3.14.2013

Good Bread





























“‘A loaf of bread,’ the Walrus said, ‘is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides are very good indeed.’” - Lewis Caroll

LOAF OF BREAD: a recipe

3 cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 T. granulated yeast (2 packets)
1 1/2 T. course salt
6 1/2 cups flour 

I always thought that bread was a ridiculously long, difficult process, but I was wrong.  this was my first time making bread, and it was really simple, and totally worth it.  

+  warm the water slightly, pour in a 5-quart dish(if mixing by hand, or a mixing bowl for your mixer), and add in the packets of yeast. 
+  don't bother to stir, add in the rest of the ingredients (flour, salt)
+  mix with a big spoon, or the bread hook on your mixer until completely incorporated, but you don't need to knead. 
+  cover with a cheesecloth or loose lid and let rise for 2 or more hours.
+  spray your dish or baking sheet and preheat your oven to 425 F.
+  cover your working surface with flour, and coat your hands.  
+  create four loaves of bread from your dough, simply forming a ball, pinching the dough together to form a smooth surface.  
+  place loaves in or on your baking surface, and let rise for another 40 min. 
+  when done rising, pat surfaces with flour again and cut cross-hatches on the tops of the loaves.
+  place a dish with 1 cup of boiling water in the bottom of the oven, and then put your sheet of loaves on the middle rack.
+  bake your bread for about 30 minutes, until the crust is nice and golden, and firm to the touch.  
+  break it open and slather it in butter or jam or honey or vinegar.  

Share with friends, family, and eat a lot of it yourself.  there's something about homemade bread that is spectacular.  

lillian.

22 comments:

  1. mmmm, nothing better than homemade bread. :)

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  2. oh thank you thank you thank you lillian. thank you for these beautiful pictures. thank you for the recipe. and thank you for lewis carroll.

    :) happy weekend (almost).

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  3. I made soft pretzels today, which was my first attempt at any rising bread, and I absolutely loved it. Homemade bread is the best.

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  4. mmm, the smell and taste of warm homemade bread is possibly one of the best things on earth. i will definitely be marking this recipe!
    xx

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  5. yes. i will make these. yes.

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  6. Love homemade bread. It's the absolute best! :)

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  7. That bread looks fantastic. I must make it!

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  8. Making homemade bread is on my immediate to-do list. When I have my own family, I want to make bread often and perhaps build a brick baking oven in the backyard. Good bread is always the key.

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  9. i have some pomegranate jelly right now (I KNOW CAN YOU BELIEVE IT) and i think i'll make this to accompany! maybe even invite friends over for some "kinfolking." truly lovely, lil'.

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  10. homemade bread is always the best. oh I miss bread. (now that I eat gluten free) :D love these pictures.

    ~Madi

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  11. mmmm, homemade bread. i'll be doing this soon :)

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  12. I'm making this right now! The dough is very good. I'm so excited to eat it with nutella when it's done!

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  13. Did you make this recipe up or is it adapted from another recipe?

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    Replies
    1. I adapted it from here: http://www.food.com/recipe/5-minute-artisan-bread-325571

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  14. Looks delicious, I'm definitely going to try this!

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  15. Thank you SO much! I have tried a variety of homemade yeast breads and this was by far the best! So good and so easy! Thanks again! -Claire

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  16. I make pretty much this exact recipe! Sometimes I like to add minced garlic and cheese before I bake.

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