Tuesday 5 May 2015

On Bank Holiday Baking Disasters

I hope you all had a lovely relaxing Bank Holiday Monday.  As you know, I was grounded as my car has a problem (yet again!), it was raining heavily on and off with a lovely bit of sunshine in between and my thoughts turned to baking. I realised I had run out of bread (my usual shopping day is Monday), a quick rummage in the back of the cupboard produced a packet mix which I prepared  according to the instructions. Whilst that was proving, I thought I might make some cholesterol friendly sponge cakes using Flora instead of butter or margarine, then realised my mixing bowl was being used to prove the bread..doh...so I had to improvise...lol...



The sponges actually turned out ok....


Decorated with a bit of frosting (probably not cholesterol friendly on reflection) and some sprinkles, all from the pound shop, they looked reasonably tasty despite not winning a beauty contest...or British Bake Off! :)


The bread, however, was a disaster.  It simply refused to rise.  I have used this kind of packet mix before but usually in the Winter when the heating is on and I have proved it quite successfully in the airing cupboard.  Yesterday, it just wouldn't play ball :(  I moved the bowl around the kitchen trying to find the warmest place then gave in and baked it anyway.  To say it was leaden is a vast understatement.  It thudded out of the tin with a great thump onto the wooden board.  I gingerly cut into it and tasted it.  It tasted a bit like ciabatta which could be down to using oil instead of butter in the mix.  There was no way this 'bread' was going to go to waste so I sliced it up added some sliced tomato and a bit of cheese (full fat, I'm afraid) and grilled it.  It was actually quite tasty and the rest can be eaten with some homemade soup.  I actually made 2 small loaves so one is wrapped up and languishing in the freezer for another time :/



After a tip from Pam @ A New Life In Wales I tried dressing the salad leaves with Balsamic vinegar instead of salad cream (I don't eat mayo) and they were very tasty.  I think the meal fulfils one of my 5 a day too as I ate the ends of the tomato whilst waiting for the grill to do it's job.

Is anyone out there a whizz with breadmaking? How can I improve?

Onwards and upwards, dear friends!

What sort of Monday did you have?  I envy anyone who can take a walk beside the sea....

See you later! x






6 comments:

  1. Our success with bread is all down to the machine which makes it.

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  2. Bread making is a completely 'black art' for me! Jx

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  3. My go to recipe is 500grams hallf and half wholemeal and white bread flour, 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar and a 7 gram packet of fast action yeast. In to the bowl and a good stir round, I use a whisk, then warm water and a glug of oil to make a fairly wet dough. I make it by hand and in the stand mixer depending on how i feel. knead for 10 minutes and leave in the bowl to rise. I splash a little oil in and turn the dough ball round to coat it. Cover with cling film and a hand towel and leave to more than double in size, knock back and shape into 2 small or 1 large loaf and cover again and leave to rise till just peeping over the tins then bake .for 30 minutes at 220 and then another 10 at 200.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Pam, I'll have another go and do it properly!

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  4. I use my oven as a proving oven, whack it up to it's highest setting for 1 minute exactly then turn it off and pop your bread in :)

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    Replies
    1. A brilliant tip! Thank you I will try that sometime.

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It's OK.....

  Angie 💓 xx