Podcast Ep.52: The Case For Bread

Get ready as we take on a newly controversial subject – bread! We’re going out on a limb and talking about why we don’t think you have to feel guilty about eating bread – and the science that backs us up (do I hear angels singing?). It does have to be the right kind, though. Brian shares the findings of a major study of health studies about the benefits of whole grains and I’m giving you the bread recipes I make regularly, which also happen to be the most popular posts on An Oregon Cottage – probably because they’re easy and delicious. Plus, more farmhouse updates and cool things we’ve discovered.

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The Case for Bread

Does bread really deserve the bad rap it’s gotten lately? Does good, simple bread made with quality ingredients deserve to be lumped in with all the carbs like snack foods, chips, and hot dogs and hamburger buns?

Here are the articles we discussed in the episode:

• The Scientific Case for Eating Bread
• What Happens When You Stop Eating Bread

While we didn’t mention this article specifically, WedMD states the case for bread pretty much along the lines of what we talked about, saying it’s a sound weight-loss strategy:

Eating any kind of carbohydrate raises blood sugar levels. But carbs aren’t all the same. Sugars and refined grains raise blood sugar quicker than complex carbohydrates, found in foods including whole grains, beans and other vegetables.

Whole-grain bread has more fiber than refined, and fiber helps slow the absorption of carbohydrates consumed at the same meal or snack.

And this article quickly and thoroughly discusses the pros and cons of eating bread, ending with the idea that whole grain breads in moderation can be enjoyed as a part of a healthy diet.

So, no we don’t believe bread deserves to be thrown out of diets along with pretzels, chips, crackers, cakes, and other sugary foods. Those things really should be minimized, but whole grain bread deserves a spot in everyone’s diet. That’s our case for bread – read on for links to easy bread recipes anyone can make – really!

Farmhouse Updates

This was the state of the bathroom a few weeks ago – now there are no walls and all the shiplap walls have been salvaged. We are working to strip the paper so we can reuse it – we’ve discovered a no-work method: leave the pieces of wood in the rain for a week and the paper just slides off! (And no, it’s not long enough to cause damage to the wood – it dries perfectly.)

And here’s the picture of the windows installed that the plan called for with the new, higher ceiling. When we saw it, we knew it wasn’t enough.

We’ve picked up the windows we’re adding and I tried to mock it up for you so you could see what we’re thinking. “Tried” being the operative word, lol – I obviously have no idea how to make it look realistic. Hopefully you can picture the windows with transoms and thick molding all around them all.

What’s Cooking

And the four most popular bread recipes on AOC at the time we recorded (they are perennially popular – for good reason, as they are easy and delicious – but what’s actually in the #1 position changes with the seasons…) are:

1. Sourdough Artisan Bread. Did you know that sourdough has a fermenting benefit? The ferment period predigests some of the sugars and gluten which can allow some people with sensitivities to experience less bloating.
2. 100% Whole Wheat Soft Sandwich Bread. With just a 15 minute sponge and one rise, it’s quicker as well as easy.
3. Soft 100% Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls. Amazing.
4. Easy Artisan Bread. Probably the easiest bread ever.

This is Really Cool!

Brian’s: The Upside movie. So good you will leave the theater with a smile on your face!

Jami’s: BioSil liquid collagen for healthy nails & hair (and maybe wrinkles, joints, and bones). 

Thanks for listening! If you like this podcast, you can really help us out by telling your friends, subscribing on iTunes, and leaving us a review – that’s how other’s will find us too.

And if you’d like to ask a question or leave an idea for future podcasts you can call (541) 658-0215 to leave a voicemail and we’ll talk about it on the air!

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