I’ve never made bread before. I’ve watched people make bread from a distance, but I’ve never plundged my hands into dough or anything like that.
So I’m not sure what pocessed me to bake a loaf of bread.
But I did. I chose Challah because I have a bunch of eggs and I’ve kind of seen Challah being made before. First I pulled out the flour. We didn’t have enough milk so I used a quarter cup of rice milk. We didn’t have enough white sugar, so I used some brown sugar and honey. Our yeast was way expired and all I know about yeast is that you have to use water warm enough to goad it back to life, but not kill it, then you gotta let them multiply for you before you finally kill them all. It’s all a little to anthropomorphic for me, but I liked the idea of commanding a little yeast army so I shoeved all my doubts away. I mixed and kneaded and went job hunting while the dough rose. And rise it did. Such wonderful yeasties. Then I covered it in egg yolk and stuck it in the oven.
It worked! It feels like magic! Sure- the bread is a little too salty and yeasty, but it tastes good and it looks like bread. It’s a nice consistancy and nothing exploded. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of myself! I can make bread! I can turn various powders and stuff that comes out of chicken into something that sustains life. The power is in my hands!
Now if only I can figure out how I’m going to clean the fine film of flour (not to mention the rather large piles) that coat every surface in the kitchen.
Nothing beats the feeling of pummling the bejezes out of dough and the smell of fresh baked bread. It’s a lot more theraputic than using a bread machine.
I did try to make panettoni once. It turned out like an eggy shortcrust pastry with dried fruit.
Welcome, my friend. Welcome to the Cult of the Bakers of Bread. The Staff of Life will never be the same to you. Wonder will be anathema. Roman Meal will be heresy. It is a Calling.
OK. So I take my breadmaking semiseriously. Sue me.
Now you just have to get yourself a breadmaker so you don’t have to cover the kitchen with flour.
I baked a couple of loaves on Tuesday. Bread is a very forgiving substance – you can do almost anything to it and it turns out great. Do yourself a favor – grab some whole wheat flour, some rye flour, and plenty of spices and flavorings and experiment.
I buy yeast in huge quantities. I use fresh dough for a lot of things – pizza crust, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, you name it. One of the things I particularly like to do is make the bread like normal, and right before I place it in the bread pans I roll it out pretty thin and cover it with cinnamon, sugar, and raisins. Makes wonderful french toast as well as plain toast for breakfast.
Now that you’ve made bread, what else are you planning to make?
p.s. once you have made homemade bread breadmaker bread will always taste inferior to you
The bread got rave reviews from Boyfriend, the real baker in the family. If he likes it, it must be good. Now I’m begging him to buy me some whole wheat flour (the whole being unemployed thing currently hinders my culinary aspirations) and trying to convice him that we should bake bread every week.
Baking break is like cocaine for my soul. But not in an unhealthy way. Don’t be afraid to get a little rowdy. Get creative, and anything that sounds like it might be good in bread, throw it in and see what happens. Its the best fun ever!!!
Oh, yes, by all means, bake bread at least once a week!
If you found your bread to be a bit on the yeasty side that could be because you set it to rise in too warm an environment. Slow rising, if you have the time, is best. Whole grains rise even more slowly.
