I recently purchased the book "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day" and after reading it and making a very small investment in some baking tools, I started baking my own bread at home, and guess what, it tastes great !! I have to say that I have received so much satisfaction from this experience, unlike anything else I have found in cooking and baking in my kitchen. There is something so gratifying about baking bread, and eating it fresh with family and friends. I am hooked !
Now, I am sure almost all of you are saying "baking bread, I don't have time for that!" Well, I really don't either...I am just as frazzled as any Mom on a daily basis. The method in this book is actually much easier than the traditional method of baking bread, and it is really doable. You mix up 4 batches at a time, just stir it with a wooden spoon, if you don't have a heavy duty standard mixer with a dough attachment, (who does ? oh yeah, Martha Stewart). Let it sit for two hours, then store it in the fridge. Then you can get the dough out anytime, I recommend 2 hours before you will devour it. Bake it, let it cool and enjoy.
The best part about it is, each time I have made a loaf, it is turned out so good ! Its a feeling of accomplishment that I just LOVE ! Not to mention...the satisfaction of eating it all up !! Oh, and the book has so many great bread recipes with dinner, lunch and breakfast recipes to go with. Did I mention, fresh bread is very adored by Chloe and Blake...I think the smell of the kitchen speaks to them, Chloe's comment after a few days of stuffing herself with it was " Mommy, now you can work in a Bakery!"
As for the recipes, The picture above is the first one in the book, it is the Boule Artisan Free-Form Loaf. The pictures below are the same recipe, which is basically a sourdough bread, but they are Baguette's.
If you want to see a video with the Authors demonstrating the process, check out this video.
5 comments:
I have a mixer! but you got more tools...
I'm curious, do your recipes use yeast? You don't mention to let the dough rise and cover with plastic in a warm environment. Because when I bake bread, waiting for the rise kills me. Even though, you are right, baking bread is wonderful.
Daleth,
Yes, the recipe uses yeast, and I think it uses more water than usual. The rise happens after you mix the 4 batches. I just put it by my stove and let it rise from 2 to 4 hours. Then put it in the fridge and for best results use it the next day. Watch the video link on the post, they explain it there in more detail.
Yes, the double rise was tough for me to. This one is easier.
oh my god! I have always wanted to bake my own bread, but never been brave enough. I'm buying this book. There is something about baking bread that conjures up the best pictures for me of womanhood,...such a wonderful caring, motherly thing to do. My mother went through a brief bread making phase in the 70s and I remember that we kids loved it!
I have to see it done in person first...thats how I learn best...hey, when all this garden labor is done maybe I can crash for a course...and then show up the next day for a bite! I'll bring the preserves.
O.K i watched the video...Can't believe it...no more French method. Wow, I'm going to try it.
Post a Comment