Blogging about the things that I love to do including learning and implementing homesteading, sustainability and permaculture practices into my daily life. I also use this blog as an online journal writing about the day in and day out happenings in my life which include balancing family, work and the needs of the homestead, all while keeping in mind that you have to stop and smell the roses and count your blessings along the way.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Making Bread the Easy Way
If you have never attempted bread making by hand because it seemed like too much work or even a bit intimidating as I did, you have got try this recipe. I have tried other methods but for me this proves to be the easiest method by far.Using the recipe from this Mother Earth News Article;http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx
I have been making fresh hot bread every day, even on days that I work 12 hour shifts. It really is as easy as they claim.
I mixed up the large batch recipe ( which makes enough for 8 loaves) in a Rubbermaid type container I keep in the fridge and every day I pull out enough dough to make one loaf, shape it into a round ball and leave it in a either on the counter or in a bowl dusted with corn meal, wheat germ or just plain flour, cover it with a dish towel and let it rise for 40 minutes while I go about my day. To bake I don't use the pizza stone as they suggest, I preheat my oval ( you can use a round one too) dutch oven to 475 for about 15 minutes, shape my dough into a loaf shape, put about three slashes in the top of the loaf, sprinkle some wheat germ on top and cover. Then bake for 20 minutes, remove the lid and bake for 10 more. That's all there is to warm crusty goodness! I am so impressed I will be buying this book or the authors other book "Healthy bread in five minutes a day".
Before I baked the first batch I found a bunch of U-tube videos demonstrating the method and they all agreed that it was a success.
I don't have a picture to share today, my loaves disappear as fast as I can make them, but they are almost foolproof, they are so easy. Knowing this is something I am going to make a part of my lifestyle,I plan on buying my next batch of supplies from Sams club they have the best prices on yeast and flour in bulk, I think I figure about 30-40 cents a loaf. With some hot homemade soup on a cold day it does not get any better.
I have been making fresh hot bread every day, even on days that I work 12 hour shifts. It really is as easy as they claim.
I mixed up the large batch recipe ( which makes enough for 8 loaves) in a Rubbermaid type container I keep in the fridge and every day I pull out enough dough to make one loaf, shape it into a round ball and leave it in a either on the counter or in a bowl dusted with corn meal, wheat germ or just plain flour, cover it with a dish towel and let it rise for 40 minutes while I go about my day. To bake I don't use the pizza stone as they suggest, I preheat my oval ( you can use a round one too) dutch oven to 475 for about 15 minutes, shape my dough into a loaf shape, put about three slashes in the top of the loaf, sprinkle some wheat germ on top and cover. Then bake for 20 minutes, remove the lid and bake for 10 more. That's all there is to warm crusty goodness! I am so impressed I will be buying this book or the authors other book "Healthy bread in five minutes a day".
Before I baked the first batch I found a bunch of U-tube videos demonstrating the method and they all agreed that it was a success.
I don't have a picture to share today, my loaves disappear as fast as I can make them, but they are almost foolproof, they are so easy. Knowing this is something I am going to make a part of my lifestyle,I plan on buying my next batch of supplies from Sams club they have the best prices on yeast and flour in bulk, I think I figure about 30-40 cents a loaf. With some hot homemade soup on a cold day it does not get any better.
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To Blog or Not To Blog,,,
In January of last year I sat down and wrote a post from the RV I was living in at the time. I thought then that I really wanted to get bac...
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In January of last year I sat down and wrote a post from the RV I was living in at the time. I thought then that I really wanted to get bac...
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I am sharing this post because I want to chronicle the good the bad and the ugly as I travel on my little journey towards a more self suffi...
Homemade bread and soup, you are right, it doesn't get any better.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sounds wonderful, and I've always been intimidated, but I do love a good loaf of fresh bread. I'm going to try it!...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this version of bread. You make it sound so easy to have delicious homemade bread. I'm going to mark your posting so I can get back to it when I get ready to make the bread.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Laura, the recipe sounds great. I am going to save it and try it out sometime. Thank you for posting it up. I LOVE bread. ~Jen
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you posted this right before the long weekend! By Sunday, I'll be looking for a "project" :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family.
This is a recipe that gets better and better as you learn how your oven and baking equipment effect the recipe. I have learned if I make it with too much whole wheat flour I get less rise from the bread, also since I bake it in my dutch oven if my loaf is too dry going in I need to sprinkle it with some water to create steam inside the dutch oven, little by little I am perfecting the loaves, it seems with each new loaf I am saying this is the best ever. I have also been spending time on the website of the book where I have found all kinds of tips and recipes to use with the basic recipe. Happy Baking everyone, I bet you like it as much as I do. My next attempt will be to make a Cinnamon Raisin Bread version.
ReplyDeleteI recently learned how to make the no knead bread. I love it! I have always wanted to make home made bread but found it to be more than I thought I was up to... this couldnt be simpler and oh my goodness so good!
ReplyDeleteMmmm..that bread sounds yummy! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI have this Mother Earth issue--I've wanted to try this method of baking bread. Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteHey there. Love your blog and getting to know you. We live on a farm. This bread sounds wonderful. I followed the link, but it led me to a book of recipes. *STAMPS FOOT* Which I hope to buy when I get some extra cash.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to make this bread. It looks yummy and not time consuming. Oh well. I'll have to save for the book. :) Thanks so much for the follow. And I love your blog title. I'm sorry about you having to leave the country. You are a person I will very much enjoy getting to know.