Baking Bread

I’m just about to go into an 11 am baking course 
Today it’s bread, the type of which I’m not sure of yet.
I’ve not been before so this is a new skill.
More information later! 


I made two bloomers on the course.  One sourdough which just needed stretching and folding and a classic white boomer which just needed “ knocking back” instead of intense kneading. 
The course was open to all, but clearly had been designed for people on low budgets and limited experience. 
On my table was Leanne, a mum in her twenties who wanted to boost her self esteem ( her words not mine) and Tony who was an unemployed retail worker and lived with his mum. 
We had a jolly laugh all told. 
Leanne was surprised to see me there “given the well known fact that all gays bake well”
Tony had come because he was interested after watching Bake Off in the autumn.
I gave Tony one of my loaves at the end, I couldn’t eat them both
I stopped off at Home bargains on the way home to get a dinosaur tidy away box and then valeted Bluebell at the garage before my final job of the day, sorting out the patio clearance which I will get stuck into after writing this.



64 comments:

  1. I'd love to be there, if only to deeply inhale the aroma of freshly baked bread! A big bowl of home-made soup, too, is calling. xx

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    Replies
    1. It’s a. Lovely loaf to be sure ( gawd I sound like a Nancy from Oliver Twist)

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  2. I'm about to toast an M&S hot x bun. Not really baking is it? hehe x

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    1. But it’s not an ordinary hot cross bun, it’s a marks and spencer hot cross bun

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    2. And now i am saying that in an awful Irish accent hehe x

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  3. Anonymous1:09 pm

    Baking courses are such fun and of course you get to eat your efforts x
    Alison in Wales x

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    Replies
    1. And with proving time we had time for tea and buiscuits

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  4. Loaf of bread in the bread maker machine as I type. Easy, good and no strange ingredients.

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  5. Anonymous1:32 pm

    Watch out , bread baking is therapeutic. It may give your experiences in counseling a run for it's money! Or you may be able to recommend bread baking to your counseled patients. Great rewards in the end.
    B. Gemma's person.

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    Replies
    1. I wanted to learn how to knead bread properly like proper sandwich loaves do

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  6. Replies
    1. It was nice to meet a few people I would never have worked with or met before

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    1. Anonymous8:41 pm

      DO YOU EVER STOP AND DO NOTHING???

      Keith

      Xx

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  8. YUM !! I was about to say the same as Sue in Suffolk ..... you know what ingredients have gone into it .... most of what we buy from the supermarket has the most awful things in .... I've suddenly become aware. There's a nutritionist who says don't buy anything unless the ingredients are in your kitchen cupboards ! Have fun baking XXXX

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    1. Slightly warm , when I got home, I bought some proper butter…bloody lovely
      It was a nice morning as I taught the group how to make butter

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  9. I like how "Bake Off" inspired Tony!

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    1. Yes I liked the fact he’d made the effort to attend , a big step for a post teen bloke

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  10. Anonymous3:10 pm

    I bake that type of bread and love to have it in the house. Thought you might like to know it freezes well. It has no preservatives - it gets stale faster than store bought bread, so I slice and freeze it. When I want some bread I just heat it up in the toaster oven. It comes out like new. Pat in Pennsylvania

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    Replies
    1. I’ve frozen half the loaf

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    2. It's best to defrost a homemade loaf in a plastic bag. then it is just like a fresh loaf

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  11. Your loaf looks scrummy.

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  12. Your loaf looks delicious, I could happily eat the whole thing !
    ~Jo

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  13. That does look a good loaf. I used to enjoy bread making. I don't eat enough bread to justify keeping my sourdough mother going...it was really fun doing that though

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    Replies
    1. I have a friend who can give me some

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    2. I've cut back on bread but keep my sourdough starter fresh by making a batch of sourdough waffles every third week and keeping them in the freezer for warming up in the toaster. This recipe is a really good one https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018025-sourdough-pancake-or-waffle-batter

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    3. More thanks here...that sounds a good and tasty idea

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  14. Sometimes the Bake Off competition stresses me out more than the news here. I also watch the Australian one.

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    Replies
    1. I’ve just watched the judges on YouTube , not a patch on Mary

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  15. There you go, out there shattering stereotypes! Leanne made me laugh. Yes, bread freezes well. Furthermore, you can freeze the dough as well, haul it out when the mood strikes you, let it thaw and raise, and then bake it for a loaf of fresh baked bread anytime.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for that, not told that today

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  16. You've got to love any training course that sends you home with a lovely loaf of bread to eat haven't you.

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    Replies
    1. The centre in Rhyl has many such hands on mini courses

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  17. Looks like a beautiful loaf! I find the smell of baking bread quite comforting and love a warm slice, slathered in butter.

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    1. I bought proper butter on the way home and pulled out the centre from underneath for a taster

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  18. Homemade bread right from the oven to the table is wonderful. Plus there are many variations to experiment with.

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    Replies
    1. It’s made me want to progress on to more courses

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  19. Good job, keep at it!
    Will Jay

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  20. Barbara Anne6:28 pm

    Lovely bread and just the compliment for soup on a cold day!
    Love your new dinosaur box, too.
    I'll send you the recipe used for no-knead bread. He's made it many time is in the last few years with no failures ever. You do need an oven-proof Dutch oven with lid that can also go in the oven. Yum again!

    Hugs!

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  21. Anonymous7:31 pm

    I thought you could bake ? You are always banging on about it?

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    Replies
    1. I can cook well, and I am a good pastry baker but I seldom make fresh bread

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  22. That's a lovely loaf! I had to look up ''bloomer''/ ''boomer'', new term tho I have made bread since I was a child baking w my mom. You may need to refrigerate or freeze the bread, homemade bread gets stale really fast.

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  23. You mentioned people on low budgets. Does making your own bread really work out cheaper than buying a loaf, including the cost of electricity or gas involved?
    Jean.

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    Replies
    1. I think the bread making attracts new cooks, and other courses do all the healthy and cheap education

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  24. Congratulations on getting bread. Oh, that was unnecessary, wasn't it? Sorry.

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  25. 'Bread making' is a great skill to have under one's belt. Well done! I wish I had the skill.

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  26. Your bread looks so inviting! I make a loaf daily in the bread maker but not sure whether it is cheaper than bought bread. I just think it's probably healthier with less additives.

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  27. Have you tried making your own butter? Put some double cream in a jam jar and shake it until it turns into butter. Use the buttermilk to make scones.

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  28. Anonymous12:24 pm

    There is nothing better than freshly baked bread, right out of the oven. The smell is intoxicating to me. Gigi

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  29. Looks wonderful, now that I have more free time, I should bake bread again.

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  30. My breadmaking has been a disaster - but the breadmaking machine is slightly better -But you John can turn your hand to anything x 🍞

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  31. My attempts at bread were less than successful, I switched to dinner rolls with surprisingly good results for a rank amateur, but hey, I'll take it!

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  32. '...the well known fact that all gays bake well.' I wish! This gay gal has had varying success with bread making. I'm glad you enjoyed your mini course - and your bread!

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  33. This IG baker makes small loaf recipes of bread/ beginner friendly. So you won't have to worry about loaves spoiling or too many carbs at once. https://thepracticalkitchen.com/

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