First Hello, Bread

Hello This is the first of what I hope will be many posts dealing with my wife and myself (and of course our family) as we embark on a journey to actually having a functioning homestead.

We have been slowly adding skills an knowledge to this end for years and I believe I have finally convinced my Reluctant wife into a hobby farm. Now we just need funds...

While we wait I will share the knowledge and our adventure to you.

This being the first post Lets share some very basic homesteading knowledge. Baking bread.

This is a recipe my wife taught me that she learned from my sister that she learned from my mother who asked my wife to teach her in return...? I know but it is a true story

What you will need.

Flour - 8 cups (approx... I usually don't measure exactly but you won't empty a 9 cup jar.)
Warm water - 4 cups
Yeast - 3 teaspoons
Sugar - 3 Tablespoons
Salt - 3 teaspoons
Oil (fat) - 3 Table spoons and a little to grease your pan.

This recipe Makes enough for 3 good sized loaves. Turn the light on in your oven. Place the 4 cups of warm water in a bowl. Add the yeast, sugar and salt. Mix a little to get it going. Put it in the oven with just the light on or if it is a warm day leave it on the counter.

After nice and frothy add the oil and eight with a mixing spoon or your hand mix in some flour one cup at a time. You are looking for a thick dough that will hold together and not necessarily stick to the bowl or your hand.

Either flour your counter top to knead or knead in bowl (that is what I do) and do so for 5 minutes. If you find your dough with wet spots small amounts flour can be added during this process. Once kneaded place back into a floured bowl and back in the oven to rise. My bowl is a large mixing bowl that is ruffly 1 Gallon (4 ish L) and I wait until it rises just over the top. you will find the right amount after baking the bread a few times which is the best amount for you. Once risen repeat the kneading process and this time break or cut into 3 equal parts and place into greased bread pans. now back in the oven for a second rise.

Just to point out it can take hours for bread to rise so this is all done while doing other things in the day.

When is dough is at least 3 inches over the top of the pan (6.6 cm) take them out of the oven and turn it on to 380 - 400 degrees (194c- 205c) and let it come to temperature. Once hot enough put what you have in leaving room to rotate it at about half way.

When cooking I usually go by site and my wife by smell. It takes about 20 min but it can vary depending on factors like age or quality of yeast. When it looks a dark gold on the mound or mounds It should be done. if one side looks darker then the other just rotate during the cooking process.

Once it is out place on the stove to cool but it doesn't take lone before you are burning your hand trying to cut a slice of warm freshly baked bread.

Watch the accompanying video here...
http://youtu.be/DXnayH96HzY

Enjoy

 

The Excited Husband