Random Thoughts On Cooking, Bike Riding, and The Sacred Journey of Everyday Life
December 21, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, cooking as therapy, Culinary Freedom, Ezekiel 4:9, Ezekiel Bread, Ezekiel Bread Recipe, Homemade, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
Ezekiel Bread. Enough said. This is one of my favorite breads and still one of the most popular reasons people find their way to this little blog. I have a few versions of this recipe but the one below is the one I use most often. For additional directions and pictures of it being made, click here. To read my lay-person’s biblical interpretation of this recipe, click here.
December 7, 2013
100% whole wheat, American Food, cooking as therapy, Home Cooking, Homemade, urban simplicity Leave a comment
I’ve posted both of these recipes before but not in a while and I made them recently and thought that I would re-post them. They are both two of my favorites, Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread and Spicy Turkey and Pork Meatloaf. Recipes are below.
December 7, 2013
100% whole wheat, American Food, cooking as therapy, Home Cooking, Homemade, urban simplicity Leave a comment
I’ve posted both of these recipes before but not in a while and I made them recently and thought that I would re-post them. They are both two of my favorites, Whole Wheat Maple-Oatmeal Bread and Spicy Turkey and Pork Meatloaf. Recipes are below.
November 13, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, Culinary Freedom, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I’ve posted this recipe before but not in a little while. This is for all those people that think that a beautiful loaf of bread cannot be made using 100% whole wheat flour (I used to be a doubter also). This is the loaf I make most often because it is so simple to make. If you want to experiment with whole wheat bread making this is a good recipe to start with. Anyhow, the recipe is below.
October 29, 2013
100% whole wheat, baking, bread, Bread Making, bread recipes, Ezekiel 4:9, Ezekiel Bread, Ezekiel Bread Recipe, Homemade, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I haven’t posted this recipe in a while, but it is still my favorite bread, and is in fact still the #1 reason people visit my little blog. To read my views on this bread, click here. For pictures of it being made and additional directions, click here.
4 cups whole wheat flour
Boil the grains in the water in logical succession according to cooking times: first the white and red beans (about 60 minutes), when they are soft add the, spelt berries, lentils, and barley (about 30 minutes); lastly, add the millet and bulgar (about 10 minutes). The key is that after each addition the previous grain must be soft enough so that when all of the grains are in the pot they will all be equally soft; undercooked grains (especially the beans) can really ruin this bread. And as the grains cook add more water to the pot as necessary because the cooking liquid, which is full of nutrients, will become part of the recipe (keeping a lid on the pot will slow it’s evaporation). After the grains are cooked allow them to cool in the liquid to room temperature, refrigerating if necessary. After the grains are cooled drain them, squeezing them with your hands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid.
.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
October 14, 2013
100% whole wheat, American Food, Beans and Legumes, Culinary Freedom, Food Photography, Homemade, Italian cooking, Italian Cuisine, urban simplicity, Vegetarian 1 Comment
Okay. So this pizza was delicious. I say “was” and not “is” because I ate more than half of it for dinner and I’ll likely eat the rest before the night is out. Anyhow, this post is more about the crust than what is on it (because you can really put whatever you like on a pizza). In an ongoing effort to make healthier bread and pizza dough I not only used 100% whole wheat flour (which I usually do) but I also added beans to the dough. This last step isn’t that unusual for me either as Ezekiel bread and its many variations are one of my favorite doughs. But what is a bit unusual is the amount of beans-to-flour ratio…the dough is made up of about 50% beans. I added just enough water to the beans to allow them to puree smoothly. Pictured below.
And then added enough flour to the bean puree (with a few other basic ingredients) to make a dough. Delicious. I’m not sure this would make a good bread, or should I say light bread, because of the high ration of beans, but it did make a fine pizza dough. On the pizza–as pictured below–I also added a thin coating of pesto (click for a recipe), a thin layer of tomato sauce (click for a recipe), a layer of broccoli aglio e olio (click for multiple recipes), and of course cheese (Ok, so the cheese is not the healthiest ingredient, but it is good and I cannot eat pasta or pizza without it). Anyhow, the recipe for the dough is listed after the photos.
October 10, 2013
100% whole wheat, bread, Bread Making, bread recipes, Culinary Freedom, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I made this bread tonight. Made the preferment while I took a nap after work, mixed the dough before I went to the health club, and baked it while I ate dinner. Beautiful, delicious, and easy to make. And it is, of course, made with 100% whole wheat flour. Honey-oatmeal. I’ve posted this recipe–and variations of it–before but not in a while. It’s one of my favorites and one I make often so I thought I’d re-post it.
6 cups whole wheat flour, divided
2 cups oatmeal, plus additional for coating
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
3 ½ cups water, divided
2 tablespoons instant yeast, divided
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup honey
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Separate the ingredients into two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine 4 cups of flour, two cups of oatmeal, the wheat gluten, and 2 ½ cups of water; stir until just combined. In the second bowl combine the remaining 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of yeast, and 1 cup of water; stir until just combined. Cover the bowls and allow the ingredients to rest and begin fermenting for at least an hour, but up to 12. Then combine the contents of bowl bowls into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the remaining tablespoon of yeast, along with the olive oil, honey, and salt. Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes, then cover and allow to rise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it into two or pieces, gently shape it into loaves. Dust the counter with extra oatmeal and roll the loaves in it, gently pressing oatmeal into the surface of the raw dough. Place the loaves into oiled loaf pans, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat an oven to 425F. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
September 14, 2013
100% whole wheat, bread recipes, cooking as therapy, Culinary Freedom, Food Photography, Homemade, photography, pizza recipe, urban simplicity, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I haven’t posted this recipe in a while and I made it this morning so I thought I’d re-post it (as it is one of my favorites). It’s my basic whole wheat bread recipe with the addition of oats…delicious and nutritious. And is often the case, after the first rise of the dough (before I cut it into loaves) I pinched a piece off and made a small pizza for lunch (which I baked while the loaves rose and ate while they baked). And the pizza itself is a sort of reflection of this past summer…the tomatoes (which are now sauce) and the eggplant were both grown just outside my front door.
6 cups whole wheat flour, divided
2 cups oatmeal, plus additional for coating
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
3 ½ cups water, divided
2 tablespoons instant yeast, divided
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup honey
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Separate the ingredients into two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine 4 cups of flour, two cups of oatmeal, the wheat gluten, and 2 ½ cups of water; stir until just combined. In the second bowl combine the remaining 2 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of yeast, and 1 cup of water; stir until just combined. Cover the bowls and allow the ingredients to rest and begin fermenting for at least an hour, but up to 12. Then combine the contents of bowl bowls into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the remaining tablespoon of yeast, along with the olive oil, honey, and salt. Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes, then cover and allow to rise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it into two or pieces, gently shape it into loaves. Dust the counter with extra oatmeal and roll the loaves in it, gently pressing oatmeal into the surface of the raw dough. Place the loaves into oiled loaf pans, cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat an oven to 425F. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
September 7, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, Culinary Freedom, Ezekiel 4:9, Ezekiel Bread, Ezekiel Bread Recipe, Food Photography, Homemade, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat 2 Comments
Ezekiel Bread; a meal in itself. I’ve posted this recipe a few times prior, but not in quite a while. It is my favorite bread (to eat and to make) and in fact is still the #1 reason people visit this blog. More than 500 people find their way to my little page each day for this simple but delicious recipe. As I’ve also mentioned before, while this recipe looks somewhat difficult to make, it is really not (read the directions in steps). One of the biggest difficulties people seem to have is that the dough is too wet (likely from not squeezing out the beans and grain enough). This is not a problem, simply add additional flour. This bread is not only delicious, but also nutritious. If you are a baker, or someone who wants to bake, I hope you try this recipe…you won’t be sorry. There are additional links below.
4 cups whole wheat flour
Boil the grains in the water in logical succession according to cooking times: first the white and red beans (about 60 minutes), when they are soft add the, spelt berries, lentils, and barley (about 30 minutes); lastly, add the millet and bulgar (about 10 minutes). The key is that after each addition the previous grain must be soft enough so that when all of the grains are in the pot they will all be equally soft; undercooked grains (especially the beans) can really ruin this bread. And as the grains cook add more water to the pot as necessary because the cooking liquid, which is full of nutrients, will become part of the recipe (keeping a lid on the pot will slow it’s evaporation). After the grains are cooked allow them to cool in the liquid to room temperature, refrigerating if necessary. After the grains are cooled drain them, squeezing them with your hands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
For additional directions and photos on how to make this bread, click here.
The read my views and philosophy on this bread, click here.
June 15, 2013
100% whole wheat, Beans and Legumes, Bread Making, bread recipes, Culinary Freedom, Ezekiel Bread, Ezekiel Bread Recipe, Food Photography, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat 2 Comments
I’ve posted this recipe some time ago but it is so easy to make and so delicious that I thought I would re-post it. This is really a variation of my Ezekiel Bread recipe (click here or here) but somewhat simplified in that you boil the beans all at once rather than in stages. And while I used 14 different beans and legumes nearly any can be used, or even just one (the recipe below reflects this).
What I find interesting about this bread is that while it adds tons of nutrition to the bread it also adds a soft texture. And interestingly, the beans mostly are mashed into the bread itself when kneaded. You can see in the image above there are just specs of beans in the finished slice. And if you are worried that this is a difficult bread to make, don’t be…basically, after boiling the beans or grains you simply make this like you would any other whole wheat bread except you utilize the cooking liquid as the water and add the beans to the dough.
4 cups whole wheat flour
Boil the beans until very soft. As the beans cook add more water to the pot as necessary because the cooking liquid, which is full of nutrients, will become part of the recipe (keeping a lid on the pot will slow it’s evaporation). After the beans are cooked allow them to cool in the liquid to room temperature, refrigerating if necessary. After the beans are cooled drain them, squeezing them with your hands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
May 7, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, cooking as therapy, Culinary Freedom, Food Photography, Homemade, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I haven’t posted this bread in a while, in fact I haven’t made it in a while, but here it is. Delicious and healthy, it is also easy to make. Like any of the Ezekiel Bread Recipes or other whole grain recipes, the chick peas basically dissolve (or get mashed) into the dough as it is kneaded. It offers a really interesting (light and fluffy) texture, and turmeric–besides adding color–is super good for you. Anyhow, the recipe is below. (This bread makes great toast for sandwiches, btw.)
4 cups whole wheat flour
Boil the beans in the water for 60-90 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. As the bean cook add more water to the pot as necessary because the cooking liquid, which is full of nutrients, will become part of the recipe (keeping a lid on the pot will slow it’s evaporation). After the beans are cooked allow them to cool in the liquid to room temperature, refrigerating if necessary. After the grains are cooled drain them, squeezing them with your hands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid. Mash the chickpeas a little with a kitchen mallet or a heavy whisk.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
March 10, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bible, bread, Bread Making, Christianity, inspiration, Jesus, Lent, Parable, Whole Wheat 4 Comments
So if you’ve been to this blog before you know that I like bread. A lot. I enjoy eating it, of course, but I also enjoy making it. I’ve often said that bread makes itself, that we merely provide the correct conditions and guide it along; I am really fascinated by its process. I’m also really interested in the history of bread and roles it has played throughout civilization and especially religion. Bread is in fact mentioned hundreds of times in the old and new testaments. But what I’d like to touch on here is the Parable of the Leaven (sometimes called the Parable of the Yeast). This is mentioned in both the Gospel of Matthew 13:33, and in the Gospel of Luke 13:20-21.
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty poundsof flour until it worked all through the dough.”
But before I go any further let me say this (as I’ve said on a few occasions)…I read the bible as almost entirely metaphor. I believe there are stories and teachings in it that can aid us even today in 2013 if we look close enough, but sometimes it is a difficult process…I know it is for me. I am not here to try to preach or tell you what this means, just simply to say what I feel (because I can guess, but I do not know what it means…I can only guess and translate it to my life).
This said, lets look at the word parable. It comes from the Greek, parabolē, which we’ve interpreted as a sort of story or analogy. But it’s original meaning is a bit different. The word parabolē is actually a phrase; two words, meaning to “throw” or “toss” (bolē) “next to” (para), so loosely this can be taken as the story or meaning is next to or within the story. Hmmm…
Now lets look at the leaven itself (this is where it gets really interesting). But first I have to say a few things about yeast. It is a naturally occurring living organism; a form of fungus, actually. It is relatively dormant until provided the correct conditions. Mainly, the correct temperature, moisture, and food (the carbs and sugars in flour). When it has these three conditions it eats. More specifically it feasts, and on a biblical scale (yes, I see the pun here). As it feasts it gives off gases (don’t we all), mainly carbon dioxide but also ethyl alcohol. As these are released they form pockets of air or gas in the dough, and as the yeast continues to eat and give off gas these pockets or bubbles grow, sort of inflating the bread. This is how it rises. But ok, enough about the science of it, back to the leavan…the biblical kind.
March 4, 2013
100% whole wheat, bicycles as transportation, Cargo Bike, photography, Things that can be carried on a bike, Torker Cargo-T, Uncategorized, urban simplicity, Winter Leave a comment
A canvas bag containing two books and a few pens, an empty dough rising bucket, a canvas bag containing an extra camera and charger, and two freshly baked loaves of whole wheat bread.
January 27, 2013
100% whole wheat, cooking as therapy, Home Cooking, Homemade, Italian cooking, Italian Cuisine, Mediterranean Cuisine, Mediterranean Diet, pizza recipe, urban simplicity Leave a comment
I bake bread about once a week, sometimes more frequently. And most often it is made with whole wheat flour. Sometimes the bread making coincides with dinner time, as it did tonight. So after the first rise I will sometimes pinch a piece of the dough off and make a small pizza for dinner as well…hence the two (loaves) plus pi (pizza pie). And often I will quite literally put whatever I happen to have in the fridge on the pizza. If you really think about it, what is pizza? It’s nothing more than flat-bread with stuff on it. Tonight, for example, I found small container of cooked spinach, and a half head of both broccoli and cauliflower. So I cooked everything aglio e olio (seasoned with plenty of aglio and hot peppers), topped topped it with cheese and baked it. I ate it with a small salad while I baked the two loaves of bread. It was one of the most flavorful pizzas I’ve had in quite a while. Sometimes it’s the simplest concoctions that turn out the best. To make this pizza crust use any of the whole wheat bread recipes found here. And to see how to cook virtually anything aglio e olio, see these links. And in the meantime…make some dough and put some stuff on it…
January 16, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, Culinary Freedom, Food Photography, Homemade, photography, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
This bread is by far the most common bread that I make…it’s my everyday bread. It is exceedingly easy to make, and good for you. It takes just a few basic ingredients and a few hours of your time (with minimal effort). Below are pictures and the very basic directions on how to make it. To learn more about this recipe (and a couple others) and on the ingredients symbiotic relationship, read this article which I wrote for Artvoice a while ago. So here we go…
Begin by combining some of the flour and water, and a tablespoon or two of vital wheat gluten in one bowl (the autolyse) and some of the flour, water, and yeast in another (the preferment). Allow these to rest for a minimum of one hour but as long as 24 hours.
After the alotted time, combine the contents of both bowls into the bowl of an upright electric mixer that is fitted with a dough hook. Then add another tablespoon of yeast…
A couple teaspoons of kosher salt…
A bit of honey…
And some olive oil…
Turn on the mixer and run it on low just until it begins to form a dough.
Then turn it up to medium and knead the dough for about 10 minutes.
You’ll know the dough has been kneaded enough when it passes the “windowpane test.”
Place the dough in a bowl or dough rising bucket and allow it to ferment and rise at room temperature for about an hour or so; it is ready when it has doubled in size.
After the dough has risen, turn it out onto a stable and lightly floured work surface.
Cut the dough into two or three pieces…
Shape the pieces into loaves…
Place the loaves into lightly oiled pans…
And allow them to rise at room temperature for about 45-60 minutes.
Bake the bread in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes…
Then remove the bread from the oven and from their pans (if they are sticking to their pans allow them to sit for about 5 minutes at room temp and they will loosen), and rest them on a wire rack or clean towel and allow them to cool for a few minutes before slicing.
Now here’s the actual recipe…
Makes 2 loaves
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup water
2 teaspoons instant yeast
————————
4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
1 3/4 cups water
————————
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons instant yeast
3 teaspoons kosher salt
In one bowl make a preferment by combining 2 cups of whole wheat flour with 2/3 cups water and 2 teaspoons of instant yeast. Begin the autolyse in another bowl by combining 4 cups of whole wheat flour, two tablespoons of vital wheat gluten, and 1 3/4 cups water. Stir each bowl just enough to combine the ingredients, taking care not to get yeast into the bowl with the autolyse. If the contents in either of the bowls need more water, add a small amount. Cover both bowls and allow to rest and ferment for 30-90 minutes, during which time the preferment will begin it’s job multiplying yeast and fermenting flour, and the autolyse will soak the grain, swelling the gluten.
After an hour or so, combine the ingredients from both bowls into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the honey, olive oil, salt, and 3 teaspoons of yeast (add the yeast and salt on opposite sides of the bowl). Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled container, cover it loosely, and allow to ferment for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in bulk. Deflate the dough and allow it to ferment an additional 30 minutes.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
January 16, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, Food Photography, Homemade, photography, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
This bread is by far the most common bread that I make…it’s my everyday bread. It is exceedingly easy to make, and good for you. It takes just a few basic ingredients and a few hours of your time (with minimal effort). Below are pictures and the very basic directions on how to make it. To learn more about this recipe (and a couple others) and on the ingredients symbiotic relationship, read this article which I wrote for Artvoice a while ago. So here we go…
Begin by combining some of the flour and water, and a tablespoon or two of vital wheat gluten in one bowl (the autolyse) and some of the flour, water, and yeast in another (the preferment). Allow these to rest for a minimum of one hour but as long as 24 hours.
After the alotted time, combine the contents of both bowls into the bowl of an upright electric mixer that is fitted with a dough hook. Then add another tablespoon of yeast…
A couple teaspoons of kosher salt…
A bit of honey…
And some olive oil…
Turn on the mixer and run it on low just until it begins to form a dough.
Then turn it up to medium and knead the dough for about 10 minutes.
You’ll know the dough has been kneaded enough when it passes the “windowpane test.”
Place the dough in a bowl or dough rising bucket and allow it to ferment and rise at room temperature for about an hour or so; it is ready when it has doubled in size.
After the dough has risen, turn it out onto a stable and lightly floured work surface.
Cut the dough into two or three pieces…
Shape the pieces into loaves…
Place the loaves into lightly oiled pans…
And allow them to rise at room temperature for about 45-60 minutes.
Bake the bread in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes…
Then remove the bread from the oven and from their pans (if they are sticking to their pans allow them to sit for about 5 minutes at room temp and they will loosen), and rest them on a wire rack or clean towel and allow them to cool for a few minutes before slicing.
Now here’s the actual recipe…
Makes 2 loaves
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup water
2 teaspoons instant yeast
————————
4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
1 3/4 cups water
————————
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup olive oil
3 teaspoons instant yeast
3 teaspoons kosher salt
In one bowl make a preferment by combining 2 cups of whole wheat flour with 2/3 cups water and 2 teaspoons of instant yeast. Begin the autolyse in another bowl by combining 4 cups of whole wheat flour, two tablespoons of vital wheat gluten, and 1 3/4 cups water. Stir each bowl just enough to combine the ingredients, taking care not to get yeast into the bowl with the autolyse. If the contents in either of the bowls need more water, add a small amount. Cover both bowls and allow to rest and ferment for 30-90 minutes, during which time the preferment will begin it’s job multiplying yeast and fermenting flour, and the autolyse will soak the grain, swelling the gluten.
After an hour or so, combine the ingredients from both bowls into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the honey, olive oil, salt, and 3 teaspoons of yeast (add the yeast and salt on opposite sides of the bowl). Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled container, cover it loosely, and allow to ferment for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in bulk. Deflate the dough and allow it to ferment an additional 30 minutes.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
January 2, 2013
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, Food Photography, Homemade, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat 2 Comments
This bread is really delicious, nutritious, and simple to make. But contrary to what you may be thinking it is not overtly sweet (just mildly); it’s really a savory bread (but it does make great French Toast); I’ve eaten 3/4 of a loaf in the past few days. The sweet potato adds more than flavor and nutrition to the bread, it also adds a certain subtle softness and airiness. You’ll be surprised how soft this bread is even though it is made with 100% whole wheat flour. Anyhow, the recipe is below.
4 cups whole wheat flour
Boil the sweet potato in the water for about 20 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked. After the sweet potato is cooked allow it to cool in the liquid to room temperature, refrigerating if necessary. Once cooled drain it, squeezing it with your hands or the back of a spoon, reserving the cooking liquid.
Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains.
Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
December 22, 2012
100% whole wheat, bread recipes, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I post this recipe relatively frequently, but it is so easy to make and so delicious I likely do not post it enough. While Ezekiel Bread may be my favorite bread, this is my “everyday bread” because it is so easy to make, delicious, and nutritious. It’s made with 100% whole wheat flour and a handful of other simple ingredients that you likely have in your pantry. I’ve long been a proponent that bread nearly makes itself…you merely mix the ingredients, provide the right conditions, and guide it along.
In one bowl make a preferment by combining 2 cups of whole wheat flour with 2/3 cups water and 2 teaspoons of instant yeast. Begin the autolyse in another bowl by combining 4 cups of whole wheat flour, the gluten, and 1 ½ cups water. Stir each bowl just enough to combine the ingredients, taking care not to get yeast into the bowl with the autolyse. If the contents in either of the bowls need more water, add a small amount. Cover both bowls and allow to rest and ferment for 30-90 minutes, during which time the preferment will begin it’s job multiplying yeast and fermenting flour, and the autolyse will soak the grain, swelling the gluten. After an hour or so, combine the ingredients from both bowls into the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the honey, olive oil, salt, and 3 teaspoons of yeast (add the yeast and salt on opposite sides of the bowl). Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled container, cover it loosely, and allow to ferment for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in bulk. Deflate the dough and allow it to ferment an additional 30 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and cut it into 2 or 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place into lightly oiled pans. Loosely cover the loaves with plastic wrap and allow to ferment for 30-60 minutes, or until double in size and when gently touched with a fingertip an indentation remains. Bake the breads for about 30-40 minutes, adding steam to the oven a few times (either with ice cubes or a spray bottle) and rotating the breads every ten minutes. The breads are done when they are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped upon. Remove the breads from their pans and allow them to cook on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
December 13, 2012
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, bread recipes, cooking as therapy, Food Photography, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
I haven’t posted this recipe in a while (actually I haven’t made this bread in a while), and I forgot how delicious it is. Really easy to make; a few simple ingredients (100% whole wheat); and so delicious you’ll eat it for breakfast (makes great toast), lunch (do I even have to mention sandwiches), and dinner. Anyhow, the recipe is below.
December 1, 2012
100% whole wheat, Bread Making, cooking as therapy, Ezekiel Bread, Ezekiel Bread Recipe, Homemade, urban simplicity, whole grain, Whole Wheat Leave a comment
Beautiful isn’t it? Bread made with 100% whole wheat flour and just a few other ingredients. If you’ve been to this blog before you know that my diet is the antithesis of a low-carb or gluten-free diet…the bulk of my diet consists of bread, rice, and pasta (with vegetables, meat, and fish). And for this reason about ten years ago I gradually switched to cooking and baking primarily with whole wheat/whole grains–because they are really good for you–and it was a learning curve to say the least. And while my Ezekiel Bread recipe is one of my favorites, and indeed the most popular post on this blog, the bread that is pictured is the bread that I make most often…it is my “everyday bread.” Whole wheat flour and a few other ingredients; that’s it. It’s easy to make, really delicious, and super healthy. To see more explicit pictures of it being made and to read more about the process of controlled fermentation, read this post. The read more about how to bake with whole wheat flour, read this article in Artvoice. Otherwise, the very simple recipe is below.
