Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Daily Bread

Shaped like a loaf or a turtle, this bread is something good.

















With six people in our family it is often difficult to find a food that everyone likes. Bread is one of those special foods. This is my favorite bread recipe, made almost everyday.

Basic Bread Recipe
2 1/2 cups flour, divided
1 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Tablespoon oil
7 oz. water

  • In a medium bowl mix 2 cups flour, yeast, salt, and sugar.
  • Add oil and water. Stir for one minute.
  • Stir in 1/2 cup flour or as much as needed to form a  ball of dough.
  • Knead dough for 5 minutes using more flour to keep from sticking.
  • Shape dough into a ball and let it raise for 1 hour in an oiled bowl covered with plastic wrap.
  • Punch down dough and shape into a loaf. Place loaf on a lightly greased pie plate or cookie sheet. Brush with oil and cover with plastic wrap. Let raise for 30 minutes.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut an X or other pattern 1/4 inch deep. Bake for 30 minutes at 400*.
  • Brush loaf with oil and cool on a rack.
Notes: Brushing with oil before baking helps the bread to brown. Brushing with oil after baking softens the crust. You can make this bread by hand or with a stand mixer.

Question:
What is something your family eats everyday?

4 comments:

  1. hey becky! how do you make into the shape of a turtle?

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    Replies
    1. To make a turtle: before you shape the dough into a loaf cut off a small chunk. Divide the small piece into 6 smaller pieces. Make a tiny tail, a triangle head, and 4 flat buns for legs. Set the appendages in the appropriate places on the cookies sheet. Shape the large piece of dough into a ball and place on top of the appendages so that the legs, head and tail are peeking out. Cut a soccer ball pattern into the top of the loaf. Poke holes for the eyes with a skewer and push two raisins into the holes.
      Sometime I'd like to do a post on shaped bread. The kids' favorite is caterpillar.

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  2. Yes...definitely do a post on all your shapes! I liked snowmen the best I think.

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