while searching for valentine's ideas, i found this great gift idea for a friend who's interested in making bread. my sister planted the idea of adding a well-loved bread machine to my list of things to get from the thrift store, but until then, i'm tempted to give no-knead bread another try. my last batch was a little tough since i didn't use bread flour. any other good tips from you bread bakers out there? i recently read this blog post which gave me hope and has my mouth watering.
Do you have a Kitchenaid Mixer? I make all our bread now and you totally don't need a bread maker if you have one.
ReplyDeleteArtisan Bread in 5 Minutes a day is great for a start. You make up a lot of dough, put it in the fridge, and then just take out a bit to bake and you have a fresh loaf. There's no kneading either!
I'm not an expert bread maker, but I did stumble upon this the other day and now I'm incredibly inspired! She talks about baking bread with no yeast! http://elmlid.com/the-bread-exchange/
ReplyDeleteLast year I decided to invest time in baking bread, and that Jim Lahey book has changed my life. I'm making perfect artisan bread now, and we're addicted. Here's my result:
ReplyDeletehttp://hollyklein.blogspot.com/2011/02/special-kneads-i-knead-hero.html
Oh, definitely give it another try! Getting good at bread making really is just trial and error. It's just figuring out how the dough should feel and finding the best place in your house to let it rise. And when you get the hang of it, it's so fulfilling! Here's a good beginner recipe if you're just trying to get a feel for kneading and rising: http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/classic-white-bread Don't take the rising times too literally. Sometimes it takes much longer or shorter depending on how warm your home is.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Bread making makes me feel super cozy and like I could survive if I had to drop off the grid. haha
Bread making might be the perfect solution to get you feeling better!
ReplyDeleteI found this awesome 5-minute ciabatta recipe awhile ago and have had great luck with it. It really only takes 5 min to prep, then you let it rise for 8-12 hours (I've just left it overnight before) and then bake in the oven. It makes a shorter, wider bread so it isn't great for sandwiches but goes perfectly with soup. The recipe is here, in case you are interested:
http://unspeakablevisions.blogspot.com/2010/09/farmers-market-soup-five-minute.html
Good luck!
I have had trememdous luck with this article on no-knead bread from the ny times:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html
This recipe is truly revolutionary - the only weird ingredient you need is instant yeast which you can buy from Amazon. I have only ever used all purpose and whole wheat flours (king arthur), and never saw any need for bread flour. This really is an incredibly easy process once you go through the steps a few times. You just mix it up and leave it for 18 hours, let it rest, rise then bake it in a dutch oven for 20 minutes covered, 20 minutes uncovered. It doesn't stick to the pot, there is almost no clean up.
I found this video of the recipe originator, Jim Lahey, on Martha Stewart very helpful.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/no-knead-bread
I watched this about a thousand times before trying it just to make sure I got the timing down. I only botched this one time because I got the timing wrong - if the timing is right, this is a GREAT way to get artisan bread at home. I couldn't be happier with the results. Definitely post if you try it :) I'm planning to put up some pictures of my finished loaves soon.
I'm a huge fan of "artisan bread in 5 minutes a day". The bread is great and the work is minimal to the other bread I bake and have baked in the past.
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