I'm baking bread. Ask me anything.

[azmouse]

I'm tired of the lousy breads at the grocery stores and have decided to learn how to make my own. I'm getting better but even the early efforts were at least edible.

[Wheezy]

1. is that like

having a bun in the oven?

[azmouse]

7. Well, not quite. I'm infertile.

Hey! Maybe it's my way of making up for that!

[Wheezy]

16. One never knows, with bread. *nods sagely*

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. what kind of bread?

using a machine?

[azmouse]

8. Whole wheat.

No machine. I'm doing this all by hand.

[BikeWriter]

18. Mmm! I used to have a recipe for "StovePipe" wheat bread...

You baked it in coffee cans. It was delicious!

[Gormy Cuss]

28. Straight proof or sponge?

If you haven't tried wholewheat with a sponge method, I recommend it. Very different texture in the final loaf.

I'm a bread maker too, no machine, no mixer unless I'm pressed for time. Half the fun of it is getting those hands in the dough!

[AllegroRondo]

3. Does it have that great smell yet?

[azmouse]

9. I'll be doing the baking in a few minutes.

Still needs a few minutes to finishing rising.

[Deep13]

4. Please keep us apprised of this...

...delectible, yeasty creation.

[cassandra uprising]

5. Do you use a mixer?

[azmouse]

10. Only if my hands are a mixer.

But next time I have to remember to remove my rings! I bet it took me 10 minutes to get the dough out of them! LOL

[Beer Snob-50]

6. Nothing beats homemade breads

I made a beer bread not long ago that turned out pretty good.

[azmouse]

12. Yummm. Do you still have the recipe?

That sounds like something worth baking.

[Beer Snob-50]

17. I will have to look it up when I get home

[Beer Snob-50]

20. I looked on line and found the receipe I used

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed. It may be necessary to mix dough with your hands. Scrape dough into prepared loaf pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

I baked it closer to 50 minutes and used a better quality dark beer.

[azmouse]

21. Thanks a bunch!!

I appreciate it.

[Beer Snob-50]

22. send me some!!!

it was good warm with lots of butter

[mdmc]

13. nothing beats homemade bread threads!

I'm tired of cheneyshot.
Peace and low stress..

[azmouse]

15. I wish I could post the smell of bread baking too!

[Maddy McCall]

11. Are you using a bread maker or ...

are ya doing it the old fashioned way? I LOVE to bake bread. I think you just might have prodded me to bake some bread, meself! :hi:

What kind of bread are you making?

[azmouse]

14. The old fashioned way is the best.

I can shape the loaves or rolls any way I want.

[Wheezy]

19. Can we ask you anything at all? Or just about bread?

'cause I would like to know:

Will it ever rain in Phoenix again?

[azmouse]

23. I would think it would HAVE to rain sometime.

I see you live in the great state of AZ too! I tried making a deal with some folks from WA to get some of their rain here in return for sending them some sunshine but it didn't work out. :-(

[Wheezy]

24. good try, though....

yep, I'm in the valley. :)

[EstimatedProphet]

25. Got a recipe for us?

BTW thanks for the recipe Pirate!

[Left Is Write]

26. What time should I be there?

Yum! I love homemade breads.

When my husband and I were first married, he was at work all day and my oldest daughter was at school all day...and I made bread several times a week.

Now, with two little kids and all kinds of running around to do, I only make bread once every couple of months. It's a habit I'd like to get back into.

[sarge43]

27. Bread

azmouse, if I may suggest:

Spousal unit does a lot of baking and he uses King Arthur Flour products exclusively, especially their yeast. The difference between KA breads and breads made with other brands is noticable.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com

[azmouse]

29. Thanks for the flour suggestion.

I'll give it a try!

[skygazer]

30. I bake all my own bread

Once you get a recipe that works for you and a routine going, it's pretty easy. Just time consuming. The bread I make uses a mix of white and wheat flours along with some oatmeal to make a light whole grain loaf. I sweeten it with maple syrup rather than sugar. And I do it all by hand, too.

I will not eat store bought bread anymore. Good for you, azmouse. Kind of gives you a new understanding of one's ancestors, doesn't it? It does for me. I quilt by hand, too and I think about all the work women did back in the old days, with no modern conveniences and still managed to make works of art like quilts and feed their families. Rather humbling.