mini series: homemade kitchen

Today I am bringing you a bread recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks:

 buy it here

I have made this recipe multiple times and really like it because it is relatively quick and simple.  Here is what you will need:

1 1/3 cups of warm water, 3 1/2 cups of bread flour, 1 TBSP unsalted butter (melted), 1 packet of quick rising yeast or 1 TBSP fresh yeast, 1 TBSP salt

Here is what you will do:
Mix flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl and slowly add 3/4 cup of water, stirring as you go.  Once the 3/4 cup of water is added I usually mix it up with my hands to decide if I need more water.  I typically end up using all the water and then mix everything up with my hands.  Once everything is incorporated (or as Nigella says, "a shaggy mess"), add the melted butter and mix. Then, you will knead the bread for 10 minutes or until the bread is smooth and no longer sticky. 
Next, wash and dry your mixing bowl, coat it with oil and place the bread in the bowl; turning it once so that all sides are oiled.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for an hour or two, or until the dough has doubled in size.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
Once your dough has doubled in size, punch it down and knead it very briefly.  You can bake your bread in a 9x13 inch loaf pan or on a cookie sheet -  I have done both and prefer the loaf pan if I am using the bread for sandwiches. 

Bake for 35 minutes or so.  You can test the breads "done-ness" by knocking on the bottom when you take it out of the oven.  If it sounds hollow, it is cooked through.

 

And then you have a delicious loaf of bread!

Yesterday I was on a cooking spree (being alone with a one year old for 13+ hours will do that to you) so I thought I'd briefly share the other things I made with you.  First I made some guacamole to go with our black bean burgers...

I'll share this recipe soon. They are super easy and super yum.

Then, I made the bread and then I made this magic cake.  It is also super easy and super yum! :o)  

Basically, I won major points with my hubby yesterday.

I have one more week of the homemade kitchen mini series...any requests for my last week?