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Friday, March 26, 2010

Our Daily Bread



Today was just one of those dull drizzly days where you can't work outside so you may as well do something constructive inside. It was the perfect day to make bread! I felt like trying something different so I found a recipe for Oatmeal Bread in my Grandmother's old green cookbook as she use to call it. Actually it's The Betty Furnace Westinghouse Cook Book and it's definitely seen better days. It was different from any bread I had made before as it actually made what they called a 'sponge'! It took a bit longer doing it this way but once the sponge was ready the rest of the recipe was the same as usual other than the addition of molasses and oatmeal and an extra packet of yeast. While the dough was rising DH and I headed into town to pick up a few things. I love small towns...most people know you or recognize you and so you spend quite a bit of time talking to people which makes your trip take a bit longer. That turned out to be just the perfect amount of time for rising the dough!

Getting ready to soak the oatmeal


Yeast mixture is ready to make sponge


Mixing the sponge


Sponge is ready for the rest of the ingredients


Adding the molasses and other ingredients


My favorite part...kneading the dough



and kneading....


..and kneading....


It's done the first rising


Done second rising


Ready for the taste test
Wish I'd brushed the tops with melted butter and sprinkled oatmeal on top.
Oh well..next time.




12 comments:

Catherine said...

i can smell the bread from here!!! i love making bread, yours is beautiful! i must try your recipe with molasses (i ve got some ,here it's hard to get)i have quaker oats it's easier to get. But how long you bake and what temperature , plaese. HUGS Catherine

Janean said...

wow...making bread is so satisfying. haven't done it in a long time though i've got a few fab recipes. you've inspired me, maurakeith!!

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Thank you Catherine! It's certainly not my prettiest bread but we were too hungry to get fancy that day. I was going to post the recipe when I was finished making it but the recipe called for baking at 350 for 1 hour!!! I was going to take it out after 45 min. but I got talking to my hubby and forgot so it stayed in for the full hour. I would bake it for 35-45 minutes and just check to see if it sounds hollow then. Good luck making your bread...you home will smell so good..I LOVE the smell of fresh bread baking. Have a wonderful evening Catherine..give your goats a pat or me! Thanks. MauraXX

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Janean I hope you try out your bread recipes soon...I LOVE making bread and you're right it's VERY satisifying. Have fun! Maura

Beatnheart said...

How wonderful are you!! I tried bread making once or twice!! Doorstops!!! not very delcious at all..you are one heck of a gal..

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Oh, you're bread looks wonderful! I can almost smell it! Nothing like fresh bread from the oven. I don't think I've ever heard of that cook book. Bet it was a good one. Have a nice weekend! Twyla

Shirley said...

Your bread looks yummy. I like it out of the oven when it is still warm. After I got married and would go to the farm to see my parents, my mom would make fresh bread and it was timed to come out of the oven as we arrived. It was so good. Take care.

Millie said...

Seeing those lovely loaves makes me wish I were back on spring break with time to bake. I love kneading the dough and the smell. Perhaps you've inspired me for the weekend.

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello Millie...I hope your house smells like fresh bread this weekend...have a good one. Maura

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello Shirley...oh my your mom sounds very special...what a nice thing to do. Hmmm that was one way to make sure you came home often wasn't it LOL! I love cutting the 'heel' off and spreading butter on it while it's still warm. Oh my...that's comfort food! Have a wonderful weekend. Maura

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hi Twyla and Lindsey! Yes that cookbook was a good one and my Dad made quite a few recipes from it too. I'll soon have to put an elastic band on it to hold it together! You girls have a nice weekend too! Take care Maura

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello Cynthia! Nope nothing special here. My first few tries at making bread were pretty pathetic but I finally got the hang of it. I bought a really nice bread maker a few years ago and I liked the bread but one loaf never lasted long and I missed the kneading so I started making my own again. I used to make 6 loaves at a time and it was the BEST recipe but somewhere in my moving I've misplaced my recipe book! OH well maybe one day it will show up. I hope you and your hubby have a wonderful weekend! Take care....Maura XX

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