fat on. Because Tina is so amazing, about a third of it is marzipan-filled (favorite), a third is hazelnut-filled (second favorite), and the final third is hot chocolate mix. OHMYGOODNESS I'm going to die of chocolate bliss. (There are also a couple of non-nutty things, which I will share with you at the earliest possible moment, you-know-who-you-are. The rest of you are also welcome. Just ask.)
- A card from my grandmother. Predictable. BUT this year it's age-appropriate AND had money in it to "Go have a latte," in her words. Done.
- A flamenco skirt!!!!!! EEEEEEE!!!! I am in love with it. I just ordered it Thursday (Friday?), so it got here surprisingly fast, and I am pleased. Color choices of this particular skirt were red (too fiery), black (too plain), and blue (the color of 3/4 of the things I own). Guess which one I got?? That's right, it's beautiful and blue and ruffly and swishy and perfect. I've been stomping happily around my apartment in it + my flamenco heels since it arrived, constantly prepared to run quickly into my room if the door opens.
Love is also: the bread I made on Sunday.
I got the recipe from the back of my bag of flour. I figured it had to be pretty legit for them to use it on there, right? RIGHT. SO RIGHT. It made two very beautiful, deliciously fragrant loaves of honey whole wheat bread. I love it because it's flavorful, healthy, and perfect for sandwiches. It was totally, totally a success. (Of course, the banana muffins I made at the same time are less than good. But we're going to forget about those.)
Recipe: Honey-Whole Wheat Bread
- 2 packages regular active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (105ºF-115ºF)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup butter/margarine
- 3 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 cups very warm water (120ºF-130ºF)
- 4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 3/4 - 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- In small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water; set aside. In large bowl, mix honey, butter, salt, and very warm water; cool 5 minutes.
- To cooled honey mixture, beat in 3 cups of whole wheat flour with electric mixer on low speed, scraping bowl frequently, until moistened. Beat on medium speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Beat in remaining 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour and dissolved yeast. With spoon, stir in 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour until dough pulls cleanly away from side of bowl.
- Place dough on floured work surface. Knead in remaining 1/2 to 1 cup all-purpose flour; continue kneading 5 to 10 minutes until dough is smooth and springy. Grease large bowl with shortening or cooking spray; place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and cloth towel. Let rise in warm place (80ºF-85ºF) 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Generously grease 2 (8x4- or 9x5-inch) loaf pans with shortening or cooking spray. Gently push fist into dough to deflate; divide in half. On lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough with rolling pin into 18x8-inch rectangle. Starting with one 8-inch side, roll up dough tightly, pressing with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal; pinch each end to seal. Fold ends under loaf; place seam side down in pan. Cover; let rise in warm place 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Heat oven to 375ºF. Uncover dough; bake 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF; bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until loaves sound hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. (Makes 2 loaves)
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