I think a lot of people are put off making their own bread because they’re worried it’s really tricky and time-consuming, when in actual fact it’s pretty easy, and the results are seriously yummy!
With 4 growing boys, we get through an awful lot of bread in our house! I typically make bread in my breadmaker (up to twice a day!), but I also love to make it by hand. This recipe makes one medium sized loaf, or 12 rolls.
Ingredients:
500g strong white bread flour (substitute 100g of the flour for the same weight of brown flour if you fancy a ‘Best of Both’ loaf!)
300ml hand warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 sachet dried yeast
1 teaspoon salt
Method:
1: Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix together until combined.
2: Leave the bowl in a warm place, with a damp teatowel over it if you like, for about 45 minutes until it’s doubled in size.
3: Turn dough out onto a floured board and give it a good pummeling for 5 minutes. Go on, take out all those frustrations!!!
4: For a loaf, put the dough into a greased bread tin or onto a greased baking tray. For rolls, divide mixture into 12 pieces and place on 2 greased baking trays making sure each piece has plenty of room to grow!
5: Leave the dough for about another 45 minutes until it’s doubled in size again.
6: Preheat oven to 220 degrees celsius and put the bread in. The loaf will take about 30 minutes, the rolls about 15. When cooked, the bread will be risen, golden brown,and sound hollow when tapped from the underneath.
7: Take out of the oven and leave for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.
8: Resist for as long as you can before smothering with butter and devouring!
picky pickers 