This part of my blog is all about the things I collect or the things I make myself. I love so many things, I paint and draw and want to learn oils and pastels. I knit and crochet but want to learn tatting. I embroider and can turn my hand to most things given a chance. So much still to learn and do. I live in hope of some day reading all my books, learning all I want to learn and now I am learning to blog. You will often find my original poems, poor as they are I offer them here. I also appreciate other people art and will feature things I find that I have enjoyed. That includes pictures of fairies and fantasy or maybe just anything beautiful.
I try to use my own photo's as much as possible, sometimes I borrow from the web. If I inadvertently use your picture without giving credit, please do let me know and I will either credit or remove it, I hope you will do the same with mine.
If you wish to leave comments on my blog you can do that by joining google if you do not have a blog yourself, please comment if you can I appreciate that.


Monday, February 10, 2014

Bread.................

My cousin Robin has been giving me tips on making bread and pastry. My first attempt was a failure. It was my own fault. I had decided to empty my baking cupboards and get rid of all my old stuff. I didnt want to just throw stuff out so I prepared to use up what I could. The bread turned out looking lovely and tasting horrible. Well it does not pay to use expired things when it comes to baking. Oh the yeast rose ok but the taste of the bread was stale. So...........Robin to the rescue. He taught me about the different flours, and how they worked. Mine apparently had lost its umpfffff.
So.....everything in the trash. A lesson learned and new products in the cupboard.
To day I chose two simple recipes. A white bread, sandwich bread and a French bread.
lafugimama had a simple white sandwich bread that looked good and simple
First of all to get myself in the mood I made a loaf from a mix. Just so I had one success at least.

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This is an herbal bread, smells divine and was quite good. So then while that was baking I made the next batch. Here it is, the French bread dough sitting on the stove top where it's warm rising its little heart out.
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This was a French style bread. I made this as instructed. I didn't do the egg wash on top because I wanted to see what it should look like. I prefer the crunchy crust so next time I will do that and also add some seeds.
I was happy to see them in the oven baking away
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They came out looking quite nice, if somewhat pale.
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It really did look nice inside.
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The next one I made while that was rising and got the white bread started. Here that one is rising. Both recipes had different times for rising and baking just to make it more fun.
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After all the punching and rising the white dough is finally in the pan
Naomi Cakes a blog about sugar and spice and everything nice
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This one bakes for a whole hour, but it came out looking sweet enough and if next time I brush it with the egg wash it will look even better.
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I cut it before it was cool, heck it was still hot.........I had to taste it.
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It tastes so good when it warm from the oven and yes, made with non stale products..........we wont be doing that again haha.
I am linking this with Create with Joy at Inspire me Monday
Also linking with Cottage Style Party

3 comments:

  1. Wow! They look wonderful! Not much of a baker but I appreciate those that do.

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  2. My mouth is watering! Fresh, homemade bread is my down fall! I could eat an entire loaf! My mom used to be a baker and she still makes homemade bread and buns! Soooo good! Excellent post ;o)

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  3. This looks wonderful! I can almost smell it!

    - The Tablescaper

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