Baking Bread at Home

Baking bread at home is not as difficult as it seems. Keep the basic ingredients on hand and you will be prepared to turn out a couple loaves on a whim.

These are the basic ingredients for many recipes:

• Yeast (I buy it in the jar and then measure out as I go)
• Bread Flour, Wheat Flour, and All-Purpose Flour
• Butter (the real, sweet cream UNSALTED kind, y'all!)
• 3 hours of precious time!!!

You can make bread totally by hand, using a food processor, a bread machine, or a  stand mixer. Now, I've used all four methods at one time or another. Of course, purists will say the joy of making bread is kneading it by hand, but I am a fan of the stand-mixer.  After all, we are a two mixer family. (Can you believe HE had a stand mixer when we got married??)  Mine is the 6 quart and does all the bread and cheesecake making and his is the 4 quart model, the perfect size for cookie dough and cake batter!  Yes, we have two very clunky appliances out on the counter, but it sure is nice to have the resources!


How to Bloom Yeast
The last time I made dinner rolls and brought them to a dinner party, I was asked "How do you get them to taste so yeasty?"  Part of the secret is blooming. I find that taking the time to bloom the yeast makes all the difference in the final product. 



Make a few "baby rolls" for your special little dinner guests.

Blooming involves allowing the yeast to develop into a foamy mixture. If the recipe calls for 1 cup of water and a packet of yeast, I use a 2 cup glass measuring cup. Dissolve the sugar in the warm water, and add the yeast. It's important to use warm water. I usually make it 110 degrees or so. If you don't have a thermometer, give it the baby bathwater test: make it hotter than a baby's bath but still tolerable to the wrist. Too hot, and it will kill the yeast. Too cold, and it won't bloom. While you are getting all your other ingredients together, allow the foam to double, rising to the top of the 2-cup measure.  I like to make a few rolls smaller than the rest for my little nephew. I can remember feeling so special when my mom made "baby biscuits" and I wanted him to feel special like I did.

Just remember to start with great ingredients, and then bake with someone special in mind. Once you give it a try -- you'll gain more and more confidence every time you bake. There is a great deal of satisfaction in baking bread at home!

Happy baking!

Mary Ellen