Sunflower Bread & June's Give-Away

Today, I decided to create a bread to accompany the apron material I have chosen for this month--Sunflowers.  There are a number of reasons why I chose to celebrate this magnificent flower--it's Kansas' state flower and a symbol much associated with our prairie states which gave women the right to vote in the late 1800s before it was ratified in the 19th Constitutional Amendment on August 26, 1920.  There's also the fact that sunflower seeds and oil are good for you! The seeds are a good source of protein and fiber and the oil is affectionately called "Golden Child" because it's the highest in monounsaturated fat and lower in both saturated and polyunsaturated fats.

I'm proud to say I share a birthday with one of this country's most noted social activist, abolitionists and leader in the early women's movement--Elizabeth Cady Stanton [November 12, 1815 - October 26, 1902].  Along with Susan B. Anthony, they traveled through these midwest territories to spread the word of women's suffrage after the first Women's Rights Convention in 1848, in Seneca Falls, New York.  Unfortunately, Elizabeth died 18 years before women all over the United States held that right by the 19th Amendment.

I'm not going to make this post a whole history lesson, but to say I'm grateful that these women fought for us to have a vote and to honor a part of our country, where women stood right beside their husbands and family or even by themselves, to build a life and forge a living amidst these wild, wide-open spaces.  This apron with it's Prairie-like sunflowers is to honor these women.

Here is a list of the states that granted women the right to vote before the 19th Amendment:
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New York
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Sunflower Bread
1/2 cup warm water (between 105 - 110F-degrees)
2 T (or 2 pkg) active dry yeast
1 T honey

Whisk ingredients together and allow to set for 7 to 10 minutes until frothy; this is called proofing the yeast.

4 cups King Arthur bread flour
1/2 cup Wheat Germ
2 T Whole-grain Bread Improver

4 T Unsulphured molasses
1 T Kosher salt
1/4 cup Sunflower Oil
1/3 cup Sunflower Seeds
1/3 cup Baker's Special Dry Milk

1 1/4 cups water
additional flour as needed

In a stand mixer, using a dough hook, mix the dry ingredients together.  Whisk together the water, molasses, and oil and add to the mixer, while it's running.  Depending on the weather, you might have to add additional water or flour until the sides of the bowl are "clean" and the dough is being kneaded around the hook.

 Transfer dough to a lightly floured board and knead a few minutes, until smooth.  Brush a bowl or plastic dough bucket with some of the sunflower oil.

Place the dough right side up, down in the oiled bowl (or bucket) and then turn it upright again.  This oils the top.  Let the dough rise until doubled about 1 hour.

Punch down the dough and divide into two pieces.  To form loaves, pat out the dough to 8"wide x 8" long.  Start rolling the dough, about 2 inches at a time and pinch the seam as shown.

Continue rolling and pinching until you come to the end--this keeps from getting "air pockets" in your loaf.  Brush a 9" x 5" loaf pan with the sunflower oil.

Place the dough, seam side down into the loaf pan and press lightly to fill the pan.  Cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed lightly with baking spray, then, cover with a towel to add some extra "heat."

Let rise again until doubled--45 minutes to 1 hour.  Before the time is up, preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  As a final step...I sprayed the tops with "Quick Shine" and sprinkled some additional sunflower seeds on top.  I think you should say what kind of bread this is!

Bake 35 minutes, rotating pans half-way through to insure even baking.  Remove from oven and allow to cool about 10 minutes in the pan before turning them out to cool completely.

Golden brown and smelling delicious, I could hardly wait to cut into a loaf and slather with butter and jam.

I've met so many beautiful women through blogging and want to pay tribute to them with this post.  I also thought about my grandson, Ari, who loves Bob the Builder.  One of our favorite DVDs to watch together is where Bob helps Farmer Pickle build a new storage unit for his Sunflower Oil business.  I get to be Wendy his helper and listen to him giggle every time he says..."Farmer Pickles!"  Enjoy!