This was originally posted on kimschoenherr.wordpress.com on October 24, 2011.
I like to make bread. Like, a lot. And I much prefer it to buying bread from the store because a) I hate having to leave my apartment when I run out of basic items and b) it’s SUPER fun.
I found the recipe <a href=”http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/11/04/homemade-bread-cheap-delicious-healthy-and-easier-than-you-think/”>here</a>, but it’s hard to read because it’s all split up. The recipe, together, will be at the bottom of the post.
What you’ll need:
1 Packet active dry yeast ($.88/3 packets = $.29)
1 C warm water (free)
1/4 C milk ($2/8 cups (half gallon) = $.25 = $.06)
1 1/2 tbsp sugar ($3/180 tbsp = $.02 = $.03)
1 tsp salt ($.01)
1 1/2 tbsp butter ($1.50/36 tbsp = $.05 x 1.5 = $.07)
2 1/2 – 3 1/2 C flour ($3.50/20 cups = $.18 x 3 = $.53)
If you’re counting, at full price (nothing on sale, no coupons) that’s $.99 a loaf, with no preservatives, to need to bother with twist ties or plastic bags. And you get the enjoyment of baking your own food. You could bring the cost down by buying a jar of yeast instead of packets, buying on sale, using coupons, shopping around, etc. These are just the approximate prices at Meijer.
<img class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-221″ title=”IMAG1646″ src=”http://kimschoenherr.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/imag1646.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”” width=”571″ height=”342″ />So first, you have to warm the bowl. Basically just fill the bowl with hot water and dump it out. Then put the 1 cup of water and the 1 packet of yeast into the bowl and stir until it’s milky and smooth.
Melt the butter, and mix it, the milk, sugar, and salt into the yeast-water mixture.
Add two of the cups of flour into the mixture and stir.
Once the two cups are incorporated, stir in more flour 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough is sticky, but doesn’t stick to your hands.
<img class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-222″ title=”IMAG1647″ src=”http://kimschoenherr.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/imag1647.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”” width=”572″ height=”342″ />Stirred!
So now, we need to kneed kneed. I just do it in the bowl, over the bowl, whatever. I don’t have a lot of space in my apartment, and I don’t have the patience to clean up a bunch of flour and dough on the counter.
Whatever.
At this point, I turn my oven on warm, cover it with a cloth, and put the bowl on the stove top for 45 minutes. The original recipe says an hour, but again, I don’t have the patience.
<img class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-224″ title=”IMAG1649″ src=”http://kimschoenherr.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/imag1649.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”” width=”573″ height=”342″ />Then it looks like this! And then you get to hit it! Ok, you don’t really have to hit it, just punch it down (I hit it) and take it out of the bowl.
Stretch it into a shape (again, I do this in the air, but I’m too lazy to clean a rebel) about as long as your pan and about 1.5 times the width. Then roll it into a little dough-burrito, tuck the ends under, and put it in the pan, seam side down.
I bet you think you get to bake it now, right? WRONG. Put it back on the stove, cover it back up, and wait another 45 minutes. Watch Law & Order. Comment on all of my blog posts. Ask me why there’s only one thing in my portfolio.
<img class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-228″ title=”IMAG1653″ src=”http://kimschoenherr.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/imag1653.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”” width=”571″ height=”341″ />Does it look like this? Good. Now you can pop it in the oven.
My oven is ridiculous, so I bake at 400 F for 20 minutes. Use your judgment if it doesn’t look done at that point.
<img class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-229″ title=”IMAG1654″ src=”http://kimschoenherr.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/imag1654.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”” width=”574″ height=”342″ />It should look something like this. It make me happy just to look at pictures of it.
You’re supposed to wait for it to cool before you slice it, but I never do. I also make crazy sandwiches like this:
<img class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-231″ title=”IMAG1656″ src=”http://kimschoenherr.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/imag1656.jpg?w=1024″ alt=”” width=”572″ height=”342″ />By the way, that meat? I got it 40% off by going to Meijer at 10PM when the deli closes. Booyahh.
I slice my bread and freeze it, or else I’ll eat it all in 2 days. I use it for everything from sandwiches to toast to burgers.
My next loaf is going to be whole wheat.
The Recipe:
1 Packet active dry yeast
1 C warm water
1/4 C milk
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp butter
2 1/2 – 3 1/2 C flour
Warm the bowl.
Mix water and dry yeast.
Add milk, sugar, salt, and melted butter.
Mix in 2 C flour, then stir in flour 1/4 C at a time until dough is sticky, but does not stick to hands.
Form into a ball, and let rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Punch down.
Form dough to fit into pan, then rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Bake at 400 F for 20-30 minutes.
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