Tuesday 5 May 2015

Making friends with yeast



For those of you whom I've been boring with my weekend bread photos on instagram, it won't come as news that I've got really into bread-baking lately. In fact, we haven't bought bread for a couple of months now. I'm surprised, because frankly I could never be bothered before! I'm a lazy baker, quick-cake-baker. But I tried this fantastic, easy, reliable recipe and practically IMMEDIATELY resolved to quit my job, move to country and bake bread all day long.*

It's very adaptable, in fact infinitely - I just use the same proportions of dried things to oil and liquid each time. Current favourite is a white loaf full of rosemary, chilli and cracked black pepper: the hint of olive oil with the rosemary gives it an exciting foccacia-like vibe (sure, I'm going to use the word 'vibe' here.) I've even tried replacing the water with the whey left-over when I make yoghurt, but that's another story...

Basically, it's broken down my fear of the yeast, which means many good things, such as a ludicrous number of hot cross buns at Easter. Now I want to try every yeasty thing I can think of! Next stop: Swedish-style cinnamon buns, which just might be one of the top five best things in the whole world, ever.

*It might have been worth the experiment simply for you all to take bets on how long that enthusiasm/lack of boredom would last...

3 comments:

éva-mona said...

Wow, all those beautiful breads! Hot cross buns look particularly good. How long did that enthusiasm last? I've considered doing it myself more than once. However it never lasts long enough for me to actually do it... Maybe we should take the plunge together!

Lotta Losten said...

Oh, cinnamon rolls. How I miss them. American people pour sticky icing over the entire thing and it's just yucky! There's no need for more sugar, the cinnamon roll is perfect just as it is!!!
Sorry for rant.
:-)

Louise said...

Eva-mona - still going, several months later! I haven't really progressed in terms of complication, however. How about you? Had a go yet?

Lotta - I hear you! I guess there must be quite a few things like that to get used to now you're in America :)