I love making homemade bread. Especially when it is right out of the oven, piping hot (yes…I know bread should be allowed to cool before cutting but…) with homemade butter piled on! However, I don't always have the time to make bread, especially the odd times when those cravings hit. Then, while sorting through some of grandma's recipes, I came across a French bread recipe that looked incredibly, and almost unbelievably, simple and quick! Only 5 ingredients and done in about 80 minutes (give or take, depending on the oven), from activating the yeast to removing the finished loaves from the oven. This bread is so easy and basic in prep, that it is a great recipe for the first time bread maker and the homesteader with a busy schedule! 5 Ingredient French Homemade Bread – This was originally published on Homemade Recipes and is shared with permission – Ingredients: 1 ½  Cups Warm Water 1 Tablespoon Honey 3 ½ -4 ½ Cups Flour (Unbleached A.P. Is fine) 1 ½ Teaspoons Salt 1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast Step One: Activate the yeast by mixing it with the water, honey and salt. I prefer a glass bowl. Let the mixture set until yeast activation begins- usually 5-10 minutes. You can tell activation has begun when the mixture begins to bubble and foam. Step Two: Add 2 cups of flour to mixture, blend and knead. Continue adding flour and kneading until the dough is no longer sticking to your fingers or your kneading surface. Step 3: Form the dough into a loaf shape onto baking pan or cookie sheet. (I like to lightly butter the pan surface first.) Cover the dough with a clean towel, and let it rise for 20 minutes. This is also a good time to begin preheating the over to 400*. Step 4: When the 20 minutes is up and dough has risen, cut slits into the top of the loaf and bake for 16-20 minutes. Crust should be golden brown in color. Step 5: Let cool slightly, cut or tear a slice, pile on the homemade butter and take a big bite!!!! In Addition… The original recipe calls for the dough just to be shaped, let rise and bake. I have made a few adaptations for this point in the recipe, however, which includes: Cut dough in half, shape and bake in baguette pans (will make great sub loaves or companion with a good wine!) or Shape dough and let rise on flour dusted pizza peel (to prevent sticking), then transfer to cornmeal covered pizza stone (which should be preheating in oven) For crisp crust, brush with olive oil before baking or For crispier crust, place pan of water in the bottom of the oven while baking. And Finally… For extra flavor, sprinkle the seasoning of your choice onto top of loaf before baking. Up Next: Off-Grid Solar Survival: Top 5 Things to Consider Before Diving In Did you give this 5 ingredient French homemade bread recipe a try? Let us know how it went in the comment section below! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook! LIKE this? I'm sure you'll LOVE:   Healthy Banana Bread Recipe (Easy To Make From Scratch) If you're looking for some helpful products to assist in your homemade bread making, check out these choices! In need of a baguette loaf pan? Give this Chicago Metallic Commercial II Non-Stick Perforated Baguette Pan a try! If you're health conscious, this King Arthur Flour 100% Organic Unbleached All-Purpose Flour may be for you!  

It's been a mystery since 1854.

Click to Skip Ahead Breed Overview Size and Growth Chart When Do They Stop Growing? Factors Affecting Size Ideal Diet Measuring Your Great Pyrenees The Great Pyrenees is a giant dog breed that hails from the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. They were bred to protect livestock against wild predators, but while their giant size and their history might be intimidating, the breed is known as a gentle giant and has become very popular as a companion pet. However, potential owners need to be aware of the massive size, weighing 120 pounds or more, and make preparations to welcome one of these dogs into their homes. Great Pyrenees Breed Overview The history of the Great Pyrenees starts in Turkey where giant dog breeds were used to protect sheep and other livestock from wild predators. Along with their owners, these breeds moved westwards eventually reaching the Pyrenean Mountains of France and Spain. The area is known for its rough and rugged terrain, as well as its temperatures and weather conditions that vary according to season. The Great Pyrenees were favored for their ability to work independently as well as their capability to stay with the flock when they trekked up the mountainsides. They would stay with the flock, which meant they needed to be calm and unaggressive. Their white fluffy coat, which has also helped their popularity as pets, ensured they blended in with the flock of sheep, making it easier for them to protect against wild animals. Today, the breed is a popular although somewhat uncommon breed of companion dog. It is gentle and loving, but it still retains the independent nature that helped make it such a good livestock guardian. The coat does need a lot of grooming but while the Pyr does enjoy time outdoors, it doesn’t need too much exercise, certainly when compared to herding breeds. Image Credit: Mikhail Farina, Shutterstock Great Pyrenees Size and Growth Chart The Great Pyrenees is classed as a giant breed that has a lifespan of around 10–12 years. Like most giant breeds, the Great Pyrenees take longer to fully mature, and yours might not reach their full size and weight until they are about 2 years old. The male is bigger and heavier than the female and the actual size varies from one dog to the next, but below are the kinds of size you can expect from your big pup. Age Weight Range Length Range 1 Month 5–10 Pounds 12 Inches 2 Months 10–30 Pounds 18 Inches 3 Months 25–40 Pounds 24 Inches 6 Months 50–80 Pounds 36 Inches 9 months 65–95 Pounds 42 Inches 12 Months 80–120 Pounds 48 Inches 2 Years+ 85–125 Pounds 50 Inches When Does a Great Pyrenees Stop Growing? Like a lot of giant dog breeds, the Great Pyrenees breed is slow to mature, which means it can take a long time before your pup stops growing. While most breeds will have stopped growing by the time they reach 12 months, the Great Pyrenees can continue to grow until they reach two years of age. Image Credit: Danita Delimont, Shutterstock Factors Affecting the Size of the Great Pyrenees Different dogs grow and develop at different rates, and while some of it does come down to genetics, some factors can influence how big your dog will grow: Diet – Always ensure that you are feeding an appropriate diet, especially for a dog of this size. Choose a food that is formulated to match the age and activity levels of your dog, as well as being a complete meal. Feed according to target size, if your dog needs to lose or gain weight, and always follow veterinary guidelines above any others. Health – Some illnesses and conditions can cause slow growth, while others might cause additional weight gain. If you notice your Pyr has put on or lost a lot of weight in a short time, consult a vet and have them check for any potential illnesses that might have caused this change. Exercise – Exercise helps dogs develop properly. It also enables them to maintain a healthy weight and prevents some musculoskeletal problems. The Great Pyrenees need around an hour of exercise per day. Although it doesn’t need overly strenuous exercise, it will benefit from getting out on long hikes and can handle rough terrain. Ideal Diet for Maintaining a Healthy Weight The Great Pyrenees need a healthy diet that includes high-quality protein as well as a good selection of vitamins and minerals. Meat protein is a common choice for dogs, easy to digest and has a good range of amino acids and other nutrients. They also get a lot of nutrients from vegetables and fruits. Treats should not make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet by calorie intake. So, if you’re using healthy treats for training, keep track of how many you feed and adjust your dog’s dietary intake accordingly. Alternatively, you can use kibble and other foods as training treats and reduce daily intake by how much you feed. As long as you feed a nutritionally complete diet, and they are healthy, your Pyrenees shouldn’t need supplements. Whether you feed dry kibble or canned food, follow the feeding guidelines to ensure you don’t overfeed. Overfeeding will mean your dog puts on extra weight, and once it is on, it is very difficult to shed. Image Credit: Black.Horse, Shutterstock How to Measure Your Great Pyrenees One of the most common ways to weigh a dog is to weigh yourself on bathroom scales with and without the dog. The difference between the two weights is your dog’s weight. However, this isn’t feasible with a 120-pound adult Great Pyrenees. The vet will likely weigh your dog when you visit, and if they don’t, you can ask to have them weighed. The groomer you use might also offer access to a weighing scale that can be used for this purpose. To measure the length of your dog, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Try to keep the measure as straight as possible and ensure your dog is stood upright in a natural position to get a true reading. The height of a dog is measured from the floor to the withers or the shoulder blades, and your dog should stand naturally when taking this measurement, too. Conclusion The Great Pyrenees is a massive dog breed that can weigh 120 pounds or more. It is a kind, affectionate, gentle breed, but prospective owners will need to make allowances for the size of the dog. It will take up a lot of room on the couch and can fill a lot of your bed, and the independent nature of this guarding dog breed means that it can be somewhat challenging to train, so start training early and speak to a vet if you’re concerned with your dog’s size either because it is too small or it has put on a lot of weight in a short time. Sources https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees-history/ https://www.pawlicy.com/blog/great-pyrenees-growth-and-weight-chart/ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees/ https://www.hillspet.co.uk/dog-care/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees https://iheartdogs.com/male-female-great-pyrenee-weights-heights-by-age/ https://www.prodograw.com/raw-feeding-guide/great-pyrenees-feeding-guide Featured Image Credit: Paolo Seimandi, Shutterstock The post How Big Are Great Pyrenees? Average Size & Growth Chart (Vet-Verified) appeared first on PangoVet.

There's nothing I love more than a good ol' fashioned dark fantasy RPG. I grew up playing games like Dragon Age: Origins and Diablo, immersing myself in dreary, bloodied worlds where hope seems like a thing of the past. Gorgeous new fantasy RPG Bylina immediately intrigued me, channeling The Witcher while simultaneously adding the grit and grime of Diablo's Sanctuary. Plus, there are weird hand enemies like the ones in Elden Ring - what's not to love? Continue reading Bylina is a new, deliciously dark Diablo style ARPG

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