Let's Talk BBQ

Recipes => Recipes => Baker's Corner => Topic started by: pz on September 08, 2013, 02:35:21 AM

Title: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 08, 2013, 02:35:21 AM
For lack of a better place to post, here is how we did bread this evening.

Here is one of two loaves ready to go into a 450F oven
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1PFfA3_512M/UiwYP25iB_I/AAAAAAAADQI/VH8kL44PX6k/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1898.JPG)

Scoring the surface of the dough
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mTxGE19hmZQ/UiwYTqFvo_I/AAAAAAAADQY/FOQ7026X9Yc/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1900.JPG)

The finished product - cooling and waiting to be eaten.  The crust is crackling as I write, and I can't wait to load one of these babies with some Bradley smoked cheese and Canadian bacon I'd prepared a few weeks ago.  Baking bread in a closed container is definitely the best way to go - we have never created thick, crusty, European-style bread with any other method.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lSQQULeMdC8/UiwYXL_mVwI/AAAAAAAADQg/mUs7kwkPWYY/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1905.JPG)
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: fishingbouchman on September 08, 2013, 04:40:25 AM
fresh bread, SO GOOD.  can't wait to get in the house to start cooking again. 
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: africanmeat on September 08, 2013, 07:33:49 AM
this is an amazing good looking bread . did you do it in the pizza oven? if not you must try.
Title: Baking bread
Post by: Pappymn on September 08, 2013, 09:39:14 AM
Boy that looks great. Got a recipe?
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: muebe on September 08, 2013, 12:42:29 PM
Great looking bread!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 08, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
pz - that bread looks great! Can I have a slice with some butter? Would you tell us how you made it?
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 01:43:07 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
pz - that bread looks great! Can I have a slice with some butter? Would you tell us how you made it?
X2
As I jump in front of David for that 1st slice.....   ::)
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 08, 2013, 01:45:56 PM
Quote from: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 01:43:07 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
pz - that bread looks great! Can I have a slice with some butter? Would you tell us how you made it?
X2
As I jump in front of David for that 1st slice.....   ::)

Hey, I thought you were a patient bear...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: sliding_billy on September 08, 2013, 01:47:36 PM
Sure could have used some of that this weekend!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 02:18:17 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 01:45:56 PM
Quote from: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 01:43:07 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
pz - that bread looks great! Can I have a slice with some butter? Would you tell us how you made it?
X2
As I jump in front of David for that 1st slice.....   ::)

Hey, I thought you were a patient bear...  ;) ;D

David, I guess I'm a bear FIRST!  lol       But if I get that first slice I'll share with you buddy!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 09, 2013, 01:50:14 AM
Thanks for the comments, guys, but my wife Cheri deserves all the credit because she is the expert in dough in our family  ;)

Credit for the baking method goes to a baker from the UK.  A friend in Holland sent me the link to his YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QpQ9Kd3t5I

Cheri's dough
... is versatile - she uses it for bread, pizza crust, and naan
Mix flour, salt, and yeast with the handle end of a wooden spoon.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NqYcnwJ1jyE/Ui1ZMbULcwI/AAAAAAAADQ4/T1k-4qVG2_U/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1909.JPG)

Add water slowly and stir until the dough looks sticky.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XRyuUbpf0ew/Ui1ZNphBf-I/AAAAAAAADRI/Otu2qVWqKqY/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1915.JPG)

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until it doubles in volume (about 2-4 hours)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ATfRyXWy7UQ/Ui1ZOLt9LOI/AAAAAAAADRQ/jyyGABT1B-E/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1916.JPG)(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wikk545KIPo/Ui1ZOzx50FI/AAAAAAAADRY/UwVEe6C7C5E/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1917.JPG)

Scrape the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a minute or so.  Now is when you add any additional ingredients such as herbs, cheese, etc.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y2hgyKvb_wk/Ui1ZPqjO6jI/AAAAAAAADRg/pWeYhmUQ4is/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1921.JPG)

Form into a ball and place into a generously floured tea towel and return to the bowl - ensure that the dough is loosely covered with the tea towel and let rise for another hour or two.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8EewPmDIj58/Ui1ZQPY_pEI/AAAAAAAADRo/_mYbOeDrh_Q/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1922.JPG)

Place a Dutch oven into your oven and preheat to 450F
After preheating, dump the dough ball into the Dutch oven, make several slits in the surface of the dough ball and return the Dutch oven to the main oven - bake for 30 minutes
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_-ShMfA2oe0/Ui1ZQqdYRqI/AAAAAAAADRw/ZaHZG_6GNno/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1925.JPG)

Crack the lid and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes depending on how dark you want the crust.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kuDnYksn18g/Ui1ZRJvIkZI/AAAAAAAADR4/OmIG3hZOLDA/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1927.JPG)

Here's what the crust sounds like when it is cooling - if you hear this, then your crust is perfect
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUeHFmD5ZY


If you want pizza crust, just use less water - the dough is simply not as sticky
For naan, omit the yeast - the unleavened bread is delicious with dips such as Sabra humus
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 09, 2013, 01:53:45 AM
Quote from: africanmeat on September 08, 2013, 07:33:49 AM
this is an amazing good looking bread . did you do it in the pizza oven? if not you must try.
Thanks Ahron, we did not do it in the pizza oven mainly because we are doing the bread in the Dutch oven within the main oven.  That way the water in the bread itself is creating the steam to create the perfect crust - no water pan, nor spritz needed with this method.

It sounds like you have been successful doing bread in your wood-fired oven - how did you do it to create a crisp crust?
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 09, 2013, 02:20:16 PM
Quote from: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 02:18:17 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 01:45:56 PM
Quote from: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 01:43:07 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
pz - that bread looks great! Can I have a slice with some butter? Would you tell us how you made it?
X2
As I jump in front of David for that 1st slice.....   ::)

Hey, I thought you were a patient bear...  ;) ;D

David, I guess I'm a bear FIRST!  lol       But if I get that first slice I'll share with you buddy!

Gene, I NEVER argue with a bear. So, all I ask is you cover me while I go in for the second slice...  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 09, 2013, 02:21:59 PM
pz - Thanks for the recipe - it does seem pretty versatile. I've watched a couple of this guy's videos. They are fun and he looks like he knows what he's doing. I had saved that one for myself for when I have some time to try it out. Thanks for the "endorsement"!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: hikerman on September 09, 2013, 03:09:23 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 09, 2013, 02:21:59 PM
pz - Thanks for the recipe - it does seem pretty versatile. I've watched a couple of this guy's videos. They are fun and he looks like he knows what he's doing. I had saved that one for myself for when I have some time to try it out. Thanks for the "endorsement"!
Same here PZ, thanks!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 09, 2013, 04:52:22 PM
My pleasure, gents; just reporting the talents of others  :)
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: hikerman on September 09, 2013, 06:11:49 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 09, 2013, 02:20:16 PM
Quote from: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 02:18:17 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 01:45:56 PM
Quote from: hikerman on September 08, 2013, 01:43:07 PM
Quote from: drholly on September 08, 2013, 12:43:43 PM
pz - that bread looks great! Can I have a slice with some butter? Would you tell us how you made it?
X2
As I jump in front of David for that 1st slice.....   ::)



Hey, I thought you were a patient bear...  ;) ;D

David, I guess I'm a bear FIRST!  lol       But if I get that first slice I'll share with you buddy!

Gene, I NEVER argue with a bear. So, all I ask is you cover me while I go in for the second slice...  ;) ;D
Got your back David! We could make quite a team.......roaming the countryside pillaging fresh bread!  ;D
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 19, 2013, 02:32:15 AM
My wife baked a loaf tonight because we were hungry, and I ran across this image from a prior bake while we were waiting for the current bread to be finished.  The current bread is laced with fresh thyme from the garden.
Add Bradley smoked Gouda to a slice of fresh baked bread and you have a delectable treat
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yLizLGkjbm0/UjqZfBUE4jI/AAAAAAAAD8I/TJbYaNnkcMc/w1346-h898-no/IMG_1923.JPG)
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 19, 2013, 03:01:27 AM
Here's the series from tonight's bake
The dough, freshly prepared and ready to rise - notice that it looks a bit wet (intentionally so, because we want it to steam in the Dutch oven)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zncTbOyIyKM/UjqeCv-lFdI/AAAAAAAAD8c/tSrvCOQeJVA/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2055.JPG)
Cheri let the dough rise until it doubled in volume, about 2.5 hours (in a warm room)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-380dyd0W3Us/UjqeDfA7j1I/AAAAAAAAD8k/auDS5d_IB2E/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2057.JPG)
Kneading the dough with fresh thyme from the garden
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GMqJVsgYB1c/UjqeDx29wHI/AAAAAAAAD8s/kSFE5K3_1k0/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2059.JPG)
... almost ready to let rise for the second time (about an hour)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vNjz26RLuAg/UjqeEnDURrI/AAAAAAAAD80/qJpgdU5xn7w/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2060.JPG)
... after an hour rising
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-SPlyvNlFp6E/UjqeFGdWrcI/AAAAAAAAD9A/juWQmqtp_9A/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2063.JPG)
... dump into the 450F Dutch oven
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9VzhWDS3Mm4/UjqeF1l2beI/AAAAAAAAD9M/B16I4bdC-wc/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2064.JPG)
Scoring quickly with the knife...
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nqLOPDiqSvY/UjqeGUaD1wI/AAAAAAAAD9I/iSo6mduDKao/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2066.JPG)
... and the finished product - extra crisp crust and moist and tender inside.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0xAN4e6ncAY/UjqeHL8JzrI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/XhqHdV_U2DA/w1346-h898-no/IMG_2067.JPG)
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: veryolddog on September 19, 2013, 10:21:06 AM
I can attest and confirm that this process really works. When I made my very first breads last week, I followed this process and the results were outstanding. Instead of thyme, I used Italian seasoning for that basil, and oregano flavor through out the loaf. It was really good. I toasted up some of the slices with pico de gallo (chopped tomato, onion, jalapeno pepper, lemon juice, salt and pepper) on top with a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese and it was good.

For a dutch oven, I used a cast iron deep skillet with a cast iron lid which I coat with olive oil. Works very nicely with an even browning all over.

Just follow PZ's directions. It is great!!!!

Ed
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 19, 2013, 02:00:05 PM
Thanks, Ed; I can't take credit though.  A friend sent me a YouTube link to a baker in the UK, and I saw another almost identical recipe on the Bradley forum, so the technique must be relatively popular.  I can see why though, it results in the best bread my wife (or I) have ever made.
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 19, 2013, 02:22:19 PM
Nice looking bread, pz! I like this process and I also enjoy adding spices / flavors to the bread. The end result looks fantastic - nice bake!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 19, 2013, 02:43:59 PM
Thanks, David!  We added some of the Bradley smoked cheddar the last time we baked a loaf, and it turned out fantastic.  It is fun baking in different flavors, and in addition to herbs, I'd like to experiment with some of the dried chile powders I like to use in south-of-the-border dishes - maybe for spicy pulled pork sandwiches.
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 19, 2013, 03:01:22 PM
Quote from: pz on September 19, 2013, 02:43:59 PM
Thanks, David!  We added some of the Bradley smoked cheddar the last time we baked a loaf, and it turned out fantastic.  It is fun baking in different flavors, and in addition to herbs, I'd like to experiment with some of the dried chile powders I like to use in south-of-the-border dishes - maybe for spicy pulled pork sandwiches.

Love a good cheese bread. But the chili powders sound very interesting. I've not tried or had anything like that - look forward to your report!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: Scallywag on September 19, 2013, 03:23:35 PM
Looks great! I did a couple of french style loafs on my Mak with the pizza stone the other night.. Now I'm hooked. Ordered a kitchenaid stand mixer yesterday.. let the games begin! I will post pics of my next batch.
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 19, 2013, 03:31:35 PM
Quote from: Scallywag on September 19, 2013, 03:23:35 PM
Looks great! I did a couple of french style loafs on my Mak with the pizza stone the other night.. Now I'm hooked. Ordered a kitchenaid stand mixer yesterday.. let the games begin! I will post pics of my next batch.

Between you and pz, I am getting back into making bread. It helps that weather is changing. I look forward to you posts and I'll start posting mine as well!
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 19, 2013, 04:35:06 PM
Cool; we three can start a bread of the month club and start sharing recipes and pics  ;)

We're really just in the beginning of our bread making adventures because it has only been since June that we've made what we consider good bread.  We can use all the ideas we can get  ;)
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: drholly on September 19, 2013, 05:06:01 PM
Sounds like a good time! I used to make bread on a regular basis, many years ago. Then fell out of the habit. It's been a dozen years or more. I look forward to getting back into it. Thanks for the "nudge!"
Title: Re: Baking bread
Post by: pz on September 19, 2013, 06:17:50 PM
My pleasure - works out great for me - sounds like I'll be able to benefit from your experiences!