Thursday 15 January 2009

Bread Baby

Did I mention to you that I have an absolutely fantastic husband? Actually he's more than just my husband, he's my best friend, president, secretary, treasurer and life long member of my fan club, official guinea pig for new and pimped recipes and I'll stop there in case children are reading and I would hate to make you jealous. He really is one of a kind when it comes to supporting me in whatever project I commit myself, however faddish it might seem.

Last year saw my love for bread making grow from zero to what I thought as hero. I really enjoy baking bread and experimenting with different flavours and textures. This year I want to really get going BIG with my bread making, and my darling husband is 100% behind me, even though he is not a lover (or even a liker) of traditionally baked home style bread.

Never the less, when I saw a bread machine in the shop last week, and mentioned that I would love to have one "someday", he went straight out and bought me one! Horray! Horray! I have a bread machine!

I have made 5 loaves already and my son thinks he is in bread heaven - he really loves home made bread. I have been speaking to the bread bakers in all the shops I go to, getting advice on everything from flour to baking times and temperatures. I love the adventure of learning a new skill. The bread machine is a wonderful tool, because you just throw everything in and it does everything!

I whipped up this bread last night, so that my son and his friends will have something for lunch today, I do hope they leave me a piece to try.

Egg- Enriched White Loaf
(Bread Machine Instructions for a large loaf)

2 Eggs
Water (see method)
6 Cups White Bread Flour (I bought stone ground flour, which is preservative free)
15ml Sugar
10ml Salt
2 Tablespoons melted butter or oil
1 Packet Rapid Dry Yeast

Put the eggs in a measuring cup and add water to make up about 430ml ( more if you using a stone ground flour). Mix lightly and add to machine.
Add the ingredients as per manufacturers instructions (mine you first add the liquids and then top with the flour and lastly the salt, sugar and yeast).
Choose the "Basic" option, medium crust and press start....
If you are doing this by hand, then you place all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix in the water and egg mixture until knead until you have a smooth elastic dough (about 10-15 minutes).
Leave to rest and rise for about an hour in a warm place - should double in volume.
Working softly shape into your bread tin and leave to rise for another 20 minutes.
Bake in an oven at about 180°C for 20-30 minutes until loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Serve hot with lots of butter.

3 comments:

Nina Timm said...

I bet it is those bits that you do not want the children to see that got you that bread machine...you go girl!!!!!

Kit said...

ONe of a kind!

I've never used a bread machine - sometimes aI am tempted by the idea, but then I always make three big loaves at a time to keep my family going, so 1 loaf wouldn't be enough - but great fun for trying out new recipes and combinations. I tend to stick to my two basic recipes mostly - haven't struck out into new territory for ages. Maybe I will this year!

Jeanne said...

You have a bread machine AND a husband worth his weight in gold!!

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water."

It is not your business to succeed, but to do what is right : when you have done so, the rest lies with God.
C.S. Lewis

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