Finally I Made Some Good Bread

One of the things I have talked about in previous posts is my wanting to do some things, goals, that I have put off doing. Things like taking a photography and cooking class. Travel. Take Yoga classes. Well my "digestion" at this point keeps me from doing a lot of things on my list. But one thing I've always wanted to learn is how to make bread. I have tried to make bread in the past. It was always edible but nothing to write home about. To make good bread I think you need to do it often if you want to improve, and I wouldn't try it again for months. But now I have the time to learn and practice.


Last week I checked out a book from the library called Baking, by James Peterson. I really checked it out because it looked like it had some really good cake recipes in it and you know how out of control I am lately with my sweets. Anyway, I noticed he had a large, very detailed section on breads. It has step by step pictures and he goes into not only how to do steps but why. I am a visual learner so pictures are always good. First thing I noticed is in the past I probably used too much flour and did not knead long enough. I have a short attention span. He showed exactly how to make it in my mixer so that's how I did it. So here it goes........................

Put 4 cups flour, 1 1/2 cup warm water and 1 1/2 teas. yeast in mixer.


wait 10 minutes. Mix then add one teaspoon salt. Mix for 2 minutes. Cover with damp towel and wait 20 minutes. Mix on medium with hook (kneading) for 7 minutes.


Put dough in a oiled bowl and cover

Let dough rise until it doubles. around 2 hours.

While it was rising, I took the time to make my juices for the next few days. I juiced 2 lbs of carrots which made a little over a pint of juice and a little over 3 lbs of apples which made almost a quart of juice.

Back to the bread.

After it rose, I punched it down, followed the instructions on how best to form the loaf, then put it in the oiled pan.

covered and I let it rise again for about an hour.

Preheated the oven at 425 degrees with a sheet pan in the bottom rack. when heated I poured about 4 cups water in pan. put bread on rack above it, sprayed the oven walls with water, waited 30 seconds and repeated 2 times. I baked it for about 50 minutes.

I might take it out a little earlier next time but this is the best loaf of bread I have ever baked.