Is there anything more primal to civilized mankind, than bread? No bread was ever made in any form for thousands of years before early civilizations... Beer making and bread making are joined at the hip- one is liquid, the other solid and sustaining, but both have much in common. Once, I made a home made pizza dough, and forgot to put yeast in it... Unleven pizza might be OK during Passover, but it sure didn't fly very high here! Bread is simple; You mix flour from some grain, water, yeast or a bacteria that breeds in that medium, a bread will happen- to a degree! The addition of sugar, salt, oil, and flavorings helped a lot!
The devil is in the details, when making bread- or baking in general.. It is the only time I actually measure anything!
I made two loaves of bread today, and results were 85% good. I let it rise a good length of time, punched it down, separated into two loaves. let rise again- and baked... Bread is tasty, done perfectly- but fell from it's yeasty heights above the pan's lips for some unknown reason.. I like dense white bread, not too sweet or full of air- and I got that! Eats well, but baking can still be a mystery to me! I will always respect masterbasterbate- whoa! strike that! Master bakers.... (damn Spellcheck!) Have a laugh- on me!
33 comments:
I LOVE bread. I have a great recipe for Olive Oil bread. It requires a starter, but nothing like a sourdough one. Let me know if you want the recipe!
I could easily be a breadaterian. I've never made my own though. You inspired me to give it a try!
Baking breads is a tricky one. I like to make fresh rolls from scratch on the holidays. My mom chides me for the extra effort but...
I love the smell and taste of fresh rolls. Nothing like it.
I make fresh bread about every day. I enjoy it, and it beats the hell out of going to the store for the stuff. I might have a bread cookbook for you; I bought one I'm not so crazy about after all.
Mmmm ... bread! I've always thought it takes some serious chemistry skills to be a great baker!
Diet wise bread is my absolute downfall - I just cannot have one slice I have to eat the whole damn loaf! :0
Finn- I love soughdough bread, but have never made it!
Rachel- I have a stand mixer with a dough hook that really makes it easier!
Hit40- Wife walks into the house, takes one breath and says "Home made bread!"...
Marjie- I've got a couple of them too, but tend to stick to what I know will work!
Dana- It's more like chemistry than cooking is!
Ake- Good bread is never allowed to go stale!
I think it seems as if you either love to cook or love to bake and you tend to be better at one or the other.
My hubby is a terrific cook but he despises baking. I think it's because he doesn't like to measure and baking is an exact science.
I on the other hand, despise cooking, but adore baking!
Bread is my favorite. I don't cook it very often in the summer, but "not very often" is still about once a week.
I'm looking forward to winter and a lot of sourdough. I lost my starter in the fire, and have had bad luck getting one going in my hot hot georgia kitchen ;)
I love to bake bread. The smell filling the house on a cool day. I cant wait for the weather to cool enough s0 that I can have the oven on and bake bread!
I love to bake bread. The smell filling the house on a cool day. I cant wait for the weather to cool enough s0 that I can have the oven on and bake bread!
BlueV- You are pretty much right on that!
Tavolini- I'm so going to make some sour dough bread soon!
Megan- With a fairly new stove, hood vent, and central air, it doesn't get too bad early in the morning, or later in the evening...
My parents make bread all the time. It's the only bread they will eat and consequently, I beg for a loaf every time I see them. That and dad's homemade ice cream. Someday I'll do it myself...
I've had a lot of food in my life, but home-made is the best, because it is served for love, not money..
Just call your fallen bread 'Artison', and your good to go Mr. Gourmet!!!
I just love the smell of salt risin bread when toasted. It either smells like old socks, or parmesian cheese, I haven't decided yet...:-)
hot buttery home made bread - that sounds like perfection to me!
G-man- It was great, but I've never had that happen! Made killer French Toast with some this morning!
DogB- Even when I follow a recipe, I always seem to tweak it...usually it works!
They say, that the slip of the tongue is a fault of the mind!
Bread is Basic, but the Best!
Ummm bread hot and fresh out of the oven... I am having fun baking homemade bread for hubby...
Mona- I wrote Masterbakers, and couldn't resist!
ChefE- The French toast this morning I made from it was special!
I teach bread making. Try this next time you bake a loaf or two.
Place an inch of boiling water in a cake pan and set it on the bottom rack of the oven.
Spray your loaves very lightly with a mist of water. Place bread in oven. Half way through baking, mist again.
You will get a crunchy outer crust and a nice chewy inside dough.
Enjoy.
T.G.C.- Welcome to the blog! I appreciate your knowledge and sharing it! I do have to disclose, I don't like "crusty" bread, and butter the top of mine when it comes out of the oven- to soften it! The differences make the world go around, don't you think? The water trick is used in cheesecakes too, but I've found ways around that to minimize, or eliminate cracking...- and less risk of a leaky springform pan! Please come back and share what you know, anytime!
Bread is my downfall...eating it that is, I am a sucker for it. My dad was a wonderful bread maker and I am getting more comfortable with baking bread and baking from scratch.
Your right...baking is a mystery.
I am with your wife!! I might make some rolls this weekend. And... I definitely plan to go get some sun before fall really kicks in.
Katherine- I make great bread- 85% of the time! That other 15% is giving me fits!
Hit40-Get sun! You come across like a pale, skinny white woman! Send photos of tan lines... He leered!
Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, goes better with red wine than fresh-from-the-oven bread. I want your cookbook!
Scarlet- Third day with the bread, and we're having thick cut toast out of it!
I LIVE for bread...nothing better in ilfe. except for maybe potatoes!
My wife and you would get along very well together! I guess anyone would with you- or Bina!
Nothing compares to the smell of fresh baking bread! Well, except maybe the taste of it still warm from the oven with the butter melting on it...yum! Now I'm hungry... ;)
I love the very sensual act of kneading and making bread. It is something that is so worth working on over and over again until it is, oh, 95% perfect. Good homemade bread is wonderful!
Stacy- I only learned to bake decent bread, to see others enjoy it! That's what I do...
Jamie- My, my! Can you turn a phrase or what? I use a stand mixer with a dough hook.. I feel like a pervert now!
I made the most gorgeous of breads in the week, I think I put a little to much yeast in though cos it rose like a bleedin volcano...... aint made right proper bread for yonks (courgette bread that I make is more like a moist cake as no yeast is involved) but this bread was to die for in the week, it did contain courgettes and parmasan cheese and sunflower seeds on the top...... gonna be making more now Im back in the swing of things....
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