Do you need a simple breakfast recipe? How about a slice of wholesome hearty seeded dense quick bread slice with green garlic avocado spread? All potteries in this post are from Leslie Freeman Design. Here is the etsy link to her page.
First and foremost, I wholeheartedly thank all of you who contacted me and asked about my health.
After moving to Boston, I experienced chronic UTI problems. UTI is common among women of my age, but I get 5-6 times a year, which makes it chronic. First, I saw a urogynecologist at BIDMC, who lost all his hopes after running a few tests like CT scan, cystoscopy, etc. As he could not fix my problem, he referred me to his teacher who is a senior professor at Harvard who tried to solve for a year. Nothing helped, and I kept getting UTI in every 3 months. It became customary for us to visit the ER every 3-4 months whenever I got a UTI infection. I am mandated to give a urine test as doctors can’t prescribe me antibiotics without that.
As I was not getting any hope from the Harvard professor, my parents and friends pestered me to look for an another doctor so I saw a doctor at Mt Auburn Hospital. My doctor was equally clueless, like my previous doctor. She recommended Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and some local valium, which no one ever heard of.
None of these helped me, and I woke up with pain in late April. I went to give a test in Mt Auburn and to my utter shock, they claimed I am fine. It happened again on Friday, May the 20th. I went again and gave a test, and they claimed it’s negative. I was in excruciating pain so they gave me Pyridium, which relieves symptoms caused by urinary tract infections. Once that medicine wore off, my pain started again, and I went for an another test. They gave a second set of painkillers.
After a day they called me to confirm I have a negative urine culture. This time, I said “Okay fine, I have a negative urine culture. How come I am in so much pain? How come I am having smelly pee?” The on-call doctor replied back by saying “Well you do have Group B strep infection and as it’s not life-threatening, we are not going to treat you.”
It broke all my thresholds of patience. I said, “So you will give me Pyridium which is killing my kidneys slowly rather than prescribing me antibiotics?” She replies “As you’re allergic to penicillin, I am not sure what to give. What did your doctors give at BIDMC?” I could not remember, and she probably understood that I was pissed at that point. Finally, she found my old reports and gave me antibiotics.
In the last week, I went to see different doctors 5 times, and none knew how to fix the problem. I lost my hope long back, and I accepted I would get UTI in every 3-4 months, but I need antibiotics when I am getting an infection. I need no stupid Physical Therapy or muscle relaxing Valium. So my husband and I are deciding to go back to my previous doctor at BIDMC as they give me antibiotics, not painkillers. Meanwhile, I will look for another set of doctors at Brigham or Mayo Clinic to see if they can find what’s the root cause behind this.
When you have a chronic disease, you learn to live with it. Whenever I get UTI, the first day I take plenty of painkillers and antibiotics. Once my pain lowers, I get back to work. Many of you have said to try cranberry juice, but my doctors think and say cranberry juice will not help in my situation. Sleeping and resting in bed do not help me either. I take rest when I need to.
However, resting on Saturday helped me to bring this recipe to all of you. I was browsing through quick and easy breakfast options. My TOEFL classes start at 8:30 am and it’s challenging for the two of us to get out the door by 8:25. So, I go to class without having breakfast and by 10 am, I could eat a whole cow. To have a homemade breakfast, I browsed for simple options like toast and spread.
When I was browsing through my magazines, which I did after months, a recipe caught my attention – Quick Bread from Food Wine edition. The photograph was undoubtedly gorgeous, but the quick and bread part got me interested. I quickly glanced at the recipe and found out that it calls for Barley flour. I called a few local shops, and none had Barley flour, so I called Sheryl, the food editor of Boston Globe and also a baking expert. She advised me to try the whole wheat flour instead.
On Sunday, I followed the same recipe with whole wheat flour instead Barley flour. I did not have parchment flour, so I tried wax paper. It did not come out the way I expected, but the taste was quite nice. I wanted to bake another, but I realized we were out of flour. My husband decided to go to groceries with me because as I was on antibiotics and painkillers, it was not safe for me to drive. We got flour, some parchment paper and I tried with a bit moderation. It came out perfect!!
Why should you be interested in this quick bread recipe?
This seeded quick bread is wholesome, hearty and enriched, which requires no proofing or settling. Mix everything together, bake in an oven and you’re done. As it’s dense, one slice can keep you satisfied for hours. I strongly recommend trying the avocado spread with this which takes 5-10 minutes to prepare. Within an hour, you can prepare breakfast for the entire week.
Recipe for Quick Bread and Avocado Spread
Serves 6
Bread recipe is adapted from Food and wine
I ran out of store bought buttermilk so I mixed 1 cup cold (or room temperature) whole milk and 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar. I let it sit for 10 minutes and used it.
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup salted roasted sunflower seeds
4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup buttermilk*
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/4 cups hot water
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Have a baking sheet ready with a parchment lining.
- In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients such as all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, baking powder, seat salt. With a egg whisker mix them thoroughly.
- Slowly add buttermilk, olive oil and hot water and continue to stir or until the dough comes together. Scrape the dough into the baking sheet and shape it like a round (other shapes are fine too)
- Bake it for 40 minutes or until golden and bread sounds hollow when tapped.
Avocado Cheese Spread
2 ripe avocado, cut in half, peeted and scooped
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, peeled
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoon cream cheese (alternatively sour cream)
salt to taste
1 teaspoon olive oil
- In a blender add avocado, green onion, garlic, lemon juice, cream cheese, salt and olive oil. Work it until smooth. You can chill it until the bread is ready.
Serve bread and avocado spread together.
looks lovely…will surely try this one
Hi,
Does the bread stay for one full week ? I stay in hot humid climate so I guess I need to refrigerate it but how long does it stay ?
Get well soon. Will keep you in prayers.
Thanks for replying.
My MIL had chronic UTI and she goes through the same cycle. My FIL is a doctor and he cannot help her. Very frustrating. I think any chronic health problem is frustrating. It tires you out. I really hope it gets better and you are out of pain. It’s ironic that we can treat so many complicated disease but surrender to not so complicated ones.
Oh my take care dear and I hope you will get rid of this chronic condition soon.Last week it also happened with me and it was the first time. I had to go to doctor’s office 4 times and changed three antibiotics.They also confirmed negative urine infection but I continued my Bactrium DS antibiotics course.What really helped me was Cranberry juice .Try it may be it will help you.
I am amazed how you managed to do such beautiful post while you were in pain.The pictures are marvelous and the bread looks so perfect.Hats off to you.Take care dear.
Soma,
You said it, this is extremely frustrating. When we are looking for cancer remedies we can’t cure a simple problem. Thanks for understanding!
Sapana,
My issue is I get different bacterias – so doctors can’t prescribe me one meds and sit down. Cranberry juice or any diet change is not going to help in my condition, doctors’ words.
Yeleena,
I made 2 loafs – one i have kept in deep freezer and other is outside. It’s close to a week now and it’s still quite nice.
Take Care Dolphia. I’ve very bad experiences with chronic diseases. I wish your speedy recovery. The pictures are gorgeous. And, I liked this bread recipe, sounds so easy.
I wish I lived closer, I would have at least got you some food 🙁
Hope you feel better soon and more importantly find a remedy for this….You cannot live like this !
I love the pottery, gorgeous and the bread looks fabulous !! Homey kitchen feel
Oh, Dol! I could feel the frustration and the pain you are going through when reading the words you have bravely shared here. It is heartbreaking to know that with all the medical advancement in this modern world, there is still no cure for things like UTI. I pray that the docs will be able to figure out and help your suffering and stop the pain. Hang in there you brave girl. <3 Hugs.
The bread looks incredible and the photographs are gorgeous. You have captured the texture and the colour of the bread brilliantly.
Sorry to hear about your condition Dolphia. I sincerely hope that the doctors find a cure for it and you feel better soon.
That is an amazing looking bread. Stunning clicks as well. Kudos to your efforts for taking such beautiful clicks even in such pain. I love avocado and this spread looks yumm!! My husband is allergic to avocado, so I will make it for myself 🙂
Loved the recipe 🙂 and you are a very strong woman, keep up the good work, we look forward to many more awesome recipes
Beautiful looking bread. Love everything about the second pic the light, textures and props.
Sad to know about UTI updates. I just hope the Docs find the right cure.
Sorry to hear about all the trouble and the pain you need to go with this. You are a brave girl and I admire your courage. Stay well, strong and above well keep up your spirit. Lovely bread and great avocado spread – the best combo!!