At my home we had run out of one of those necessity type things, bread. I didn't like the idea of going to the shops and buying some, especially when I knew we had all the ingredients to make our own. So I did. This is just like any other bread dough recipe. (In fact, I split this batch into thirds, and made three different breads.) Mix together strong bread flour, with a sachet of yeast, some salt and a sprinkle of sugar. Make a well, and gradually pour in some tepid water. Fold the edges of your flour mix into the water, and work it. Keep adding more water, until it forms into a a good shape. (A ball.) Then place it onto a floured work surface and knead it. Leave it to rise in a dry place, for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Knock the air out of it and knead again for not as long. Then make it in to any shape you wish and add any flavourings. I put mine in an oiled bread tin. Leave it to rise again for about 20 minutes. Then bake in the oven at 230, for about 15-30 minutes depending on your shape. Break it open, butter it, hold it, smell it, love it.
After having caught up on BBC's Saturday Kitchen I was inspired to make the Irish potato bread recipe that was featured. In the spirit of St.Patrick's day as well, I thought it was appropriate! Using the delicious left over mash (about 175g of potato) from our pie, I simply added one egg, and about enough plain flour until you get a 'dough' like consistency. This takes quite awhile, but it's enjoyable. Keep adding the flour, mixing it in using a wooden spoon, at first it may seem too runny because of the egg, but keep adding! Then once it starts to form a firm ball, roll it out on to a floured surface. (Bare in mind I was making this up as I went along!) Then I simply rolled this out in to two neat balls. I assumed you can't fiddle with it too much like actual bread, so avoid the temptation to knead it. Then using the palm of your hand flatten until about 1cm thick. Then take a ramekin or cutter and neatly make two discs. Then heat up a small frying pan, dry, with no fat, and cook the potato breads for about 3 minutes on each side. Depending on how thick they're made, they'll need longer. Have a go! They would go super nice with a poached egg!
As a reward/promise to myself for having completed my Part 2 Essay assignment for University, I decided that I should be allowed to bake some bread. This bread however doesn't follow a traditional bread making recipe. There is no yeast..!? I have taken the recipe from Lorraine Pascale's- Home Cooking Made Easy. It's a great recipe, called Twenty-First Century Ham, Cheese and Chive bread. It is easy to make, and fun to do! The smell of cheese and bread whilst it was in the oven was heavenly. It is always a treat for anyone to enjoy freshly baked bread, but in this instance it was a particular treat indeed! I hope this inspires you to either bake some bread, eat some bread or reward yourself after having ticked off one of those tasks that you know 'you really should just do'. :)
