Kori's Kitchen

I will be baking six different breads for the next six issues of Bismarck Magazine. For the first issue I originally wanted to do a sourdough because I kind of wanted to get on the sourdough train that it seemed like everyone else was on. I ended up going away from it because I have a full time job and I did not realize how needy the feeding and discarding would be for maintaining the starter.

I transitioned to doing a pretty basic Country Loaf. For making this country loaf you need these tools: stand mixer (or knead by hand), a sheet pan or a Dutch oven, a kitchen scale, Cambro container or other large bowl, flour, water, salt, and instant yeast. For my baking, I used a Dutch oven so that’s what I’ll refer back to. My flour preference is King Arthur’s all purpose flour. The King Arthur website is an absolute wealth of knowledge for any kind of baking and they have plenty of useful tips for all of their recipes.

This recipe will make three smaller loaves or one large loaf and a smaller loaf. I typically make a large loaf and a smaller loaf. The real key with this bread recipe is giving the dough adequate time to rise at room temperature.

For the bread dough you will need:

• 907 grams of all purpose flour • 680 grams of lukewarm water (less than 100 degrees) • 18 grams of salt • 14 grams of instant yeast

Mix all of these together in a stand mixer until your dough is starting to stick to the sides of the mixing bowl. Transfer to a large bowl or Cambro container and let rise at room temperature for at least two hours. The dough will nearly triple in size.

After the dough has risen, it can be refrigerated for a few hours and up to 7 days before it needs to be baked. Once the dough has been refrigerated, bring it back into the kitchen and allow it to rise for 30 minutes. During this time, start preheating your oven to 450 degrees with the Dutch oven inside of it.

Measure out two pounds of your bread dough and allow it to rise for an hour prior to going into the pre-warmed Dutch oven. Before placing your dough make sure you have some parchment paper to give yourself an easy way to get it in and out of the Dutch oven.

Once placed in the Dutch oven, take a sharp knife and make a few slashes in the top so steam has somewhere to escape out of the bread. Place the lid back on the Dutch oven and place in the oven. Bake with the lid on for 25-35 minutes (this part really depends on your oven) and then bake for an additional 5-10 minutes with the lid off. Once done baking, remove from the Dutch oven and place on a cooling rack and allow it to cool to room temperature. Slice and enjoy with some butter and sea salt or dipped into a balsamic vinegar and olive oil mixture.

I am so excited to have all of you on this bread making journey for the next year of issues! Join me in the May/June issue to learn how to make Foccacia. Happy baking!

To Sharpen Your Focus, Sometimes You Have to Focus on Yourself

No, this is not a self-improvement article or the start of a meditation session (although we could all probably use one of those right now). Rather, it’s about viewing things in the proper perspective and focusing on what’s truly important. It is far too easy to get caught up in current events, headlines, or the daily ups and downs of the market. Our TVs, computers, and cell phones do a wonderful job of reminding us that we are in a constant state of crisis. And it’s human nature to want to act on this information – to try and gain a sense of control over our lives. Markets will always go up and down. The economy will ebb and flow, and politicians will still be bickering long after we are gone. Spending all of our time focused on these things won’t change them. But when it comes to finances, one of the best methods of control you can have is your ability to focus on you, what is important to you, and what you want to accomplish. Reviewing (or creating) your financial plan is a good way to keep the focus on where you are going and what is important to you. Plans are designed knowing the uncontrollable aspects of life. Long-term plans typically do not focus on short-term events. And short-term plans are designed to account for the unexpected. If you’re not sure whether your plan is properly focused on you, give us a call.

Goals are personal. Your financial plan should be too.

Millner Wealth Management Group

Pictured left to right: Terry L. Millner, Senior Vice President/Investments; Kathryn Peltz, Registered Client Service Associate; Jason L. Millner, CFP®, Vice President/Investments

Talk of the Town Budding up to Your Florist

In passing, Leilani Shannon told her husband Dutch Mill Florist happened to be for sale. Leilani and her husband, Bob had been looking for an investment and this seemed like the perfect one; when she told her husband the news “he looked at me, raised his eyebrows and tilted his head with a big smile on his face,” the veteran florist explains. With years of experience in the floral arts industry Leilani and her husband, Bob, bought the shop with the intention of making it a family business; With her daughter, Jessica Berg, by her side, as general manager and her younger daughter Abby Berger, part time florist and sales person. Bob and Leilani have made many updates to the interior of Dutch Mill Florist to refresh the look and feel. They are a great destination and the talk of the town! “It may be a family business, but we kept the existing staff, and an excellent one at that,” exclaims Leilani. We are excited to get an inside look at the current trends, best practices, and inside information from Leilani and Jessica over the next few issues. In this issue we are learning about the best flowers and plants to gift those closest to us for Mother’s Day and the Easter holiday.

Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and what better way to convey love and

appreciation for the woman you call mom than fresh flowers and plants? “Moms enjoy color and something interesting and plants are the perfect gift that she can take care of, as moms do,” Jessica explains. A ponytail plant in a fresh white pot it sure to put a smile on mom’s face. Easter lily and classic table pieces. Begonias, calandivas, kalanchoes, azaleas, bromeliads and mums are a good place to start when considering spring florals.

No matter what you are celebrating you can’t go wrong with a modern or traditional fresh bouquet. Whether its bright colors or muted tones you’re looking for Leilani, Jessica and their staff will create an arrangement that’s wonderful and at the perfect price point.

Leilani and Jessica are excited about their new adventure and look forward to sharing their knowledge and beautiful floral creations with us. “We make people smile, we make their day, we make their week. We are here for our community,” Leilani says with a smile.