Bread Baking

[KatKnits]

Anyone here into bread baking? I started about three years ago and I now make 99% of the bread my husbeast and I eat. I had come across a website called http://www.thefreshloaf.com/ and followed the baking lessons on the site. I don't own a stand mixer so I do everything by hand but I enjoy kneading the dough because it gives my arms a workout and can help relieve stress. And in the winter it's great since the heat from the oven helps warm up the house a bit!

[misterwuggles]

My girlfriend and I have been looking for a good all around bread recipe that we can just make to have around all the time, but still haven't found anything we really, really like. Something I do like to make pretty often are soft pretzels. Nothing quite as delicious (and cheap!) as homemade soft pretzels for me. Props to you for doing it entirely by hand! We have a Kitchen Aid and I'm very glad for it since the extra work might dissuade me from doing it too often.

This site looks pretty nice and I look forward to giving some of the stuff in there a try. Thanks!

[KatKnits]

I love making soft pretzels, they are one of my favorites. I especially like them as a side for soups (particulary beef barley) in the winter.

I have a ton of different all around bread recipes, but this is one of my favorites since it's so easy:
3 cups flour
1 Tsp instant yeast (or one packet of yeast)
1 tsp salt
1/8 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons melted butter

If using a mixer: Mix dry ingredients, butter, then add water until the dough forms a ball. Knead for 10 minutes. Let rise in oiled bowl for 90 minutes. Punch down dough and place in greased loaf pan for 60 minutes. Bake at 350 (F) for 40-45 minutes (don't forget to score the top before baking).

By hand: mix yeast and sugar with all the water, let sit for 10 minutes so yeast can bloom. Add salt and butter, then keep adding flour a 1/2 cup at a time until it forms a ball. Knead for 10 minutes and follow the rest of the directions as above.

[Numericmama]

We are a gluten free. I am intolerant with an amazing pain response. Nothing like amazing pain within 15 minutes to make you adverse to gluten! Unfortunately that means are bread is not nearly as good. :( I try and make some at home, but you just can't replace real bread. And no recipes require kneading.

But good for you for making it at home, if we could we would!

[getenough]

I bake. I have a book on baking artisan breads as I figure its cheaper to make specialty breads rather than buy then at $5 or more a loaf.

[bromeliad]

I have a loaf proofing right now. :)

[misterwuggles]

I love making soft pretzels, they are one of my favorites. I especially like them as a side for soups (particulary beef barley) in the winter.

I have a ton of different all around bread recipes, but this is one of my favorites since it's so easy:
3 cups flour
1 Tsp instant yeast (or one packet of yeast)
1 tsp salt
1/8 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons melted butter

If using a mixer: Mix dry ingredients, butter, then add water until the dough forms a ball. Knead for 10 minutes. Let rise in oiled bowl for 90 minutes. Punch down dough and place in greased loaf pan for 60 minutes. Bake at 350 (F) for 40-45 minutes (don't forget to score the top before baking).

By hand: mix yeast and sugar with all the water, let sit for 10 minutes so yeast can bloom. Add salt and butter, then keep adding flour a 1/2 cup at a time until it forms a ball. Knead for 10 minutes and follow the rest of the directions as above.

Thanks! I'll have to try that one out. One thing I'm curious about though is how much is exactly in a packet of yeast. We went and got a couple pounds of it since buying it by the packet seems to be ridiculously expensive. I've seen a lot of people say it's 1 tsp or 1 tbsp but Alton Brown and a few other sources say a packet is about 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 tsp. I have a lot of trust in Alton Brown and all and so far my baking has come out alright by following his 2 1/2 (edit: oh god I meant tsp but tbsp), but there are so many varying sources.

[KatKnits]

Thanks! I'll have to try that one out. One thing I'm curious about though is how much is exactly in a packet of yeast. We went and got a couple pounds of it since buying it by the packet seems to be ridiculously expensive. I've seen a lot of people say it's 1 tsp or 1 tbsp but Alton Brown and a few other sources say a packet is about 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 tsp. I have a lot of trust in Alton Brown and all and so far my baking has come out alright by following his 2 1/2 tbsp, but there are so many varying sources.

I buy my yeast in bulk also since it's a lot cheaper and saves me trips to the supermarket. I have the conversion as 2 1/4 teaspoons (or 1/4 ounce) equals 1 package of yeast.

I'm so glad to find others that bake bread. A lot of my friends and patients think I'm kind of nuts to do it. And Numericmama, I can understand your frustration. I know several people with Celiac disease and allergies to grains and it really sucks. The website I linked to has a section on gluten-free baking so you may want to check it out. I'm just glad to see that more people are becoming aware of the issue and it seems like gluten-free products are becoming more readily available.

[IndigoMeadow]

I bake my own bread as well... among other things.

You might want to try http://www.kingarthurflour.com/ as well. They have amazing bread!

[miboje]

Yes, I do. I am a lo-carber, so making my own bread is wayyyy cheaper than buying a store-bought, specialty low carb bread. I also have a bread machine, which I use to make "regular" bread for the family. I use my KitchenAid as well for the kneading part, but I make buns instead of loaves and I enjoy squishing the dough into rounds and the smell of fresh bread wafting through the kitchen. :)

[bestway]

www.breadin5minutes.com (link to video)

White Boule Artisan Free-Form Loaf recipe at
http://www.breadin5minutes.com/pdf/BI5M.WhiteFlourRecipe.v5.pdf

This bread is really easy to make. The recipe is for more than one loaf. What I especially like about this recipe is that the remaining dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. So, you can easily make more loaves, day after day.

[ccjp]

I have been wanting to try my hand at baking bread for some time now, I'm really going to try it now, these recipes all sound delicious. I'll need to get a few more loaf pans though:)

[Snuffy]

I rarely eat bread these days. About 15 years ago I used to make my own from wheat I bought at the feed store. You grind 1 pound of wheat somewhat coarse. Think cornmeal instead of flour. Put 1 pack of yeast in a cup of water with 1 tablespoon of molasses and some of the flour. Once it's proofed, add to the flour with about a half teaspoon of salt. You want a slightly sticky loaf. I can't remember if this was a no knead loaf or not, so try one loaf kneaded and one not. Place in loaf pans and let rise once. Then bake.

[cheshir3]

miboje, what are some good low-carb bread recipes? I love bread but don't love the high carbs, haha.

[redheadch2]

Yes, I do. I am a lo-carber, so making my own bread is wayyyy cheaper than buying a store-bought, specialty low carb bread. I also have a bread machine, which I use to make "regular" bread for the family. I use my KitchenAid as well for the kneading part, but I make buns instead of loaves and I enjoy squishing the dough into rounds and the smell of fresh bread wafting through the kitchen. :)

Would you mind sharing your recipe?

[redheadch2]

KatKnits, how long does this keep for? Do you store it in the fridge or leave out?

[KatKnits]

KatKnits, how long does this keep for? Do you store it in the fridge or leave out?
I store the bread in a giant tupperware type container on my counter and it keeps a few days. Just make sure the bread is completely cooled before you put it away otherwise condensation will form in the container and cause mold.