Thursday, August 21, 2008

Bread on the Brain

I've been looking forward to baking my own bread for a while now. I think store bought bread leaves a little to be desired in terms of taste, particularly whole grain bread. Also, it's cheaper homemade, especially since we never seem to make it through a whole loaf of bread before it gets funky, and we end up throwing a lot of it away. Plus, there's the coolness factor, I would feel so much more productive and wifely and motherly if I could bake a mean loaf of bread. In short, I would officially ROCK, at least in my opinion.  

I've been perusing books about baking bread and have placed a few on hold at the library. In the meantime, I thought I would try this recipe, and it was pretty much your garden variety disaster. I couldn't even bring myself to take pictures to share with you. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but the dough never seemed to rise (yes Mom, I did use yeast- I can hear you asking me that as I type), which resulted in two pretty heinous looking loaves of bread. The bread actually tasted good, so I've been using it for sandwiches and toast. I don't think I'll try that particular recipe again.

I recently discovered foodgawker (enter at your own risk) and I was up until 12:30 last night searching through pictures of bread for a recipe that I thought might be good to try next. None of the savory bread recipes jumped out at me but I found a banana-chocolate chip bread/cake that looks really good. If all goes well this afternoon with the little flower, I may give it a go. Not to wish away this time, but I look forward to being able to cook with the little flower (and daddy, of course) someday. So many good times ahead...let's just hope one of them involves banana bread!     


9 comments:

Mom2Da'Gorgeouses said...

mmmmmm...banana bread, my favorite! Good luck with the bread making. I suppose learning to bake a good loaf of bread to you was the same experience I had learning to make tortillas. I still can't get them that cute round shape, but at least they taste good.

Hugs & Blessings!

And then there was 4... said...

do you remember my choc. chip cookies from nursing school ( my parents basement).

Life in the Crazy Lane said...

I can only bake bread using a bread machine, since I'm somewhat ovenly challenged. But, I have an AWESOME bread machine cookbook called "Bread Machine Baking" by Jennie Shapter that is INCREDIBLE!

Mom2Da'Gorgeouses said...

I nominated you for a blog award, stop by and check it out! Your blog is one of my favorite places to stop and visit.

Hugs & Blessings!

DoulaMomma said...

I have a great cookbook from a place called "Bread Alone" - sounds like you might like it...I grew up making bread but must say I hardly ever do it now - maybe I'll give it a go!

Anonymous said...

My husband just bought the Bread Bible and everything he's made from it has been fantastic.

Nikki said...

You should NOT have sent me to foodgawker. Did you think a warning would keep me away. I'm in love.

Welcome to Madison, by the way.

Anonymous said...

you've left a number of us in a state of blog withdrawal. Hope you are all feeling better. Shout out if you need a hand. Love to all, Aunt "La-la"

Mom2Da'Gorgeouses said...

Okay friend, you seriously have me worried now. Hope all is well with ALL of you!

Hugs & Blessings!