Author Topic: Bread (Read 6018 times)

s2srea · « **on:** September 27, 2011, 03:11:12 PM »

Hi everyone. Any bread makers here? I've made it a few times in the dutch oven, and I'm thinking I should do it more often. Plus there's nothing like filling the house with the smell of delicious bread- especially now that winter's coming up. I'm sure its cheaper in the long run too!

Here's a great recipe for no kneed bread I've used before:

http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html

I love olive bread, but I have a few stalks of rosemary outside and am thinking of making rosemary olive bread this week!

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2011, 03:15:24 PM »

Homemade bread is the best kind.

We used to make *all* our own bread, but now we're busier and we get free bread every week (my wife's uncle gets free food at the church every week, and passes a bunch of it on to us. The variety of what we get changes every week, but various kinds of bread are almost always included)

So rather than waste that free bread and make our own bread (which we don't have time for), we just eat the free stuff.

But as our family gets larger, and our children become "of age" for working in the kitchen -- that might change.

BTW, we used a bread machine. We also own a nice electrical grain grinder -- we haven't used it much, but it's good for making *fresh* whole wheat bread. Whole wheat flour goes bad much more quickly than white flour, because of the oils present.

That's why most commercial whole wheat bread doesn't taste as good. They don't grind the grain and bake the bread on the same day :)

s2srea · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2011, 03:22:18 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

BTW, we used a bread machine. We also own a nice electrical grain grinder -- we haven't used it much, but it's good for making *fresh* whole wheat bread. Whole wheat flour goes bad much more quickly than white flour, because of the oils present.

That's why most commercial whole wheat bread doesn't taste as good. They don't grind the grain and bake the bread on the same day :)

:scratchchin: I'm thought about a bread machine. But grinding your own flower sounds great! Sounds like theres a big difference between store-bought wheat and your own which is also very interesting. Is it done by hand?

s2srea · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2011, 04:28:40 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

Quote from: Matthew
BTW, we used a bread machine. We also own a nice electrical grain grinder -- we haven't used it much, but it's good for making *fresh* whole wheat bread. Whole wheat flour goes bad much more quickly than white flour, because of the oils present.

That's why most commercial whole wheat bread doesn't taste as good. They don't grind the grain and bake the bread on the same day :)

:scratchchin: I'm thought about a bread machine. But grinding your own flower sounds great! Sounds like theres a big difference between store-bought wheat and your own which is also very interesting. Is it done by hand?

I just realized it said "electric"

aquinasnmore · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2011, 04:35:50 PM »

My mom has an electric grinder which she uses to grind whole wheat flower. We use a Bosch mixer which can handle up to 5 POUNDS of flower at a time - perfect for a family our size.

You can't beat the taste of hot bread with melted butter.

s2srea · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2011, 05:30:46 PM »

Found this, thought it was interesting:
http://www.cooksillustrated.com/images/docuмent/howto/MA07_BreadBaking.pdf

aquinasnmore · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2011, 09:37:48 PM »

Cooks Illustrated is the best cooking magazine around. The America's Test Kitchen cookbook from CI has been my most trusted book. The pie crust in there, if you don't get scared of the tiny amount of water, is the best you will ever have.

wisconsheepgirl · « **Reply #7 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:19:15 PM »

I was inspired by s2srea and this post to make bread today. I failed. My husband came into the kitchen tonight and started laughing. That should say a lot. But it tasted, smelled wonderful! But it was one big flat blob of bread. Wasn't pretty at all.

I'll do another batch when I have the day off and report back :)

s2srea · « **Reply #8 on:** October 11, 2011, 07:40:29 PM »

Darn! I'm sorry WSG! What kind did you try to make? Have you tried the no knead recipe yet?

ellembee · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2011, 02:30:03 PM »

I love making bread... nothing beats the smell of fresh, homemade bread! I use a bread machine, and mostly I end up making white bread, raisin bread or cheese bread. So delicious! I haven't tried the no-knead bread yet, but thanks to that link, I'll look into it!

ora pro me · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2011, 03:11:36 PM »

Wisconsinsheepgirl,

Was your yeast old? expired? Was your liquid too hot or too cold? Yeast also needs a tiny bit of sugar or honey in the recipe to activate it, doesn't it?

Jessa · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2011, 04:23:41 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

Hi everyone. Any bread makers here? I've made it a few times in the dutch oven, and I'm thinking I should do it more often. Plus there's nothing like filling the house with the smell of delicious bread- especially now that winter's coming up. I'm sure its cheaper in the long run too!

Here's a great recipe for no kneed bread I've used before:

http://steamykitchen.com/168-no-knead-bread-revisited.html

I love olive bread, but I have a few stalks of rosemary outside and am thinking of making rosemary olive bread this week!

I make bread and it makes my house smell wonderful ...even the people who live next to me know when I'm baking bread :wink:

Have you tried any Amish recipes?

Jessa · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2011, 04:25:28 PM »

Quote from: ora pro me

Wisconsinsheepgirl,

Was your yeast old? expired? Was your liquid too hot or too cold? Yeast also needs a tiny bit of sugar or honey in the recipe to activate it, doesn't it?

Not in my experience. Make sure your water isn't to hot, it will kill the yeast. Too cold won't activate it...I'd do a little hotter than luke warm. Make sure your yeast is not expired and keeping in the freezer is best.

Jessa · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2011, 04:34:30 PM »

OH and make sure your keeping it warm enough to rise.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2012, 09:02:34 AM »

I love baking bread. I don't do it as often as I'd like, but I have had enough practice to become very good at it. Precise measuring, fresh ingredients (especially yeast) and proper kneading will ensure great bread.

I have the morning off today because my daughter has a doctor appointment. I've been advised I need more carbs in my diet :-) so I woke up early and now have 2 loaves done and 2 more in the oven. It smells so good!

I order wheat berries and use an electric grinder to make my own whole wheat flour. I make it as needed so it is always fresh.

I do have a bread machine that was given to me, but I really prefer to use my Kitchen Aid mixer to knead the dough and then I shape it myself into pans for baking.

I am diligent with buying baking supplies when they are lowest cost and so I can make a loaf of whole wheat for 1/4 or less of the cost of buying a nutritionally equivalent loaf that is inferior in flavor anyway.

My favorite bread to make is sourdough, but that is a bit more complicated. :-)

Saturday I'm going to make beer bread.