2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 heaping tablespoons butter
1 package yeast
1 cup sugar, divided
1 cup warm milk, divided
1 egg
1 1/4 cups golden raisins
1 cup currants
1/2 cup mixed candied peels
ring, coin, stick, pea, thimble, each individually wrapped in wax paper.
Sift together flour, spices and salt. Pinch your butter. Mix yeast with 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 teaspoon warm milk (if it doesn't froth you need new yeast) Add remaining sugar to the flour, blending well. Pour remaining milk and the egg into the yeast mix, then combine with the flour mix. Use a wooden spoon to beat it into submission. Dough should be stiff but elastic. Fold in the fruit, the peels and the wrapped trinkets. Cover with a cloth and set aside to double in size. Turn out and divide into two. Place each loaf on a greased sheet pan, cover and let rise 30 minutes.
Bake at 400F for 1 hour. Glaze with 1 tablespoon sugar dissolved in 2 teaspoons boiling water. return to oven for 3 minutes. Turn out on rack to cool.
HOWEVER, Husband is harassing me about making these cups cake rather than a bread. Haven't decided yet, but I might make nut cake instead. will let you know.
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Showing posts with label bread. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bread. Show all posts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
We Need to Talk
I have a few thing I want to discuss this morning, no worries, I'm not breaking up with you.
First, the Farm Bill. They still have yet to come to an agreement. Why? Oh various reasons, one person wants this, another that and no one wants to compromise. You know the story. The deadline is looming however, and if they do not pass something by March 18th the farm bill will revert back to the 1949 bill. Not necessarily a bad thing as that bill adjust for inflation. However it might be a better idea to extend the 2002 bill, as farmers have already lived with that one for awhile. Change can be scarey when it comes to farming. Why should any of this matter to us? Where do you get your food? The general public has seemed to forgotten about where it is that all that food you see sitting around the grocery stores have come from farms, and what effects the farmers will effect you, not just in prices but in quality and quantity. Which brings us to the next topic corn.
I use to not see the big deal when it came to ethanol. The corn they were using is feed corn. How would that effect us. Well, now that the US government is hading out huge subsidies to encourage farmers to grow corn, our wheat supply has gone down. The price of wheat is now 50% more then it was at the beginning of the year, and we are only in the 2nd month. This isn't good. I also discovered last night that it takes 1.29 gallons of gasoline to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. That ratio will never get us off foreign oil. When I heard about the wheat prices, I called my mother last night. Her reply to me was "it will cast a day's wages to by a loaf of bread." Farmers are choosing to raise corn because if the profit that is to be made. We can't blame them for that, but we can change the situation, don't buy ethanol. Our wheat supply is very low this year, hasn't been this low in a very long time, and it is worrisome.
But there is some good news coming out of South Dakota, from the Rapid City Journal;
Usually it is time to transplant outside. Check back in a few days to see what happens to them next.
Yesterday was busy when it comes to the prep for the House Cow Quest. Lots of barn clean up.
Because of the new quest, the choose you homesteaders adventure will be placed on hold, however it was suggested the I spin wool. I would love to do that, and it is in the list of things to do this year. Check back in for the mistake, I mean adventure.
Also is anyone interested in learning how to make bread? I have one person, and thought I would extend the invite to everyone. We will do the class live on yahoo, not video, but IM. If you're interested please email me with your yahoo IM address and I will add you to the list.
First, the Farm Bill. They still have yet to come to an agreement. Why? Oh various reasons, one person wants this, another that and no one wants to compromise. You know the story. The deadline is looming however, and if they do not pass something by March 18th the farm bill will revert back to the 1949 bill. Not necessarily a bad thing as that bill adjust for inflation. However it might be a better idea to extend the 2002 bill, as farmers have already lived with that one for awhile. Change can be scarey when it comes to farming. Why should any of this matter to us? Where do you get your food? The general public has seemed to forgotten about where it is that all that food you see sitting around the grocery stores have come from farms, and what effects the farmers will effect you, not just in prices but in quality and quantity. Which brings us to the next topic corn.
I use to not see the big deal when it came to ethanol. The corn they were using is feed corn. How would that effect us. Well, now that the US government is hading out huge subsidies to encourage farmers to grow corn, our wheat supply has gone down. The price of wheat is now 50% more then it was at the beginning of the year, and we are only in the 2nd month. This isn't good. I also discovered last night that it takes 1.29 gallons of gasoline to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. That ratio will never get us off foreign oil. When I heard about the wheat prices, I called my mother last night. Her reply to me was "it will cast a day's wages to by a loaf of bread." Farmers are choosing to raise corn because if the profit that is to be made. We can't blame them for that, but we can change the situation, don't buy ethanol. Our wheat supply is very low this year, hasn't been this low in a very long time, and it is worrisome.
But there is some good news coming out of South Dakota, from the Rapid City Journal;
House will debate bill opposing animal ID plan
A bill that would prevent the state of South Dakota from participating in the National Animal Identification System was approved 8-5 by the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee last week in Pierre. It is expected to be taken up by the full House this week. Continues>>>Garden week 6
Usually it is time to transplant outside. Check back in a few days to see what happens to them next.
Yesterday was busy when it comes to the prep for the House Cow Quest. Lots of barn clean up.
Because of the new quest, the choose you homesteaders adventure will be placed on hold, however it was suggested the I spin wool. I would love to do that, and it is in the list of things to do this year. Check back in for the mistake, I mean adventure.
Also is anyone interested in learning how to make bread? I have one person, and thought I would extend the invite to everyone. We will do the class live on yahoo, not video, but IM. If you're interested please email me with your yahoo IM address and I will add you to the list.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Bread is done, and so am I
Rustic Country Bread
Ingredients
starting the sponge
sponge
Dough part 1
Dough part 2
Dough part 3
Remove from oven and allow to cool 2 hours before cutting.
Dream well, and I will see you on Monday.
More on dough
After you have allowed the dough to double in size sprinkle your peel with corn meal. If you do not have a stone or brick oven, you will not need to do this. But you do need a baking stone, sprinkle the corn meal directly onto this.
Invert the colander over the stone and gently set the dough down. Carefully remove the linen or cheesecloth.
Pour 2 cups water into the preheat pot we placed in earlier. Place 3 slits onto the top of the dough, and slide into the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, turn and bake for another 10 minutes. Turn off oven and open the door, allow bread to sit in the oven for another 10 minutes
oh, and good morning!
Invert the colander over the stone and gently set the dough down. Carefully remove the linen or cheesecloth.
Pour 2 cups water into the preheat pot we placed in earlier. Place 3 slits onto the top of the dough, and slide into the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, turn and bake for another 10 minutes. Turn off oven and open the door, allow bread to sit in the oven for another 10 minutes
oh, and good morning!
Dough part two
Two hours have passed, and your dough should be tripled in size. Turn it out onto a floured surface, and round it.
Flour a cheesecloth or linen and line a colander. Place rounded dough in, cover with foil and allow to double in size, 45 minutes.
In the meantime, place an empty pan onto the lower rack of your oven, and preheat the oven to 450F.
Flour a cheesecloth or linen and line a colander. Place rounded dough in, cover with foil and allow to double in size, 45 minutes.
In the meantime, place an empty pan onto the lower rack of your oven, and preheat the oven to 450F.
Dough
Our sponge has sat for 5 hours now.
On top of this you will want to add all but 2 cups of the bread flour, and all the remaining ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to mix and build up the gluten, 5 minutes.
Work in the remaining flour before turning out onto a floured surface. Dough will be sticky, but here is where most people make their mistakes, do not add any more then 1/4 cup of extra flour, and do not kneed bread longer than required.
As I said it will be sticky, just pat your hands in the 1/4 cup flour as needed. The dough will become silky after a few minutes. Knead your bread for a total of 5 minutes, before placing into a lightly greased bowl, 
cover and allow to triple in size, 2 hours.
On top of this you will want to add all but 2 cups of the bread flour, and all the remaining ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to mix and build up the gluten, 5 minutes.
Work in the remaining flour before turning out onto a floured surface. Dough will be sticky, but here is where most people make their mistakes, do not add any more then 1/4 cup of extra flour, and do not kneed bread longer than required.
As I said it will be sticky, just pat your hands in the 1/4 cup flour as needed. The dough will become silky after a few minutes. Knead your bread for a total of 5 minutes, before placing into a lightly greased bowl, 
cover and allow to triple in size, 2 hours.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Are we done?
Once your water comes to room temperature, mix the yeast with water in a bowl until dissolved, add the two flours and use a rubber spatula to pull the water through the flour and mix the two flour. You will end up with this.
This would be your sponge. Cover and set aside. We will come back to it in 5 hours.
So are we done with games?
This would be your sponge. Cover and set aside. We will come back to it in 5 hours.
So are we done with games?
Starting the sponge
Sit out your 1 cup of water and allow it to reach room temp. Take about 20 minutes. I m doing that now.
I am starting the sponge.
Here are the contests we having running as of right now.
Post me your ice cream recipe, and your name will be thrown into the hat for the crochet bag
Post me a picture of your dinner for a chance at that bag
Post a picture of your bread or breakfast for a surprise prize {post still to come}
Leave me a comment here about a food that starts with the letter M, and why you loathe it. The prize here is another book. The wonderful Wren is supplying this one for you
Country Careers: Successful Ways to Live and Work in the Country by Jerry Germer
And don't forget the very cool tshirts and cd that you can win by being the highest completed donor!
I am starting the sponge.
Here are the contests we having running as of right now.
Post me your ice cream recipe, and your name will be thrown into the hat for the crochet bag
Post me a picture of your dinner for a chance at that bag
Post a picture of your bread or breakfast for a surprise prize {post still to come}
Leave me a comment here about a food that starts with the letter M, and why you loathe it. The prize here is another book. The wonderful Wren is supplying this one for you
Country Careers: Successful Ways to Live and Work in the Country by Jerry Germer
And don't forget the very cool tshirts and cd that you can win by being the highest completed donor!
Don't tell me you have forgotten already
If you are making the Rustic Country Bread, now is the time to break out the ingredients for the sponge portion. This takes at least 5 hours to do.
And yes, there is another contest involved in this one. I think I mentioned that this bread goes well with Jam. But I am not telling you the prize for this one, not yet. And no, it will not be a funnel cake maker this year. Silly people!
This one will be easy, make me something for breakfast or a bread for the day. Bread for the day will get your name in the hat twice, breakfast once, my bread three times.
And also there is still time to sponsor me.
And yes, there is another contest involved in this one. I think I mentioned that this bread goes well with Jam. But I am not telling you the prize for this one, not yet. And no, it will not be a funnel cake maker this year. Silly people!
This one will be easy, make me something for breakfast or a bread for the day. Bread for the day will get your name in the hat twice, breakfast once, my bread three times.
And also there is still time to sponsor me.
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