Bake your own bread

Clare Albans — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 22:07:40 +0000

Bake your own bread

Today was the first Saturday that I’ve been at home for a few weeks, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to bake some bread. I think that some people are put off making it because they think it might take too long or that it might be too difficult to make, but it is much easier than you think (and also very cheap!). My bread usually has a very homemade look, but for me that makes it even better. It’s so lovely to bake your own bread, and it makes your house smell amazing! It also makes an excellent pizza dough.

Ingredients

500g strong white bread flour (I usually avoid supermarket own brands as high quality flour = better bread)

1 sachet quick yeast

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp olive oil

300ml hand hot water (150ml cold topped up with 150ml boiling water)

Method

1. Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

2. Add the oil to the water before pouring over the dry ingredients. Mix together until a dough is formed and then knead for five minutes.

3. Leave the dough in the bowl. Wet a clean tea towel with cold water and wring out so that it isn’t dripping, before placing over the bread. Leave to rise.

4. When the bread has at least doubled in size, ‘knock back’ and knead again for a few minutes.

5. Shape the dough into a loaf (or cut into eight equal parts to make rolls) and place on a greased baking tray. Cover with the teatowel and leave to rise again – you could always place the tray on top of the oven as it heats up to aid rising (oven should be heated to 220°c/425°F/Gas mark 7).

6. Once risen, place to bread in the oven. Rolls will take 15-20 minutes to bake, whilst loaves (depending on size) usually take 30-40 minutes. To see whether or not the bread is done, tap on the bottom and if it sounds hollow it is ready. Leave to cool on a wire rack and then enjoy!

how to make bread Archives - Hello! Hooray!

Bake your own bread