Thursday, February 16, 2017

Oodles of Bread

Saturday night we woke up at 4am (technically Sunday I suppose) and whispered in the dark about our fears of the teenager and for the same teenager.

Last weekend we put the Kid in lock-down to finish an assignment. I was not allowed in the room on the second day of revisions.

So, I baked some bread.


I baked a lot of bread.


I baked some good bread and now you're going to benefit with the recipes. The bread is easy. The problem is that it takes time. You can't be impatient with bread. You save that impatience for the know-it-all teenager whom you love and cry secret tears about when you can still see his baby face when he's sleeping.

Patience and discipline is hard folks.

First up New York Times No Knead 12 - 18 hour rise.


I baked this one exactly 30 mins. cover on and then 15 off. Notice the golden color. The boys were concerned it was not baked enough, but sliced into it was a chewy delight.

Next up was the New York Times Speedy edition.


More yeast, less rise. I added a tablespoon of honey because ... why not. I also baked it longer for a darker color. I gave this to my friend Luis and he seemed quite pleased. He had it for dinner with ravioli 2 days after I baked it and he said the crust was hard but it warmed up in the oven quite well. I stored it in a paper bag not wrapped in plastic.

And this is my happy place, I busted out the pullman loaf pan for perfectly square Beekeeper's Pain de mie.


This was the house favorite. They have had it for breakfast every morning. It's been inspiring. There are many pullman loaf or pain de mie recipes out there. But this one had the least odd ingredients, like potato starch or something dehydrated. I will test a few more things out in this pan and let you know how it goes, but I love that I can make some nice tea sandwich bread from scratch. This is better than the white bread I usually make. Swoon. hearts and happiness.


Speaking of Valentine's Day I leave you with a picture of the lovely tulips my husband brought home. We can't grow anything at our apartment and we don't buy flowers very often so this was a really sweet treat.


Hope you are all well. Knitting progress next, I promise!

29 comments:

  1. Lovely flowers, lucky you. And phenomenal bread, nicely done. Baking up a storm indeed. Good luck to that boy of yours with his studying. I'm wishing him well. And I'm sending you a hug, it's hard to be the one outside the room, waiting and watching. CJ xx

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    1. Thank you CJ. I do feel lucky, even when I'm moaning about whatever. (The household knows I'm 2 steps away from a brooding teen myself, hehe) It is hard to find the balance of guidance and letting them find their way.

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  2. Mmmmm......bread. It all looks so delicious!

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    1. I would bake for you and the Mister if we lived nearby :)

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  3. Thanks for the recipe links - they all sound great! I love to make bread - love the entire process. I will have to send you a recipe I have for Cuban bread - it is yummy (and easy-peasy). Your tulips are lovely. Good luck to the boy. That age is hard.

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    1. I would love the recipe Vera! Thanks for the parental support. Like so many things some days are better than others :)

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  4. My mother made bread (rolls and loaves) frequently. I love homemade bread far too much, but it dredges up wonderful childhood memories - my ultimate comfort food.

    As a former high school teacher, I applaud you and your husband for making homework a priority. Your teenager may be digging in his heels, but trust me, he secretly appreciates it.

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    1. It's funny you bring up your childhood memories, because I remember "helping" my mother make bread which meant oiling the bowl, covering it, and putting it in the son and then lots of lectures to let it rise ALL the way so I could have the joyous moment of PUNCHING it down. Yeah, I was that annoying kid, poor mom.

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  5. Your bread looks scrumptious. I haven't baked bread all winter, which is unusual for me. Maybe you've inspired me!

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    1. It's funny how we want to bake when it's cold and yet we need warmth to get the dang dough to rise!

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  6. Oooh - thank you for the recipes... I've been looking at my yeast jar adn thinking I should attempt some more bread again.

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    1. Definitely put it into rotation. I love your roasts and stews, your homemade bread would be a lovely companion.

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  7. If you have any rejects, we'll take some! You are amazing. I will try these bread recipes one day.

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    1. Yes you will! You are so busy in your kitchen I can't imagine you not...

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    2. Yes you will! You are so busy in your kitchen I can't imagine you not...

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  8. Love homemade bread but don't make it anymore because it's too tempting. I always thought they should make a spray of the odor of baking bread, at least it would be calorie free! Hang in there with your son; teenagers eventually become reasonable people.

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    1. Scented candles of baking bread ... Judy you are BRILLIANT! Why not? We have all those fabulous holiday scents this would be right up there!

      My husband said your comment about teenagers gives us hope and we'll take all of that right now. xoxo

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  9. I love home made bread! These look wonderful!
    I feel bad that bread gets a bad rap on the dieter's no-no list but it shouldn't! We just don't need to eat a ton at a time, right?! I also totally get the teenager angst-spent a lot of years in that state with all three of my boys! Hugs.

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    1. You know that whole dieter's list and not eating a ton at a time? That's basically applicable to my entire eating lifestyle. I realize for diabetics it's a true challenge so I should really try get my control under .. control, ha! Thanks for the bread and parenting support!

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  10. Sorry for your worries. teens have a rough go of it all. IT is so good to have a husband/partner who you can whisper to. I have no advice. Just hugs. My kids had challenges at different times in their teenage decades. One on one with them seemed to help. Also letting other adults, (aunts uncles cousins, grands) spendi time with them seemed to widen the circle of help. I do think it takes a village.

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    1. Thanks Kathy! The village concept is for reals. I'm very lucky that I have good friends with children that are the same age. Especially us with only children, we need the perspective. And it's so true, they respond so much better to outside authority than internal. This is why we need to support our teachers even more than we think we do.

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  11. sending you warm wishes as you navigate the teen times. The bread looks fantastic and I bet your house smelled amazing :)

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    1. Thanks Karen, I appreciate the support :) I love the smell of baking bread. I close my eyes just thinking about it. ha!

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  12. And now I am off to eat some English muffin toasting bread because you made me hungry!

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    1. That is a compliment! Thank you Chris. I hope you enjoy everything this weekend!

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  13. Teenager fears are very real. I spent many a sleepless night worried about my two. I still do and they are 23 and 19. Those days of fluctuating hormones might be the worst, for boys and girls I think. It seems like they lose all ability to think. Hang in there my friend. I am here if you need anything.

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    1. Thanks Mere. I appreciate it. Honestly no matter what it is in life it's important to remember that others have gone through what you have. That as special as our individual moments are, the overall experience is not that unique. It's human.

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  14. thanks for the recipes!!! love baking bread....love eating it even more---which is the PROBLEM!!! :)

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  15. Patience and discipline IS hard! I remember those days. I'll be sending good thoughts that he studies hard and becomes the good man you know he is!

    In the meantime .............oh my gosh! BREAD!!!

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