Semolina Flour: Bread

Before

After

Semolina Flour from Bob's Red Mill

Semolina flour is used for pastas, breads and other dishes. I followed this multi-step recipe to prepare two loaves. I rolled the dough (much like this) and then baked the loaves. Later I experimented and cooked one loaf without rolling the dough. That was a hard, dense mistake.

The end result was a really lovely bread that sliced nicely (rather than coming apart at the rolled seams, as I’d feared) with a crispy crust.

Full Disclosure: I received the flour for review from Bob’s Red Mill (thank you!); I was not compensated for this post. All opinions here are entirely my own.

Arborio Rice from Bob's Red Mill

As I described in a recent Buono! post about risotto, risotto is commonly made with the short-grain, high starch arborio rice.

The other day, I prepared Bob's Red Mill's arborio rice and followed their basic recipe. Well, maybe "followed" is too strong of a verb. As I often do, I started with a recipe and made some adjustments along the way.

This time I substituted olive oil for butter and chose not to add the peas. Instead, I started the dish by sautéing the onion with sliced kale. Then, I put the kale on the side (so as not to overcook it) and continued the recipe. I added the kale to the cooked rice at the very end. At that point, I seasoned the dish with rosemary and sage. I served the risotto topped with pine nuts, olive oil and freshly grated cheese and hot pepper flakes. 

The lesson about altering a recipe? Once you are comfortable with a dish (the general cooking time, necessary components, like the rice to broth ratio here), make the necessary changes to cook the dish that you wish to eat.

Full Disclosure: I received the rice for review from Bob's Red Mill (thank you!); I was not compensated for this post. All opinions here are entirely my own.

Bob's Red Mill

You'll find whatever type of flour you are looking for, from gluten-free options like black bean flour to teff (used in Ethiopian pancakes), at Bob’s Red Mill. 

We stopped by the factory store for breakfast (omelets, grits and baked goods like biscuits) and some quick shopping when we were in Portland, Oregon. While I only bought some steel cut oatmeal to carry back in my luggage, I do look forward to trying out some other grains and flours while baking some new, perhaps healthier, options. Without sounding too much like an advertisement, most of their products are available in stores near you or through their website.