Parmesan Basil Bread

4 slices homemade 7-grain or 9 grain bread
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup shredded (not powdered) Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
Paprika to taste

Start with a slice of home-made 7-grain bread. Toast on one side. Spread the untoasted side thickly with good mayonnaise. Mix the Parmesan and chopped basil, and cover the mayo and bread. It should be quite thick. Sprinkle paprika for appearance and taste. Broil until the basil begins to wilt and the Parmesan begins to brown, about 4 minutes.

Review: This makes a great bedtime snack. If you want to lighten it up, use less mayonnaise (though the mayo does contribute to the flavor). I might try it with a little lemon juice mixed into the mayo, or sprinkled on top of the mix.

9 Grain Bread Machine Bread

Add, in order, to the bread machine bowl:

1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup 9 grain mix for bread
1 1/2 cups white bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 TBSP white sugar
2 TBSP butter (margarine will do if you must!)
2 TBSP dry milk powder
(or eliminate milk powder and substitute milk for water)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups (or a little more) lukewarm water

load it all in the bread machine bowl, in sequence, set the machine for dark bread (the heavy dough takes slightly longer to cook) and press "go!" I usually hold back 1/4c of the water until every thing else has mixed, adding a little bit of the remainder at a time until the dough is firm but soft.

This is our family's staple whole grain bread: we love it toasted with home-made jam, or broiled with meat and cheese on top.

9-grain Mix for Bread

Combine in a large storage container:

1 cup Flax Seed
1 cup millet (millet seed)
3/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup rolled barley
3/4 cup roasted unsalted sunflower seed
1/2 cup pumpkin seed
1/2 cup bulgar
3/4 cup cracked wheat
1/2 cup oat bran or wheat bran
3/4 cup Quinoa
1/2 cup seminolina

I buy these in the bulk food section of a large grocery store. The proportions aren't real important: add more of the grains or seeds that you like (I really enjoy the millet and flax, so I use more of it).

Use for bread making (see this recipe).