basic ingredients

This post we will discuss the basic ingredients needed to make bread.

Flour : One of the most ingredient you will find in making bread is flour...which comes in a wide array of different kinds.....most recipes I have found use all-purpose flour....but some might use self-rising, whole wheat ,rye, to name a few...

When making bread....most recipes call for a leavening agent of sorts....,that's where baking soda and baking powder comes into play in the recipe....
Baking powder is a combo of baking soda and cream of tartar...
these can be used together or alone in the recipes

Butter or margarine: most common form of fat to be used in recipes, although shortening, oils, even
                                bacon drippings and lard( these last two aren't a healthy option but sure does
                               enhance the flavor of the breads)...
                      another side note on butter or margarine stick variety is better then the tub.

Eggs: use large grade A when possible, I use fresh eggs when our hens are laying...

Milk: not all recipes call for milk ,but when used it could come in a wide array such as evaporated,
             skim, dry ,etc.

 

Sweetener: white sugar is the most common sweetener used, but honey, white corn syrup,

dark corn syrup ,molasses, brown sugar could be used

 

If you are making a yeast form of bread , of course yeast is used...active or bread

 

now other things that maybe used as ingredients buttermilk( I know this should be in the milk category),

Heavy cream to add richness ( another dairy product)

Canola oil ( commonly used because of the low saturated fat)

   Sour cream or yogurt to impart richness and mild acidity or tang to baked goods

Now that we have discussed some of the equipment and a few ingredients....I thinks we need to start baking...hhhmmmmm what should we bake first...biscuits, loaf bread, sweet bread( fruit bread), coffee cake( I thinks this bread), pancakes, muffins, the types of bread are endless....

                                                     ENJOY!

equipment

I'm going to try this year of bread recipes again...might be more then a year....because who don't like bread....ooooooooo bread....
These recipes maybe muffins, biscuits ,loaf bread, sweet breads,pancakes( these are a form of bread ,right)....fruit bread.....

So the first part of this challenge I'm giving myself is we will focus on the equipment that is used making breads ,of various types...

   

Blenders: these can do various jobs pureeing foods ,needs to be a glass container

 

Food processor: need this for chopping,puree and mix the batter

 

Mixing spoons: not only a wooden spoon, whisks( various sizes)

 

Rubber spatulas: used to scrape dough, need various sizes ,but you can if need be  just one spatula.

 

Pastry brush; for dusting off that extra flour....

 

 

 

 

 

Flour sifter: a whisk or fork can do this job of sifting if you don't have one.

 

mixing bowls: various sizes to mix that dough

 

Wire cooling racks: to cool that bread,...but I don't use these

Various loaf pans, muffin tins: What you need to depends on what king of bread you are making...( if making doughnuts- need a deep fryer), ( if making pancakes- need a griddle of sorts)...

Im sure im leaving out a maybe a few items that you need, but  these are ones I can think of.....

ENJOY!