Saturday, October 02, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
French Bread: BBA Challenge #14
This is it! I'm finally caught up with my BBA posts. I know that Jimmy and Neil will be pleased because they have both been tortured by these posts this week.
I have made the french bread recipe in the Kitchen Aid cookbook that came with my mixer several times and although it is good, this bread was AMAZING. It had that true "french bread" taste and the texture was perfect.
The technique was easy, the biggest challenge for me was shaping the loaves and preserving the air trapped inside. As I mentioned in my previous post I am getting better and handling the dough which is evidenced here with the lovely texture. Yum!
Focaccia: BBA Challenge #13
Reinhart states in the introduction to this recipe that he is surprised that Focaccia is as popular in the U.S. as it is because most of it is horrible. I didn't know what he meant until I finished this bread and tasted it. Wow!
Putting it together was actually quite easy and I'm please to say that I'm getting better and better at handling dough to ensure that the right texture is achieved in the end.
The end result was beautiful, the texture was perfect and the flavor was amazing (likely thanks to the absurd about of herb infused olive oil that I coated on top). I can't wait to make this one again! I think it will be perfect with a bowl of homemade minestrone this winter.
English Muffins: BBA Challenge #12
I'm all caught up with the backlog of posts from bread baked months ago and now am ready to talk about my projects from last weekend. There were 3 in all, which many find a bit crazy but when I jump back in I jump in with both feet.
I felt a bit about English Muffins as I did about bagels, is that really something that should be made at home? The process was pretty straight forward but the cooking process was a bit intimidating as you cook them in a skillet prior to putting them in the oven. Reinhart is very cautious about not not flipping them too soon so mine were a bit darker than I planned. I stood over the pan and watched them the whole time but how exactly can you tell how dark they are until you flip them over or lift them up and take a peek?
The flavor and texture were perfect and I was very please with the end result.
And because it is a sin to have homemade English Muffins in the house and not make Eggs Benedict that is exactly what I did!
Quizzical Wednesday: Bucket List
You Should Write a Book
You may not feel like you could write a book, but you actually have a lot to say. Just let it flow!
You already live in your own little world. You may as well introduce everyone else to it.
It's likely that you feel like you have a lot of baggage you'd like to unload, and writing can be cathartic.
By writing a book, you would feel a huge sense of accomplishment. And you'd have a legacy to leave behind.
Take the quiz: What Should Be On Your Bucket List?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Cranberry-Walnut Celebration Bread: BBA Challenge #11
After finishing this bread I realized that braiding bread no longer intimidates me, in fact I love it. The double braid method used here was fun. I was really exited to pull the final product out of the oven only to find that my top bread had slipped a bit to one side and the final product was a bit crooked.
It tasted amazing and one of my colleagues proclaimed that it was his favorite by far. This is one that I could see myself making during the holidays or giving as gifts at Christmastime. It is so festive and the final product is really beautiful.
It tasted amazing and one of my colleagues proclaimed that it was his favorite by far. This is one that I could see myself making during the holidays or giving as gifts at Christmastime. It is so festive and the final product is really beautiful.
Corn Bread: BBA Challenge #10
Still catching up on posts for bread that I baked months and months ago.
I had never made corn bread and was excited to try this. When I read the recipe and realized that it was corn bread topped with bacon I was hooked, after all everything is better with bacon.
It took a bit longer to cook than predicted which I think was a result of the corn kernels being cold. Next time I will warm them before adding them.
I can't wait to make this again on a cold and rainy winter weekend.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread: BBA Challenge #9
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.
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.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Cinnamon Buns: BBA Challenge #8
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!
This recipe is sure to become a tradition for years to come!
Ciabatta: BBA Challenge #7
I got really busy with the BBA Challenge again this weekend, but as I went to post the latest breads, I realized that I am several posts behind for breads that I've already baked. I'll be catching those up over the next few days and will also create posts for the breads I made over the weekend..
I mad the Poolish version of Ciabatta and enjoyed making it. When I sliced into the loaves I was disappointed that I didn't have the large holes and texture that is so classic of good Ciabatta. The crust was nice and crispy and prepping the oven for heart baking was fun. I enjoyed the taste and want to make the Wild Mushroom version of the recipe sometime soon.
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