Categories
Uncategorized

Hey, it’s Bread!

Bread

After making a small loaf of bread I made this massive loaf of bread. I’m kidding of course, though this bread is twice the size of the last one. (Laser-cut banana for scale.)

Here’s the ingredients list:

  • 240 grams flour (bread flour or all-purpose flour)
  • 6 grams kosher salt
  • 2 grams instant dried yeast
  • 200 grams cool water

Bread

You can see it fills out the 2 quart Dutch oven a bit more. This is probably a good size to make in the little pot. I could probably go a little larger but then I’d need to do some real math and I’m not a fan of that.

But honestly, this might be the appropriate size for our household. In the past when I’d suggest to Dana we get a loaf of bread for grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup we’d grab a loaf from the grocery store and it seemed like we could never get one the right size, or the right shape, or just a loaf that seemed to fit our modest needs.

This was a great sized loaf that lasted just over two days and was enough for two good-sized sandwiches and some left over for a couple of pieces of toast.

Bread

Obviously I need to start making a bread like this the night before (or perhaps first thing in the morning) but I’d prefer making my own bread—with just four simple ingredients—over buying a loaf at the store.

When I make it at home I know exactly what goes into it and how it was made… and that’s worth something to me.

Categories
Uncategorized

Aldi Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Aldi Dutch Oven

I picked up this little 2 quart cast iron Dutch oven from Aldi. I think I saw this blog post and knowing how expensive high quality cast iron Dutch ovens are, I figured for $20 USD I’d give it a try. I made this Small Batch Crusty Bread because it was the smallest loaf I could find. (And I was too lazy to do baker’s math for other loafs.)

Bread in Dutch oven

I’m not big on many of the meat recipes you find for a Dutch oven, but I have been making a lot of bread lately, so I thought I would give that a try.

(Note: I did bake in on/in parchment paper, though I pulled it out for the photo.)

Bread

Tiny loaf! This only used 120 grams (1 cup) of flour. I let it rise overnight, about 12 hours, and it’s one of those “no knead” recipes. It turned out pretty good! I may try to double the size for the second attempt.

Bread

I was pleased with the crumb on this loaf. I ended up eating the whole thing in one day, not surprising I guess. I toasted up two pieces for a sandwich at lunch and damn, it was good! I look forward to making more bread and possibly exploring other recipes with this thing.

Categories
Uncategorized

Making Bread

I made some bread. Not money… actual bread, 2 loaves of bread. French bread.

I’m not saying this bread would win the approval of Aaron, but I thought it turned out pretty good. (It made great toast along side a pasta dinner, I used it for a sandwich, and we finished it off as french bread pizza.)

Bread

The most interesting thing to me was the whole process. It took about 2 and a half hours from start to finish. First you need to make the dough, then let it rise for 1 hour. Then roll it out flat, and roll it up, and cover it and let it rise for another hour. Then bake it. Then let it cool. Then you’re done.

It sounds like a simple process really, and it is, but it takes time. I was able to keep myself occupied during rise time, so I didn’t sit in the kitchen the entire time, but I had to be there for each step in the process. I like baking things. I wouldn’t doubt that after Make and Craft they put out a magazine called Bake. (Ok, they probably won’t, but they should.)

I understand the allure of a bread machine. I owned one many years ago, and if you’re into convenience, it makes sense. I also understand the whole “greatest thing since sliced bread” but I think people were referring to the fact that you could buy bread for so cheap, not that it was sliced.

It is just the fact that years ago people made their own bread because they had plenty of time, as compared to nowadays, where we are all (supposedly) so damn busy? Should making bread really cause me to think about it this much?