In an effort to bake and grow our own food as much as possible in order to buy less, and therefore produce less package waste, I took out of the storage boxes my 10-year old bread-making machine. Making bread sounds a little intimidating, but once you get a hold of it... you will never go back to packaged bread ever in your life! We now make whole wheat bread once or several times per week and itâs far more delicious than the Bimbo bread we used to buy in the supermarket or even the bread I bought in bakeries like Chez Christophe or Moccapan in EscazuÌ.
A lot healthier as well! ... and there is nothing like the smell of baked bread đ„ in the whole house. Between crepes, pastries and bread, our house often smells like the tiny streets in Paris full of joyful cafeÌs and French bakeries.
Now, if you donât have a bread machine to make work easier, here is a recipe from Nita Crabb in "All Recipes" I used several times to make bread fast and easy (see link below). It also taste delicious!
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
â cup honey
5 cups bread flour
3 tablespoons butter, melted
â cup honey
1 tablespoon salt
3âÂœ cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Step 1: In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
Step 2: Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
Step 3Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
Step 4Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.
If you are stuck at home because of covid... learning how to bake bread might make time pass much faster and will be a great family bonding activity in which toddlers can also participate đšâđ©âđ§âđŠ. Soooo, ready?!? đ„đ„
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