Today in class we learned from the book of James how we are to treat one
another and build our relationships in the body of Christ.
Our practical lesson took us to the kitchen to bake bread together.
Every culture in the world has their own type of bread they bring to the table.
Bread seems to be a unifying bond that brings the culture together at their
meals and gatherings. The early church spent time often sharing in the
breaking of bread and prayer.
The first stage of our bread making began with the mixing and kneading of
the dough and then waiting "patiently" for it to rise.
As the aroma of baking bread wafts through out the hallway we begin
to get visitors sticking their head into the kitchen to see what
is in the oven.
The finished products were absolutely beautiful.
An we had no shortage of volunteers willing to taste test the finished product.
Our Yeast Breads
Seeduction Bread
Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 40 Minutes
Ready In: 2 Hours 40 Minutes Servings: 15
1 1/4 cups warm water (105 degrees to
115 degrees)
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons honey
1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
3 tablespoons raw pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoons millet seed
3 tablespoons malted barley flour
1 tablespoon wheat gluten
1 egg white, beaten
1 teaspoon millet seed
DIRECTIONS:
1. Gently stir together the warm water, molasses, honey, and yeast in a large bowl and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Pour oil into the yeast mixture.
2. In a separate bowl mix together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, 2 tablespoons of millet, barley flour, and vital wheat gluten. Stir the flour and seed mixture to the yeast mixture until it pulls together. Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 7 to 8 minutes, adding additional flour as needed. Place the dough in a large oiled bowl, cover and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Grease a 9x13 baking sheet.
3. Punch down the risen dough and turn out of the bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Form into a round or oval loaf shape and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Cover the dough and allow to rise until doubled in size again, about 40 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) toward the end of this second rise. Slash the top of the loaf diagonally with a sharp razor blade or serrated knife, carefully brush with the beaten egg white, and sprinkle remaining millet seeds over the top.
5. Bake in preheated oven until the bread sounds hollow when thumped on the side, 40 to 45 minutes.
New York Style Calzones
Dough
1 1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp active dry yeast
About 4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
Olive oil for coating
Filling
6 oz thinly sliced Genoa or other salami
3/4 pound mozzarella, coarsely grated
Place the water in a bowl and stir in the yeast. Add 2 cups of the flour and stir to make a smooth batter. Sprinkle on the salt and stir it in., Add another 1 1/2 cups flour and stir and fold to incorporate. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, incorporating more flour as necessary, about 5 minutes.
Oil a clean bowl with about a tablespoon of olive oil, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover and set aside to rise until doubled. 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 6 equal pieces. Set aside, loosely covered. Cut the salami slices in half, then mix with the grated cheese. Divide the filling into 6 equal piles and set aside.
On a lightly floured surface, begin rolling our 2 pieces of dough. The dough will be elastic and spring back, so alternate between the 2 until each is rolled out to a thin round about 8 inches in diameter and 1/4” thick. Place a pile of filling in the middle of one half of each round, making sure there is a clean 1/2” rim of dough, then fold the dough over to make a half moon shape. Pinch the edges of the dough together and then fold the edge back up over the seam and pinch again, to make a secure doubled seam.
Place the calzones on a surface dusted with flour and cover loosely. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough and let rise covered for 30 minutes.
Place a baking stone. on the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
Cut 2 or 3 short slashes in the top of each calzone.Transfer the calzones to the baking stone and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Transfer to a rack to cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
Focaccia Bread
"A wonderful, quick alternative to garlic bread. Lots of herbs and lots of flavor!"
Original recipe yield: 1 focaccia.
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella
* In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil and black pepper. Mix in the vegetable oil and water.
*When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic.
*Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). *Punch dough down. Divide in half. Place on greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Pat into a 1/2 inch thick circle. Brush top with olive oil. Scatter with favorite toppings. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Cowboy Bread
"Similar to pita breads, this is a round fried bread which supposedly traces its origins back to the great American West." yield: 8 pieces of bread.
1/2 cup boiling water
3/4 cup cold milk
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 cups all-purpose flour
1. In a large bowl, stir together the water, milk, and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and let stand for 5 minutes to dissolve.
2. Stir the egg and butter into the yeast mixture, then stir in the salt, nutmeg, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix until everything is well blended. Mix in remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time until the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead for 10 minutes (no cheating!). Place dough into a greased bowl, and let rise until doubled in size.
3. Divide the dough into 8 balls, and let rest for another 20 minutes. Roll each ball out to 8 to 10 inches in diameter. (We will make these smaller today, about 6” or pancake size.)
4. Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Dry fry each of the pieces of bread fro 30 to 60 seconds on each side, or until light to medium brown spots appear. Keep covered with a cloth, or in a paper sack to retain heat. Serve warm with favorite butter or soup and chili.
Buttery Crescent Rolls
1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/2 c warm water (110-115)
1/2 c warm milk
1/2 c butter softened
1/3 c sugar
1 egg
3/4 tsp salt
4 to 4 1/2 c all purpose flour
Additional butter melted
In large mixing bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter, sugar, egg, salt and 2 cups flour. Blend well with a whisk. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic about 6-8 min. Place in greased bowl, turn over and let rise, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Turn onto a floured surface, divide in half. Roll each portion into a 12" circle. Cut each circle into 12 wedges. Roll up wedges from the wide end and place pointed end down 2" apart on greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Curve edges to form crescents. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 min. Bake at 375° for about 14 min or till golden brown. Brush with melted butter. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
Makes: 2 dozen
Quick Breads
Best Fluffy, Flakey, Buttery Biscuits Ever
2 cups plain flour - sifted
3½ tsp baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon honey
113 grams butter (1/2 cup) cold butter cut into ½ inch cubes
⅔ cup milk
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 230C/450F
2. Place dry ingredients in bowl, mix to combine.
3. Add cold butter and use a pastry blender until the butter looks like peas.
4. Add the milk and honey and stir until it comes together.
5. Place on a lightly floured surface (Can use a silicone mat because it's easy to clean) and knead a few times to
work the gluten
6. Then pat the dough with your fingers to about ¾ inch high. You can go lower and get more biscuits but they
won't be as high.
7. You can cut them with a biscuit cutter, a tin can or a glass but don't use a seesaw approach as that will reduce
the rise.
8. If you want soft edges, place them about an inch apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. (You may use a knife and cut them square and have no leftover pieces.) Place biscuits on a baking sheet about
two inches apart. If you like softer edges from a “pull-apart” biscuit, put them close together in a pan.
10. You may brush the tops with melted butter or milk before baking or brush with butter right after they come out of t
the oven.
11. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
12. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes or until they are done to your liking.
Slap your Brains out Biscuits
1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 pkg dry yeast
Mix and set aside for 5 minutes
4 1/2 cup flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
Sift together, make a well and add
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
Add the yeast mixture. Mix well. Pat out on a floured surface to 1/2” thick. Cut with biscuit cutter. Bake on a greased pan at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Specialty flavored butters were created to accompany our bread.
Basil Butter, Chive Butter
and Honey Butter (not pictured)
Basil Butter
1 stick butter, softened
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped basil
Cream butter, beat in garlic and lemon juice. Mash in basil; season with salt and pepper.
Place bowl in refrigerator to firm butter.
For a nice, simple appetizer use room temperature butter
on grilled pieces of baguette or French bread.
Chive Butter Recipes
1/2 cup butter -- softened
1 tablespoon fresh chives -- chopped
Combine ingredients until well blended.
Roll up in wax paper to form a log shape.
Refrigerate until firm.
Makes 1/2 cup
Honey Butter
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp cinnamon
(to taste)
Let butter come to room temperature.
Whip butter, honey and cinnamon together for 2 minutes.
Store in refrigerator.
This was a fun but very busy day. These ladies accomplished so much today.
As they shared their baking with each other they also invited the group that
had gathered in the hall outside the kitchen to come in and join us.
No one was disappointed.
