Oaty Soda Bread

The oats in this bread give it a lovely texture! This recipe is so quick and easy - give it a go and enjoy :)

Preheat the oven to 180°C and have an 8 inch round tin to hand to transfer the dough into :)

Ingredients

400g plain flour

50g oats

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp salt

300ml buttermilk

6 tbsp cool, boiled water

• sift the flour, bicarb and salt into a bowl, add the oats.
• using a dough hook attachment, on a slow speed, pour in the buttermilk and water to form a very soft dough.
• transfer the mixture to a tin and bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
• remove from the tray and leave to cool on a wire rack.

♥ ♥

Wendy

XO

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Banana Bread

I previously made banana bread and it was a disaster..it looked good on the outside but the inside was just a whole load of goo. I should have taken a picture ha-ha, WHAT A MESS.

 Anyway that recipe involved orange juice and a lot of missing ingredients. This time, I decided to do it right as we had a load of bananas that were going to go to waste. I quadrupled the recipe as you can probably guess from the photos but the recipe below is for one batch :)

Preheat the oven to 160°C and line 2 x 1 lb loaf tins.

Ingredients

100g softened butter

175g caster sugar

2 eggs

2 medium bananas (or 3 small), mashed

225g self-raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp milk

25g walnuts, chopped

• add the butter, sugar, eggs, bananas, flour, baking powder and milk to a bowl - mix to combine.

• fold in the chopped walnuts and spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tins.

• bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour, until well risen and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

• leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes and then cool fully on a wire rack.

PS - it was even more delicious toasted!

♥ ♥

Wendy

XO

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Hamburger Buns

It may say hamburger buns...but they were more like soft rolls! They were just delicious. Perfect for toasting or as bread for a sandwich :) 

Preheat the oven to 200°C and brush a baking sheet with oil.

Ingredients

450g strong white flour

1½ tsp salt

2 tsp caster sugar

1 tsp easy-blend dried yeast

150ml lukewarm water

150ml lukewarm milk

1-3 tbsp sesame seeds 

• sift the flour and salt into a bowl, stir in the sugar and finally the yeast.
• pour in the lukewarm water and milk, mix the dough on a low speed until it comes together - then lightly dust the dough with flour.
• further knead the dough on a low speed for 10 minutes.
• brush a bowl with oil, add the dough, cover with clingfilm and leave to rise for 1 hour (or until its doubled in volume)
• turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knock it back with your fist. 
• divide the dough into 8 pieces, shape them into rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
• cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise for 30 minutes.
• brush the top of each bun with oil and sprinkle over the sesame seeds.
• bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes and once baked, cool on a wire rack. 

♥ ♥

Wendy

XO

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Ciabatta Bread

Biga is a type of pre-ferment used in Italian baking. I'm pretty sure it helped increase the number of 'holes' in the bread, after that I don't quite know.  

Wikipedia says that it adds to the 'nutty' flavour of the bread! You're meant to let the biga rise to a point before it collapses... as you can see I let the dough collapse haha.  :) 

The actual ciabatta dough is very wet prior to the first rise - do not add more flour, its meant to look like that, promise.

Preheat the oven 220°C and dust three baking sheets with flour.

 

Biga Starter 

350g strong white bread flour

1¼ tsp easy-blend dried yeast

200ml lukewarm water

• sift the flour into a bowl, stir in the yeast and pour in the water.
• mix on a low speed for 5 minutes and shape the dough into a ball.
• cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rise for 12 hours. 

Ingredients

400ml lukewarm water

4 tbsp lukewarm semi-skimmed milk

500ml strong white bread flour

7g easy-blend dried yeast

2 tsp salt

3 tbsp olive oil 

• once the biga is ready, gradually mix the water and milk into the biga (I used the dough hook on a slow speed).
• then, slowly add the flour and yeast until its all incorporated.
• finally, mix in the salt and oil.
• cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rise for 2 hours or until the dough has double in volume.
• using a spatula, divide the dough onto the baking sheets taking care not to knock the air out.
• flour your hands and gently pull and shape the dough into rectangular loaves.
• dust the loaves with flour and leave to rise for a further 30 minutes.
• bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
• every single step was worth it..mmmm.

PS - Wikipedia knows best... 

♥ ♥

Wendy

XO

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Brioche Bread

If you do decide to bake this bread, you will need to do it over two days as it rises overnight. This was my first attempt at brioche and I would definitely consider it successful - thanks Mr Hollywood! 

Preheat the oven to 190^°C and grease two loaf tins. For this recipe I used a stand mixer and a dough hook :)

Ingredients

500g strong flour

7g salt
50g caster sugar

10g instant yeast

140ml full-fat milk

5 eggs

250g butter, cubed

• add the flour, salt and sugar to the mixer and whizz for a minute, then add the yeast and repeat.
• next, add the milk and eggs - mix on a low speed for 2 minutes.
• increase to a medium speed for 6-8 minutes until the dough is soft and glossy.
• finally, add the butter and mix on a medium speed for 4-5 minutes.
• tip the mixture into a plastic bowl, cover with cling film and chill overnight.
• the dough will be very wet and it will take ages to double in size but it will!
• when ready, tip onto a lightly floured surface and knock out the air.
• divide the mixture between the two tins and cover them with a plastic bag - let the dough rise for a further 2-3 hours.
• once the dough has doubled in size again, bake in a preheated oven for 20-30 minutes.

PS - Ignore the butter content and enjoy! 

♥ ♥

Wendy

XO

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Flatbread Pizza

So far this has been the easiest 'bread' recipe that I have attempted. It would be a great recipe to try if you have never tried baking bread before! I usually use a stand mixer to make bread :) Preheat the oven to 200^°C and it will take 20 minutes to bake on an oiled baking tray.

Sweet Chili Dip on the side...

Bread

450g strong white bread flour

½ tsp easy-blend yeast

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

300ml lukewarm water

• sift the flour and salt into the mixer, then stir in the yeast.
• add the oil and mix with a paddle until it comes together.
• scrap the mixture away from the bottom of the mixer and sift in some flour (the same as you flour a surface before kneading!) and mix on low for 10 minutes. 
• once smooth and elastic, brush a clean bowl with oil, shape the dough into a ball and put it in the bowl.
• cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rise in warm place for an hour, or until it doubles in size. 
• turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface , knock back and knead for 1 minute or so.
• roll out the dough, put it on the baking tray, cover as before and leave to rise for 20-30 minutes. 
• before baking, make indentations all over the surface of the dough and drizzle over some sea salt and olive oil.
• after 12 minutes, remove the bread, add your pizza toppings and bake for further 7 minutes. 
• Enjoy!

Wendy 

XO

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Bread

Ciabatta

French Baguette

Brioche

Baked Rolls