PUG FAQ’s
(Frequently Asked Questions)
What
is PUG?
PUG stands for Personalized
Unleavened Granola bread. This is a
generic name for a style of homemade bread designed for nutrition and
ease of preparation. These are compact, heavy, dense, moist and chewy,
extra large cereal/energy bars (in one master loaf) that will slice into
16 each 3 to 4 ounce bars. They contain no yeast or other leavening agents,
chemicals or preservatives and are best if kept refrigerated or frozen for
storage.
These breads are predicated upon the belief that a nutritious breakfast is the
cornerstone of one’s day. Most recipes are
simple, easy to make (two bowls, a measuring
cup and a bread pan) and have been designed so each individual can create their
own Personalized bread in just a few minutes. Since planning ahead is a key to
eating breakfast, PUGs are engineered to be made one, four, or eight loaves
(maximum space available in most ovens) at a time which will yield 16, 64 or 128
servings (one person can make enough breakfast for four months in just a couple
of hours).
How did PUG come-about?
When life became too busy to sit and eat a bowl of homemade granola a way was
sought to make it more portable. Different “binders” were experimented with
but didn’t seem to be the answer. At a point of frustration, healthy
ingredients were chosen and just thrown together and baked without regard to
taste or looks .....voilà! PUG! (And it tasted good).
Why
was this book written and published?
After a few years of making E-Z Pug (see the recipe), other types of flours,
fruits and herbs were used to add variety to an already good idea. These tasty
and nutritious breads were shared with friends and some were even
“crafted” for individuals with specific needs (see the recipe for The
Eliminator). One day someone said “you ought to write a book” and the
project began.
Why not just sell the recipe to a bakery or super-market chain?
First: The product would probably be cost prohibitive because of the mark-up
required to cover ingredients, labor to prepare and profit required, the bread
would have to sell for over $5/loaf (not really bad when you consider you get
16ea/3 oz servings from a loaf ).
Second: The basic idea behind PUG is it “PERSONALIZABILITY”…….You use
the ingredients your body needs…the varieties of PUG are endless…it would be
difficult to make one style to fit all.
Can you make PUG in a bread machine?
Possibly, but it has only been designed (to date) to be made quite simply with
just a few basic kitchen tools: 2 bowls, bread (loaf) pan, wood spoon, spatula,
measuring cup & tablespoon, shredder/grater, potato masher.
Can you make PUG in a microwave oven?
Yes. (See the recipe for Shredded Oats).
HELP MAKING MICROWAVE PUG BREAD
Can you make PUG in a convection oven?
Probably, but no testing has been done so far.
Can you make PUG into muffins or mini-loafs?
It can be done, but the large loaf form is easier to make and has a longer
(moister) shelf life.
Can you make PUG with an electric mixer?
Yes and it speeds-up the process and eliminates the physical labor of hand
mixing.
HELP MAKING MACHINED PUG BREAD
How should PUGs be stored?
Most recipes in this book are capable of non-refrigerated
storage for up to 10 days at temperatures around 70° F, but refrigeration is
recommended. A number of the recipes in this book were frozen for up to 7 months
with excellent results.
HELP PACKAGING & STORING BREADS or GRANOLA
Can I take PUGs backpacking, hiking, in my car?
A number of the recipes in this book were tested on a week long camping trip.
They were stored in a cool area when possible and held-up just fine.
Slices of PUG cut-up into 3rds (squares) and
sealed in a zip lock bag make nice bite size pieces for an on-the-go meal.
Can you toast PUGs?
Yes. It’s really more of a warming process and works quite well. A coating of
fruit jam on a slice of PUG makes a filling meal.
What gives this book its value?
Good things come in small packages. This
book cuts to the chase and contains a tremendous amount of well designed
information to help make your life simpler. Each recipe is engineered for
easy visual preparation and has a shopping guide
(not just a list) on its
reverse side that can be taken to the store to make that task quick and
painless.
