Fresh, delicious baked bread.

The cool, sunny San Diego weather could not have arrived at a more opportune occasion.  With Memorial Day just around the corner, it's an ideal time to leisurely enjoy San Diego's beautiful beaches, magnificent parks and fantastic restaurants.  One of my favorite activities, only reserved for such picturesque weather, is to picnic in Balboa Park. 

I can still recall my first visit: the soggy grass stained and sank beneath my white sneakers as my father and I searched for the ideal tree under which to seek shelter.  After settling onto a comfortable spot, my father reached into his backpack and pulled out two brown paper bags: one for me, one for him.  Suddenly stricken with hunger pangs, I hastily peeked into the paper bag and pulled out the biggest item: a neatly-wrapped tomato sandwich on homemade oat bread. Although consciously aware of my famishment, I couldn't help but to slowly savor each and every bite; the harmonious marriage between the sweet tomato juices and the tender yet chewy bread was incredible.

Today, I attempted to recreate the sandwich.  Knowing fully well that homemade bread is key to obtaining tomato sandwich perfection, I chose to forego an experiment with store-bought bread and instead, dug out an appliance that I had acquired long ago: a bread machine.

After choosing a light, oat bread recipe, I layered the ingredients into the bread pan and popped it back into the machine.  After about three hours, I came back home to the enticing, sweet aroma of freshly-baked bread.  Hurriedly, I sliced two pieces off of the large loaf for my sandwich.

The bread, by itself, was absolutely superb; with tomato slices wedged between, however, was phenomenal.

If you have a bread machine, I recommend making this recipe.  The light, chewy texture combined with a subtle hint of oats makes it perfectly delectable for any meal.  As starter bread? Appetizing.  As accompaniment to soup or spaghetti? Delicious. Smeared with peanut butter and strawberry jam? Delightful.

Light Oat Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to bread machine pan in order, recommended by your manufacturer. Use the light setting.
   

 Note: If you don't have a breadmaker, please follow these suggestions to make it by hand:

1. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl (except for the yeast).
2. Combine yeast, brown sugar (or honey - it'd probably dissolve better), butter/margarine, and warm water in a separate bowl. Mix until dissolved and let it sit for a couple minutes until creamy.
3. Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients.
4. After kneading the dough for a while (10-15 minutes or so), leave to rise until it's just over doubled the original size.
5. Punch it down.
6. Place dough into bread pan and let it rise again.
7. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

It's simple, scrumptious and cost-effective. 

Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend.