Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread: BBA Challenge #9

Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread: BBA Challenge #9, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

My mother used to order Raisin Bread from Winder Dairy when I was a little kid and I loved toasted with a little bit of butter. Ahh, memories. I've purchased raisin bread a couple times over the years and it just isn't the same.

This was a fun bread to make and the results were a big hit at the office. It is much denser than the raisin bread of my youth but had more flavor. This was a huge hit at the office back in January and only lasted a few hours.

Cinnamon Buns: BBA Challenge #8

Cinnamon Buns: BBA Challenge #8, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

I was really looking forward to making the Cinnamon Roll recipe in Reinhart's book. I have played around with some other Cinnamon Roll recipes but hadn't found a favorite until I made this one. I used orange extract instead of lemon which added an extra dimension of flavor that was perfect. The buns turned out light and airy, absolutely perfect.

This recipe is sure to become a tradition for years to come!

Challah: BBA Challenge #6

It feels good to be back in the swing of things and back to baking bread every weekend. I was looking forward to Challah. Since reading the section on braiding bread in the preparation to start the BBA Challenge I have been dying to braid me some bread.

Challah: BBA Challenge #6, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

This was an uncomplicated and easy bread. Mix, proof, knead, proof, shape, proof, bake. I completed the tasks while doing some other projects around the house. I was excited about the braiding but also thought it would be far more complicated than it was. I'm really pleased with the results and hope that it tastes as good as it looks.

Casatiello: BBA Challenge #5 (#bba)

With the holidays behind me it was time to begin the BBA Challenge again. Over the weekend I created Casatiello which is an Italian variation to Brioche with meat and cheese tucked inside for a savory treat.

Casatiello: BBA Challenge #5, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

I chose to make mine with salami and sharp cheddar cheese as I prefer it to provolone. I started the recipe a bit late in the day but was able to complete it before bed. The initial proofing time of 90 minutes didn't yield the size Reinhart suggested so I gave it a bit more time with no change so I moved ahead. I was pleased with the results. It is not only beautiful to look at with also beautiful to the palate. The richeness of the bread mixes well with the savory flavor of the salami and the cheese.

Next stop is Challah. I've been excited about braided breads since completing the reading prior to beginning the Challenge, so I think Challah will be fun!

Brioche: BBA Challenge #4 (#bba)

Coming off the triumph of my fabulous bagels, I decided that I couldn't make just Brioche alone. I decided that this rich and yummy creation deserved to be served with something fabulous so I created an entire meal around it. I made a beef tenderloin with a wine reduction sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was yummy!

Brioche: BBA Challenge #4, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

Reinhart gives three options for Brioche: Rich Man's Brioche, Middle Class Brioche and Poor Man's Brioche. I opted to make the Rich Man's Brioche because I was intrigued by the OBSCENE amount of butter it called for. The process was uneventful but I only rested the dough for the minimum time and was surprised that it hadn't chilled as thoroughly as I had hoped. When I do it again I will certainly chill it overnight. I don't have true Brioche molds but I do have some metal molds for making Taco Salad shells and I decided to use those. They baked up beautifully as seen above.

The following morning I made french toast with some of the leftovers and have now ruined myself for anything besides Brioche French Toast. Wow!

With Thanksgiving and Christmas looming around the corner, I decided following the Brioche to take a 6 week break from the BBA Challenge to deal with the wonderful *challenges* of the holiday season. With the new year will certainly come new bread!

Bagels: BBA Challenge #3 (#bba)

The idea of making Bagels scared me. Terrified me. Bagels are one of those things that are made by professionals, not me. I read and re-read the recipe to make sure that I had all the steps down and began the task.

Bagels: BBA Challenge #3, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

A few weeks prior to my bagel making adventure I stumbled across this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Spread on Pinch My Salt. Being a BIG fan of Pumpkin Spice anything, I couldn't wait to try it. So when deciding about the type of bagels to make I knew I wanted to try my hand at a Cinnamon Sugar variety. I followed the recipe precisely and was oh so pleased when they came out of the boiling water looking very bagel-like. I then coated the top with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and baked them. They were delightful, especially with the Pumpkin Spice spread. And I was SO proud of myself for conquering the terrifying bagel recipe and for making up my own variation and having it turn out perfectly. This is a huge confidence booster for me. Hopefully from this point on I won't be so damn afraid of every recipe turning into a disaster.

Artos (Greek Celebration Bread): BBA Challenge #2 (#bba)

The second recipe in the BBA Challenge is Greek Celebration Bread. Reinhart gives several different variations to try, I chose the basic Artos to begin with. I'm still feeling the need to stick with the basics and not venture off too crazily and didn't want to create a Greek Disaster Bread.

Artos (Greek Celebration Bread): BBA Challenge #2, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

The above picture is the bread right out of the oven. I really loved this recipe. I loved creating the barm starter and I loved the savory scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice penetrating the house as it was baking. It was really beautiful once it had been glazed and the sesame seeds were added, I wish I had taken a picture but I forgot.

This is a recipe that I could see myself making again and think it would be fabulous for the next time (or rather first time) I decide to host a brunch or shower.

Next up... Bagels. Still scared.

Anadama: BBA Challenge #1 (#bba)

In October, I started the BBA Challenge. I completed a recipe weekly until mid-November when I decided to take a break for the holidays. I have completed the first 5 breads but haven't completed the blog posts yet so I will be catching up over the next few days.

I spent the first week after purchasing the book reading the 100+ pages of background and education at the beginning. I was fascinated by it and in the end was glad that I took the time to read it. I loved reading about Peter Reinhart's adventures in bread making and took to heart that bread making should be a distraction free experience so that you can really experience it. I set out to pick up the ingredients for the first recipe with an incredible amount of enthusiasm.

Anadama: BBA Challenge #1, originally uploaded by JewellsinSEA.

Anadama is a solid grainy bread with roots in New England. It takes two days to complete the process but the task for the first day is simply preparing the sponge (a mixture of cornmeal and water), the rest of the work is done on the second day.

My biggest fear with baking bread is that it won't rise. Every time I leave a recipe to proof (rise) I cross my fingers that it will actually rise. I don't know where this fear comes from because I have never made a recipe that didn't rise. The initial proofing worked marvelously with the Anadama but I didn't do an adequate job of punching it down so the final loaves were bigger than they should have been and had some air pockets. I'm still struggling with beating the air out of the bread that just an hour or so before I had been hoping and praying would rise. I hope this stupid fear will go away with time and more experience.

I liked the end result and used it for sandwiches and toast throughout the week. Looking forward to next week's challenge which is Greek Celebration Bread and dreading recipe #3 which is Bagels. Scary.

The BBA Challenge

One evening last week, while researching recipes for homemade Cinnamon Rolls I stumbled across this post and was introduced to The BBA Challenge and the Phoo-D blog, a new favorite. I read several of her entries about the breads she has baked as part of the BBA Challenge and was intrigued. I then read all the details and particulars about the Challenge and decided that I couldn't resist, I was hooked.

Receiving my Kitchen Aid mixer in April was a dream come true as I have wanted one since I first laid eyes on them (receiving this from my Mom is yet more proof that I have the BEST Mom in the whole wide world). Since April I have baked more than ever before and just love pulling it out of the hall closet. I couldn't wait to try out the dough hook and have successfully mastered the Kitchen Aid recipes for white, wheat and french bread. I have also baked many cookies, quick breads and cakes in the past 6 months, although my cookie baking skills leave a bit to be desired. My colleagues are thrilled that I have this new found love of baking because there is always some *treat* showing up in the break room. I can't believe how much I've learned and the real difference it has made in baking. I made my mothers Carrot Cake recipe last night to bring to work for a colleagues birthday. I baked the same recipe last year for her birthday and the difference is amazing! I was really silly and naive when I thought that using a hand mixer was just as good, it just isn't.

On Sunday, Don and I went to Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy of The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread and I was giddy with excitement when we walked out of the store. The book is beautiful! I purchased the ingredients for the first recipe, Anadama and plan to start it on Thursday night. In the meantime I am reading the 100+ pages of information and theory at the beginning of the book.

I'm excited about learning more about different varieties of bread and exploring different ingredients, textures and techniques. Although I have to say that the idea of making Bagels is scary and that happens on week #3. AAAHH!

I will be posting pictures and thoughts about each recipe but not the recipes themselves as I move through this journey. The official group started back in May, so I am a bit behind but am hoping that I can slowly catch up and finish at the same time, we will see.

For more information on The BBA Challenge you can check out the blogroll, the Flickr group, the world map, or search #bba on Twitter.

Memorial Day Weekend Wrap-Up

The holiday weekend at home in Seattle turned out to be a fabulous weather weekend and chock full o' fun. The highlights:

• Left the office early and met Kat at my place so we could run to the store to pick up essentials for the evening.
• Introduced Kat to the magic of the of the Laughing Cow.
• Ate clam dip and watched Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in preparation for seeing the new Indy film over the holiday weekend.
• Woke early Saturday to complete the usual laundry bit.
• Created new starts and baked the Amish Cinnamon Friendship Bread from the start that I received from a colleague 10 days prior. (If you live in the Seattle area and would like a start for this yummy cinnamon bread, let me know via IM, email or comment.)
• Downloaded pictures from my camera to Flickr including pictures of Mom's visit to Seattle, Jimmy's 30th and the trip to Utah and driving home through California.
• Ran errands.
• Attempted to take a walk on the beach at Golden Gardens but couldn't find parking so ended up at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks on the Lake Washington Ship Canal which was fascinating and totally cool. I can't believe I haven't been before.
  
• Had my eyebrows waxed.
• Enjoyed the afternoon and sunset from the deck at Eastlake Bar and Grill. The drinks and food were good, but the service SUCKED!
• Woke early again thanks to the sun and headed out to Costco to beat the crowds.
• Took pictures of the flowers and herbs on my deck and completed a blog post about them.
• Took a nap.
• Decided to go watch the big boats (a.k.a. cruise ships) leave Elliott Bay from the deck of Bell Street Diner but when I arrived they were closed due to a plumbing problem.
• Watched the cranes and dock workers load tons of luggage onto the Norwegian Pearl.
• Drank a beer at Anthony's Fish Bar.
• Frustrated by the heat and late departure of the Norwegian Pearl I left the Seattle waterfront in search of a sunny deck and possibly some Copper River Salmon.
• Soaked up the summer sun and watched the big boats sail by from the deck at Ray's Boathouse. Kat came down and joined me for dinner and the sunset which was amazing.
• Woke to a dreary cooler day on Monday so I opted to stay in bed for a couple of hours and read.
• Had lunch with Kat and Don at Red Robin in Bellevue Square.
• Saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which I loved.
• Watched as Don kicked my ass all over the pool table at Rock Bottom.
• Found my iPod, full story here.
• Shared a glass of wine with Kipp when he stopped by just after leaving Folk Life.
• Enjoyed some wine on the deck with Don and the sun faded away and the holiday weekend came to an end.

How was your weekend?