Let's talk bread.

[iamwhatiseem]

Some time back, about a year I guess I saw a video of using "turbo" method and no knead bread - I gave it a shot.
It is virtually fool proof, cuts hours out of the time and removes the annoying necessity of kneading dough. Only, as it turned out - you actually don't need to knead dough like it has always been done.
The result is very good bread. Indescribably better than store bought bread, and instead of BAD for you - it is good for you.
Then you also have the wonderful world of soda breads. Very popular throughout Ireland, it is a way of making bread that is even easier than the turbo method. But since it does not contain yeast, you have to add flavor to the dough via an egg, butter, sugar and more salt than yeast bread. While still good for you, and wildly better than store bread, it is higher in calories by a long shot.

Store bought bread is quite bad for you. Some with 30 ingredients and more, packed to the ceiling with preservatives, but also salt and sugars as well.
Once you try making these breads, you won't want store bought bread again.
The bad news - since it has no preservatives, it stales quickly. And mold will begin after as little as 4 days depending on the temp and humidity of your kitchen. Keeping bread in brown paper sacks will extend it's life for several days.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Some time back, about a year I guess I saw a video of using "turbo" method and no knead bread - I gave it a shot.
It is virtually fool proof, cuts hours out of the time and removes the annoying necessity of kneading dough. Only, as it turned out - you actually don't need to knead dough like it has always been done.
The result is very good bread. Indescribably better than store bought bread, and instead of BAD for you - it is good for you.
Then you also have the wonderful world of soda breads. Very popular throughout Ireland, it is a way of making bread that is even easier than the turbo method. But since it does not contain yeast, you have to add flavor to the dough via an egg, butter, sugar and more salt than yeast bread. While still good for you, and wildly better than store bread, it is higher in calories by a long shot.

Store bought bread is quite bad for you. Some with 30 ingredients and more, packed to the ceiling with preservatives, but also salt and sugars as well.
Once you try making these breads, you won't want store bought bread again.
The bad news - since it has no preservatives, it stales quickly. And mold will begin after as little as 4 days depending on the temp and humidity of your kitchen. Keeping bread in brown paper sacks will extend it's life for several days.

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My late hubby and I had a machine like that. It was incredidble! Just thrown some ingredients in and flip a switch!


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[iamwhatiseem]

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My late hubby and I had a machine like that. It was incredidble! Just thrown some ingredients in and flip a switch!


.

Good, it is far better than store bought bread.
Leave it to the food corporations to take something as good for you as bread, and make it actually bad for you.
My mother had a bread machine, but it was never very consistent.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

I had a double bread machine for a while. But I don't know what happened to it........all of a sudden, when the bread would go through the "sit and rest/rise" setting it would bloom all over the freeking place.......and I used the exact same recipe for years.

I could only guess the electronic program on it went screwy somehow. I ended up throwing it out.
Bought a new one.


I have found though, that SPELT bread is pretty good. The flour is a bit more expensive, but it doesn't sit in my system like regular flour does. And nutritionists say Spelt is much better for your system than flour is.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

I had a double bread machine for a while. But I don't know what happened to it........all of a sudden, when the bread would go through the "sit and rest/rise" setting it would bloom all over the freeking place.......and I used the exact same recipe for years.

I could only guess the electronic program on it went screwy somehow. I ended up throwing it out.
Bought a new one.


I have found though, that SPELT bread is pretty good. The flour is a bit more expensive, but it doesn't sit in my system like regular flour does. And nutritionists say Spelt is much better for your system than flour is.

I should mention - that the quality of flour significantly effects how good the bread is.
'Gold Medal" flour will absolutely not make as good as bread as King Arthur brand and others.
Also - switching to whole wheat flour is significantly better for you also, but it takes some getting use to. I used half whole wheat and half white flour till we git use to the different flavor and texture of whole wheat

 

[Darkwind]

I disagree with the entire notion that bread is good for you. Store bought bread being inferior to homemade bread is a debate one which refined sugar does less damage.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

I disagree with the entire notion that bread is good for you. Store bought bread being inferior to homemade bread is a debate one which refined sugar does less damage.

I assume this is a joke?

 

[boedicca]

I bake a lot. One of my favs is a 100% whole wheat bread from the Tassajara Bread book: The Tassajara Bread Book

I slice up the loaves and then freeze them - defrosting just what we plan to use.

Regarding the refined sugar comment, I use honey instead. And some breads (i.e. sourdough or italian style have zero added sugars).

Agree on flour quality. I like King Arthur and Bob's Redmill.

 

[Darkwind]

I assume this is a joke?

You assume wrong.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

I bake a lot. One of my favs is a 100% whole wheat bread from the Tassajara Bread book: The Tassajara Bread Book

I slice up the loaves and then freeze them - defrosting just what we plan to use.

Regarding the refined sugar comment, I use honey instead. And some breads (i.e. sourdough or italian style have zero added sugars).

Agree on flour quality. I like King Arthur and Bob's Redmill.

My favorite bread is focaccia. You just eat the crap out of it. But it is pretty calorie high, so I don't make it very often.

 

[boedicca]

My favorite bread is focaccia. You just eat the crap out of it. But it is pretty calorie high, so I don't make it very often.

I love focaccia...especially with rosemary and garlic.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

I love focaccia...especially with rosemary and garlic.

I make it with rosemary and garlic!

 

[boedicca]

I make it with rosemary and garlic!

You are awesome.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

I disagree with the entire notion that bread is good for you. Store bought bread being inferior to homemade bread is a debate one which refined sugar does less damage.

Yes. My granny was adamant about "one piece of bread a day". While my mother, her daughter, was adamant that "bread kills".

So, I know both of these mentalities. And actually, both have very valid points to them, as far as human health is concerned.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

I don't make bread for myself, but I do make bread for friends who love breads.

I usually make my own version of herbal bread, which seems to be everybodys favorite.

I also have made these other breads................

Garlic and onion
Honey and herb
Herb and bacon
Beef jerky bread
Dried cranberry and apricot
Butter bread
and "spiced" bread, which is a mix of spices from my pantry.

So far, the spice bread and the herb breads are the ones they like the best, although they say all of them are good.

And I do not use sugar in my breads, I use clover honey.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

Orowheat made "boutique" breads back in the 80s, which I loved.

They made a 12 grain and nut bread which I became addicted too. It had many grains and nuts minced up in it, in a dark wheat flour base. OMG that shit was heaven.

Of course, like everything else I get "addicted" to..........they stop making it.

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There is a Bread Haus in Grapevine, Tx though. They make breads daily, from scratch, the OLD ways.
They use "unadulterated" flours and grains, as well as homemade yeasts in their doughs.
They make a huge assortment of breads daily.

I can't afford them though. Although, OMG......just from the looks of them all.......I would be in heaven if I was a mouse in that house!!!! LOL

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When I went to New Orleans back in the early 90's, one of the big hotels there built their head chef his own little boutique out in front of the hotel, in the middle of the sidewalk (big wide sidewalk).......so he could sell his custom made breads there.
When I went in to look, there was this old woman from Boston buying pretty much everything he had. LOL
His breads were not only gourmet and handmade........he made them in shapes of local wildlife. Which was awesome to see.
And being near the ocean, of course there were lots of breads in the shapes of lobsters, crabs, shells, fish, etc.....

It was fascinating.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

Bread is like every other food on the planet - in moderation, real bread is good for you. Too much - it is bad for you.
One can easily make sweeping low brow statements that ANY food is bad for you. Because they ALL are of you eat too much of it.
Homemade bread using whole grains is packed with nutrition and minerals.

 

[Darkwind]

Yes. My granny was adamant about "one piece of bread a day". While my mother, her daughter, was adamant that "bread kills".

So, I know both of these mentalities. And actually, both have very valid points to them, as far as human health is concerned.

it would not be such a problem if it were not for the fact that we have been sold a crimal conspiracy called, the Food Pyramid.

The entire nation is indoctrinated in it and has been for at least two generations.

We need to expose the lies our government has been dealing.

 

[Dr.Destructo]

Bread is like every other food on the planet - in moderation, real bread is good for you. Too much - it is bad for you.
One can easily make sweeping low brow statements that ANY food is bad for you. Because they ALL are of you eat too much of it.
Homemade bread using whole grains is packed with nutrition and minerals.

Yes and no.

The more refined and chemicalized the flour is, the worse it is for you.........so yeah, less bread is much better for you.

Just milled grains, straight from the husk, are much better and safer........so you can eat more without the setbacks of unltra refined grain flours.

The more "raw" or closer to "off the stalk" you can get it, the better it is for you.

You don't even need wheat flour. You can use all sorts of other "flours" to make all different styles of breads.

I've had bread made from almond and cocount flour.......and it was pretty dang good.