Whole Wheat Pita Bread

Pita is a round pocket bread consumed in Middle eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, which are considered as a staple. These are also called as  Pita pockets. The pockets are created by the steam, which puffs up the dough. The pocket is left in the middle, after the pita is cooled and flatten. This bread can be made on a grill, any oven or even on stove top. This bread is served as an appetizer in Mediterranean restaurants. 

The ingredients are simple and i replaced 1/2 of the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a healthier version of the bread. The sweet smell of freshly baked bread is so warm and comforting. This bread is very easy to make and very filling dish for your breakfast or dinner served with a dip. When you cut the pita into half, you can see the pocket, where you can fill anything to form a sandwich and serve with a salad. Alright, here goes the recipe,

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat flour

1 1/2 cups All purpose flour

1 1/4 + 1/4 cups warm Water 

1 packet Quick rise Yeast

1tsp Sugar

1tsp Salt

2tsp Olive oil

How to:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 1/4 cup of water and let sit for 10 mins, until frothy.

• In another big bowl, add the flours and salt together and mix well.
• Now make a well at the center of the flours and pour the yeast mixture.
• Start kneading and bring the dry flours together, pour the remaining water 1tbsp at a time and knead, resulting a slightly sticky dough.

• Then, transfer the dough to a flour-dusted surface and continue kneading for 8-10 mins, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

• Wrap the dough in a bowl coated with olive oil for 1 1/2hrs in a warm place, until the dough doubles.

• Punch the dough to remove excess air, knead for a min and divide the dough into lemon-size balls.

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees with the baking sheet in the lower rack of oven.
• Make flat-round shapes with a rolling pin and wrap it up with a kitchen towel for 10-15 mins for the dough to rise again.

• Either line the baking sheet with parchment paper or spray thin layer of oil.

• Place the risen flat doughs and bake for 4 mins, flip it and bake for another 3 mins or until brown spots appear.

• Watch the dough puffing up because of the steam.

• For softer pitas, wrap'em in a kitchen towel, once out of oven. For crispy pitas bake'em couple more mins.

Serve warm with hummus or baba ghanoush.

Tips:

• The olive oil helps in handling the dough and uses very less flour while rolling flat.
• You can also broil the pita at Hi, with pitas on the baking sheet at the top rack of the oven, broil for 2 mins, flip it and broil for another 1 1/2 mins. 

• Store the pitas in a zipper bag up to a week at room temperature or freeze'em for up to 3 months.

An Apple a Day!

I would like to share some information about apples. No history or geography, but something to know for your day-to-day life. We all must have heard this saying,"An apple a day, keeps the doctor away". Now you know, i am just gonna throw some light on, why eat apples, how it should be eaten and what it does to your body. Also, i am proud of myself, as i eat a raw apple daily as part of my breakfast and its going to be a year now. If i miss it for breakfast, which is very rare, i snack on it. Also, it gratifies my sweet tooth. Whenever i am away from home, say on road trip or camping, i either pack it from home or just buy locally at stores. 

After tasting many different apples, i found 'Red Delicious Apple' is the one for me. It has a very sweet taste, nice crunchiness with somewhat dark red skin. I buy my apples from Costco. Sometimes they are out of red delicious, during that time, i buy Fuji or Gala apples. I am never out of apples at home, as i refill them regularly. Alright, let get to know'em more,

Why eat and what it does?

• It is a good source of vitamin C, potassium and folic acids. Also trace amounts of B vitamins, magnesium, iron and zinc. It is essential for cell detoxification and enzymatic function.
• It contains bioflavonoids, known for antioxidants, also improves immune system prevents heart disease and cancer.
• It has high soluble fiber from pectin and insoluble fiber from cellulose, aids the digestive process and encourages the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
• It has high water content, which are cooling, moistening and helps in reducing fever.
• Its pectin (soluble fiber) helps in reducing high cholesterol as well as blood sugar. It also decrease the chance of colon cancer.The fibers keeps the LDL cholesterol under control.
• It contains malic acid and tartaric acid that inhibits fermentation in the intestines.
• It is good for treating acid reflux condition also called GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease).
• It has phloridzin, a flavonoid that helps preventing women from osteoporosis and also increases bone density.
• It has flavonoids and photochemicals which protects against lung cancer and colon cancer.
• It has high antioxidants, which helps eliminate acne problems and make your skin vibrant and glowing. Among the top 20 antioxidant foods, Red delicious apple takes the 12th place.(Also, 1st among apples.)

How to eat?

• Wash the fruit and wipe it with a paper towel to remove any residue.
• Some apples are coated with wax to prevent the crisp and shiny skin. With a vegetable brush, gently scrub the apple while rinsing, to remove any wax content and wipe dry.
• It (All fruits) should be eaten on an empty stomach. It helps detoxifying your system and prevents graying hair, dark circles under the eyes and nervous outburst.
• Do not cook the fruit, as it looses all its vitamins and left with taste only.
• Never peel off the skin, as half of the vitamins and soluble fiber content are under the skin.
• Better to eat whole raw fruit. With a juicer in your kitchen, make fresh fruit juice at home, do not drink juice in cans.

How to buy and store?

• It should be free from blemishes with bright color skin.
• It should feel firm with tight skin and not dull or mushy.

• Store it in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for freshness.
• Make sure there are no blemished apple, which would spoil the whole bag.
• Do not wash the apple before storing.

Nutritional Facts:

Serving Size: 1 medium Red Delicious apple (154g)

Calories          80

Total Carbs    22g

Dietary Fiber  5g

Sugars            17g

Vitamin A       2%

Vitamin C       20%

Calcium          2%

Iron                2%

In my experience, apple does a lot of wonders in my body. It fills me up and energizes in the morning, its fiber regulates my digestion, keeps my skin and teeth healthy and much more. What are you waiting for? Grab an apple and start you day.