As an antidote to cold feet and icy weather, I embarked on a bread making afternoon. Since fresh bread is essentially the elixir of life, I thought I should share some photos. Brrrrr. All these breads started with the same basic recipe:
Easy Bread Dough
500g plain/ strong bread flour (I ran out of the latter, and the first seemed to work!)
10g dried yeast
teaspoon of sugar
10g salt
300ml hand hot water
Dissolve the sugar in the water. Activate the yeast by mixing it with the sugar water with a fork, and leaving it for ten minutes in warm place, until foamy.
Mix the salt with the flour and make a well in the centre. Pour in the yeast. and mix until it forms a rough dough. Turn out, and knead until smooth. Place back in the bowl and cover until doubled in size.
Cottage Bread
Made by splitting the dough into 2:1, and placing the smaller on the larger. Score with a sharp knife.
Rosemary Foccacia
Add 4oml of oil to the original mix. Knead and leave for a couple of hours, stretch it to fit the tray, drizzle with oil, and leave again. Dimple with your fingers, and stud with fresh rosemary.
Cheddar and Chili Flatbreads
Split the dough into 12 balls. Push small pieces of cheddar into a hole in the top, add chili flakes and salt and pepper. Pinch closed, and roll into discs. Fry in vegetable oil for 2-3 minutes until brown and crunchy! (We had them with homemade curry….I recommend it!)
Sitting on the train the other day, on the way back from the London library that has been my home for the past three months, I calmed myself with some train doodling. The theme of this scribbling was my baking likes and dislikes, and I’ve collated them here for you. Let me know if you agree or disagree…
…but before I begin, A moment please to commemorate Ryan…
Likes ❤
1.Great British Bake-off. Obviously. I am writing this blog in the aftermath of a tragic episode. I began in good humours… And now I know. And its going to colour the whole blog, day, life.
However, I cannot tell you the beauty of this programme. There are no producers setting people up to fail, no horrible ‘celebrities’ judges, and the worst insult I’ve ever heard was ‘you’ve slightly overcooked your plums.’ I love bake-off and I loved Ryan damnit. next.
2.Baking Presents.
Baking for someone else is superior to baking for yourself. fact. I’m not talking about the 3am eating cake with your hands alone in halls of residence because you got dumpedwhateverdidn’thappen. I just mean that no-one ever looks sad when confronted with cake.
I presented my wonderful parents with this, to say thank you for the postgraduate support. Focaccia, duo chocolate ginger hearts, hazelnut and dark chocolate biscotti, chocolate cake pops and coconut jam thumbprint biscuits. 🙂
3. Vanilla.
I just love vanilla, any type, any method. I love it.
4.Decorating
Whether it’s rustic or time consuming, decorating and design creates really beautiful baking.
Coconut and Jam Thumbprint Biscuits.
My Piped Roses
5.Cats
Ultimate 3am baking companion. I love my American but he is not baking proficient after 12am- and lonely kitchen syndrome is real. Also Danny never judges me when I chain-eat buttons at 1am. This is perfect company.
Dislikes 😦
1. Caloric Intake.
Speaks for itself. I don’t know why a combination of butter, sugar, butter, flour, chocolate and butter doesn’t aid weightloss. We just don’t know. Let it be. Have some shortbread and live your life.
2. Bananas and Tomatoes
I have seen tarte tatin made with both of these mistakes of nature. What happened in that baker’s life to make them this way? How dare you. Bananas and tomatoes are the last resort of mad-men and I won’t tolerate it any longer.
3. 3am Baking Failures.
We have all been here.
4. Long Distance Baking
Myself and Evan used to bake, real- time, over skype. It was lovely, I could teach him how to make English puddings that he didn’t fully understand.
However, to those of you who have done long-distance, you know that Skype is switched off in seconds, and the illusion of company is gone. Baking long-distance leaves you alone, with no choice but to eat an entire pie.
5.Cats. Here’s why…
Well…..! hope you enjoyed my baking list. My dissertation is in and it’s time to take this SERIOUSLY. Stayed Unchained. ❤