Monday, April 12, 2010

On A Mission

I am going to make bread. Learning how to bake homemade bread has been on my "to do" list for some time. I am a little scared but I think I have found a recipe to get me started. I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out.

So, wish me luck! Any tips from pro-breadmakers out there?

11 comments:

Kim said...

the book The Bread Baker's Apprentice :O)

I make bread several times a week now! Try no-knead breads first to get your confidence up and invest in a baking stone once you find it once you decide if you enjoy it.

Nicky said...

That's funny, I made bread (challah, yum!) for the first time on Friday. The kneading was my favorite part, though, so I've got no advice. I found the whole process wonderfully relaxing. Mix the ingredients, go do other stuff while it rises, punch it down, do other stuff while it rises again, shape the dough, go do other stuff, put it in the oven, go do other stuff.... It turns out that I'm amazingly productive when I know that I'll need to attend to the bread again (briefly) each hour or so.

PamalaLauren said...

I only do French Bread. It's quick and comes out good.

MyRoseAmongThorns said...

i make challah almost every week! a few tips: the water should not be hot- it will kill the yeast (which I've done) actually- cold water works well too. another tip- when you first mix yeast with the sugar and water (at least with challah) you let it sit- it is actually better to let it sit overnight and form a "sponge"

good luck, I flopped my very first batch, and since then it's been perfect!

a kitchen aid does everything for you, even the kneading, a bread machine does even more!

it really isn't hard at all....

Tracy said...

I make three loaves of honey whole wheat bread about every other week. I love the kneading, too, though it's sometimes challenging to find time while tending to the tots. The part I hate the most is waiting for the rise, but my mom gave me this trick - take a 2 cup measuring cup and put it in the microwave. Heat it to boiling, and then take the cup out when you're ready to put the dough in to rise. Works like a charm! The oven is warm and moist and makes the yeast do its thing perfectly.

If you want my recipe, I'll send it to you. Our family could eat a loaf in one sitting. :)

I usually bake one loaf and freeze the other two, pulling them out of the freezer 24-hours before I want to bake them. I still buy store bought, but not as much.

Tracy said...

p.s. once I have a bigger kitchen, I dream of a day when I have a KitchenAid mixer. :)

HereWeGoAJen said...

Yes! Get a breadmaker. (I've seen LOTS of them used at Goodwill.) And then use it for kneading, but bake in the oven. I just dump all my ingredients in (warm wet ingredients in the bottom, flour next, yeast on top) and let the breadmaker do the mixing and kneading. Then when it has risen, I dump it out onto a cutting board, knead it a smidge, divide into two loaves, let it rise one last time, and then bake! It makes bread making almost too easy.

A'Dell said...

I have tons of friends that are crazy about this book. They swear to me that bread is EASY.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

PamalaLauren said...

As requested (by the way I like this one because well it's simple and not a lot of stuff needs to go into it):

Ingredients
2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
5-5 1/2 cups bread flour
Directions
Dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees) and sugar in large bowl; allow yeast to proof or foam (about 10 minutes).
Add salt, oil, and 3 cups flour; beat for 2 minutes.
Stir in 2 cups flour to make a stiff dough.
Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
Place in oiled bowl, turn dough to coat all sides, cover and let rise until doubled.
Punch down and divide in half.
Shape dough into two long slender loaves.
Grease and sprinkle with cornmeal either a french bread pan or large cookie sheet.
Place loaves in pan and cut diagonal gashes on top of each loaf (I use scissors).
Cover and let rise until doubled.
Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Katie said...

A'Dell, that five minute recipe is the one I am thinking about trying! It sure SOUNDS easy, but it almost seems TOO easy. . . I'll let you know my thoughts on it!

Joy@WDDCH said...

How did your bread go?!