The dough for this recipe can make either soft, chewy breadsticks, or rolls, depending on what you want to serve them with. I served them with my favorite pea soup. These can be made entirely whole grain, but for a change of pace I added a little bread flour to make them a bit lighter. I rarely use bread flour, most of my baking is whole grain. However, I do keep a small bag of it on hand for the rare use.
Since none of us is perfect, I subscribe to the 80/20 rule,( a distortion of the Pareto Principle), which says you eat as healthy as possible 80% of the time, allowing 20% for occasional treats and less healthy options. (although for me it's closer to 90/10).
Life is too short to beat yourself up over imperfect habits. I spend lots of time reading and researching nutrition, and try to put most of what I learn into practice. Once you learn something you can't unlearn it. But allowing guilt to eat away at me for not applying everything I've learned at all times isn't healthy. No one needs the added stress. And it's just not possible to control every aspect of life, so I"ve learned to just do the best I can and be satisfied with it.
I do keep a log every so often to make sure we are getting a good balance, enough of all nutrients and that I'm not overlooking anything. I know that it's easy to fool yourself into thinking that you're doing more than you really are. I know some carnivores who eat a banana and a small iceburg salad and believe they are eating plenty of fruits and veggies each day. Keeping a log occasionally would really open their eyes and keep them accountable. I know it helps me and came in handy a few years back when I was helping my son lose weight.
If you would like this to be 100% whole grain, simply omit the bread flour and use 2/3 c. more white whole wheat flour. You can also sub agave for the honey if you wish. I made the dough in my bread machine, but it's simple to do by hand. Just mix the yeast into the water, add the honey, let sit 10 min. till foamy, then add the oil, then everything else, knead till smooth and elastic, cover and let rise till doubled. Then follow the rest of the directions in the recipe below.
April 17, 2024
