Sourdough Sunflower Seed Rye

      When I pulled these loaves out the oven Wayne said, "The look like giant bagels."  He was right, but that's where the similarity ended.  I love any bread that uses my sourdough starter and has sunflower seeds.  Even though the bread began with a pumpernickel soaker, the bread does not have a real strong rye flavor.  This was a two day bread which gives it time to develop the flavor.  The bread has a good crust and moist interior.  The sunflower seeds were toasted before being added to the dough.  The toasting really does help intensify the sunflower seed flavor in the bread.  Because I can't locally find unsalted sunflower seeds, I cut way back on the salt in the recipe. This bread also has that beautiful brow rye color.  There is no caramel color or instant coffee added for additional color with this particular loaf.  This is the third rye bread that I've made, and none of them had the same flavor.  When I make this bread again I think I'll toss in some rye chops to help intensify that rye flavor. 
     I am not a real big egg fan.  If you toss in a little cheese or some veggies I can deal with them.  In our home Wayne really looks forward to "egg day" on Tuesday and Thursday.  To me, the best part of egg day is the English muffin or the toast.  The sunflower seed rye makes a really good toast.   It really helps cover up, I mean add to the flavor of the egg.  The toast was nice and crunchy and was loaded with all of those wonderful sunflower seeds.  "Egg day" is the result of having served on federal grand jury for over a year.  I had to report on Thursdays, and I did not have to get to downtown New Orleans until 9:00.  I loved grand jury duty.  I could sleep an extra half an hour, wash and dry 2 loads of clothes, and fix breakfast before I had to leave.  Hell, I had to normally be at work by 7:30.  Okay, I know it doesn't take long to scramble eggs and make toast, but cereal is so much quicker.  Once I retired egg day expanded to 2 days a week.  Wayne felt good fortune had smiled upon him.
     Grand jury duty was normally a six month commitment, one day a week.  Because my group was dealing with some on-going investigations, we were held over for an additional six months.  I don't think my principal, Pat, was thrilled over the first 6 months, much less the second, or third six months.  By the time the third six month period rolled around, it was more occasional than every Thursday.  If you ever are called upon for grand jury, go and enjoy it.  I had no idea how stupid some criminals were (leaving one's wallet at the bank you robbed); I had no idea how often banks were robbed; I had no idea that if you ask the same question 100 times you still get the same answer; I have never seen so many people called in as witness and ended up implicating themselves;  I had no idea how easy it is to launder stained money from a bank robbery (not telling, but I never would have thought of it - I guess I don't have much of a criminal mentality).  I could go on, but you get the idea.  Whoever would have thought doing one's civic duty could be so entertaining.