So I'm fascinated with baking. I feel completely absorbed in the experience, then pure satisfaction when my creations emerge from the oven. It's all her fault... My Mom loves to bake, so she taught me pretty early in life. I made my first braided brioche when I was eleven. I kneaded the dough by hand since we didn't own a dough mixer, then I formed, glazed and baked my creations. I remember the praise I got from my family that day, and the joy I felt in serving them my bakery.
Although I still knead dough the old fashioned way sometimes, I do own a mixer. But when I make some of my breads, I don’t even knead at all. Let me explain…. Last year I started looking for a no-knead yeast dough method to save my wrists and my mixer. I found a book and blog called Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. Their no-knead method has become my favorite. They also just released their new book, which is a healthier version of the first called Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day!
Well, I am the proud owner of both books as well as many other “bakebooks”. I’ve already made the first whole grain master recipe from the new book as the authors kindly posted it on their site. My little one no-kneaded the batch for me, and it literally took me a minute to form my first loaf. I sprinkled it with sesame seeds and baked away. My children still turn their nose up at the best store bought wheat bread, but they can never resist a home baked whole grain loaf. The aroma filled every nook in my house that I could close my eyes and picture myself in a European bakery. Then the waiting game starts, but of course I always win and it wasn’t long before I broke the loaf. Served with my homemade yogurt cheese (labneh); it was delicious. Well, one loaf in my house doesn’t last long with four hungry children and a husband, but I have 3 more to bake from the batch I made. The great thing about this method, is that the dough is refrigerated and ready when I am.
I hope this to be the beginning of a beautiful digital friendship. Please don’t be shy, I’d love to hear (read) your thoughts.
Until next time…
