Beachday

We joined our Friday Friend at the beach today, a total departure from our usual activities. There are beaches nearby in Fairfield County but we never go. Today we did. And what fun we had! While we didn't spot any rare-to-New-England White-tailed Kites, we waded thigh-deep into the still, calm water and found lots of different-colored seaweed, pretty shells and stones, funky driftwood, dozens of crab shells, many mini minnows. We built a faerie house against a log with all of the above (well, sans minnows), complete with secret library, garden, and swimming pool which Sis lined with seaweed and kept refilling. Then we played in a rushing canal, watching (and catching) our beach buckets float in the currents. But we never did catch a minnow, despite several attempts. We did catch a few hermit crabs but soon let them go. As we returned to our cars (for a snack of Whole Wheat Apricot Bread and potato chips), we spotted a hollowed-out log and decided it made a great canoe. Other pieces of driftwood served as paddles . . . and Sis and Bud were off to China!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Whole Wheat Apricot Bread

3/4 cup apple or pear juice

6 tablespoon water

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons nut or vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups bread flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 tablespoon gluten

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots (spray knife with cooking spray first)

Place ingredients, except apricots, in the pan according to the manufacturer's instructions. Set crust on medium and program for Whole Wheat or Fruit and Nut cycle; press Start (do not use delay timer). When the machine beeps, or between Knead 1 and Knead 2, add the apricots. The dough ball will be soft and moist.

When baking cycle ends, immediately remove the bread from pan and place on the rack to cool before slicing.

Beth Hensperger, The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook