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Bread Recipes |
Bread Recipe
Ingredients
1-1/4 cups warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
3-1/4 cups bread flour
3 tsps course salt
cornmeal or bread crumbs for sprinkling
In a small cup mix 1/4 cup of the warm water with the yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes until foamy. While this mixture sits, mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the softened yeast and the remaining cup of warm water. Mix with a wooden spoon, then turn out onto a working surface and knead 10 minutes adding more flour if necessary (I knead for about 3 minutes and might have to add another 1/4 cup flour). Place the dough in a bowl greased lightly with olive oil, turn to coat with the oil, cover with a towel, place in a warm draft-free spot (an unlit oven with a pilot light is good) for about 3 hours or until double in size. After rising, punch down the dough and knead 5 minutes. Divide into 2 equal parts. roll each piece into an oblong about 5x20". Starting with a long side, roll up tightly, jellyroll fashion. Pinch to seal the seam and the ends. Place the loaves, seam-side down, on a cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal or breadcrumbs. Slit the tops in several places, diagonally, with a sharp knife. cover with a light towel and place in a warm spot again for 1 hour, or until double in size. After second rise preheat the oven to 450°F. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack immediately and allow the loaves to fully cool before cutting.
And the most delicious thing on earth, take a piece of this bread and rub it with half a ripe tomato. Drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and add a thin slice of prosciutto or jamon serrano.
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Bread Related Articles |
Bread Machines and Bread Makers for Every Kitchen!
Bread machines or bread makers are fast becoming a small appliance used almost as much as the microwave oven. And why not? The smell and taste of freshly baked bread is hard to resist, let alone very nutritious for you. These machines can be considered another of the few miracle kitchen appliances to make our cooking and baking lives more enjoyable. Finding bread machines online has never been more easier, except maybe which one to choose for your families needs. Here are some basic tips in finding the right one for you.
Most store bought bread these days comes in one and a half to two pound loafs, so the first tip is look for a bread machine with a two pound capacity. There really isn't a good reason to make bread size less than a two pound loaf. Also it is nice to have a bread maker with at least 8 different settings. Some of your best choices for settings are: Basic, Whole Wheat, French, Sweet and Express bake.
Bread machines with a view window allows one to monitor the bread baking without raising the lid, saving energy and time. Make sure the loaf pan is non-stick coated for easy cleaning. Most bread makers today come with non-stick loaf pans but there are a few that still don't. Another great feature to have is the additional ingredients beeper, which comes in handy for adding fruit and more thru out the bread cycle.
Whether for once a week bread making to everyday use the bread machine has become a part of the modern kitchen. Make sure you compare different models online to find the perfect one for your family.
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