You might wonder what “Bread” has to do with becoming more creative. Well, the simple answer is that the actual bread has nothing to do with it, BUT my writing, photographing, putting the graphics together all does. WHAT THE BREAD DOES DO IS smell delicious and fill your tummy!
I know I have mentioned in a previous post that I cannot do without carbs and thus I would do very badly at Banting*. But what I didn’t mention is that I have a fabulous Bread recipe. You don’t even need a fancy-smanchy electronical bread maker.
*In short, it is an eating plan that you cut out all carbs and is very popular in South Africa
So for those of you that publicly or even secretly love a fresh slice of bread with melted butter, this is the recipe to start with. It is easy, reasonably quick and tastes divine!!!
This cake is the starting point for my “Sandwich Cake” that I will be sharing in the future. I know, I know…you thinking “What the heck!! This woman had a problem with cake. Now she is even making one like a sandwich!”. Haha….and you are total correct. So, don’t miss my instalment on it when it comes out!
Back to the bread!!
I have learnt that the trick in making bread. Lots of love and oh, making sure that the dough rises properly.
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 Tbsp. active dry yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
6-6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
Pour 1/2 cup of the water into a bowl and stir in the yeast and sugar. (If you are going to use an electric mixer, start off in the electric mixer bowl). Let sit for 5 minutes, until it looks foamy. If the yeast doesn’t do anything, toss it out and buy fresh yeast.
Add the rest of the water and about half of the flour. Stir until well blended. Add the rest of the flour, the salt and butter and stir with the dough hook (or by hand if not using a mixer) until well combined and shaggy. Continue to knead until it’s smooth and elastic. I do it for about 10 minutes with the dough hook. If you are doing it by hand you will have to do it somewhat longer. If you were using the electric mixer, you will need to turn the dough out onto the counter top and knead a few times to make sure it’s evenly smooth.
Shape it into a ball and put it back into the bowl. Cover with a tea towel and let it sit for 1 – 1 1/2 hours, until it’s doubled in size. Grease the pans that you want to use. I sometimes use loaf pans or as seen on the pictures I have made round breads that do not go into a pan. Once the dough has risen, divide it into the amount of breads you want to make.
Place the dough into the pans, cover with a tea towel and let it rise for another hour or so. They will rise right out of the pan……ready to be baked.
Preheat the oven to 180°C and put the rack in the middle of the oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the loaves are brown. Immediately turn the loaves out of their pans and onto a rack to cool.
Mmmmm…..just looking at it makes me hungry!!
My boys LOVE eating the fresh hot bread with melted butter on it. It never lasts long enough to go off!
So, go practice so that you are ready for my Sandwich Cake!
When I mentioned the statement above some ladies I was having tea with yesterday (waiting for kids on an outing), one lady said that instead of her making the bread, maybe they should all come over to my house so I can teach them. How insanely clever…..maybe I will have to start some classes in the future. Sharing is caring (and not ONLY Barney the dinosaur says that!!)
[…] I was also rather taken by the cakes that looked like a pretty rounded birthday cake and so my mission started as I needed to find the perfect bread, which could be baked in a round cake tin. And voila, I found this wonderful recipe that has since never flopped on me ……BREAD […]