Never Forget!! (Beef with Mushroom Barley Soup, Wheat Bread)

10 years ago I sat in my living room enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee watching the Today Show when the first plane hit..  I was in shock and almost immediately knew something was not right,  as I sat there watching and the 2nd plane hit I knew unfortunately that history was in the making and went and got the kids up.   We homeschooled and this was something that they needed to witness..  as I made pancakes for breakfast as we watched the coverage and talked about the history of the country and how this would impact us all I kept thinking how had we  as a country founded on God gotten this far from God that these kinds of attacks would occur..  I believe that we as a nation started worshiping the all mighty dollar more than God..  I pray for the families that lost loved ones on that day..  That kind of tragedy is so hard to get over,  you have a hard time wrapping your mind around why it happened.. they will always have a huge hole in their lives where their loved ones used to be..  Hopefully our country is still reaching out to those families..  you truly never stop grieving.. 

I decided to make something new for dinner tonight..  I need to get in the kitchen more.. I feel lost sometimes when I don't spend time cooking in the kitchen.. today is a crock pot meal..  it already smells wonderful..   I also decided to make some bread..  making bread calms me,  plus the smell is amazing..  there is nothing like the smell of fresh baked bread..

 Just mixed together in the Crock Pot

 

Beefy Mushroom Barley Soup

1lb stew beef, cut into small pieces
5 c baby bella mushrooms, sliced
3 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 leeks, trimmed, sliced and cleaned
4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
32 oz beef broth
1/2 c sherry or more beef broth
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
salt and pepper

Put all in crockpot, stir well and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.. 

Wheat Bread

2 c warm water
4 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp yeast

Mix all in mixer and let proof for 5 minutes

2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
2 tsp salt
2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 to 3 c all purpose flour

add the oil, salt and whole wheat flour,  mix well and add flour 1 c at a time mixing after each cup until a soft dough forms..  turn out onto floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes adding a little flour to the surface as needed to keep from sticking..  form into ball and cover and let rise for 15 minutes..   punch down and divide into 3 pieces.. form each into a loaf form and place on a greased pan,  cover and let rise until doubled about another hour and then back in a 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes until a nice golden brown.