Thursday, October 20, 2011

Comfort food

In my continuing efforts to fatten up my husband, I decided to bake some bread yesterday using the recipe my sister, Judy, brought with her when she came to help us last week.

I was intrigued because cooking and baking are not exactly my sister’s forte. But she insisted that this recipe, and all the recipes from a cookbook she purchased, was simple and that anyone could do it, as long as they followed the instructions.

After making the simple buttermilk bread recipe yesterday and using it as the base for cinnamon raisin bread, the book is now in my cart awaiting purchase at Amazon.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

My only concern is that my husband isn’t the only one around here who will be fattened up.

 

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The recipe is easy to make. Yeast, sugar, salt, warm water, and then unbleached flour are all added to a big bowl and stirred until the dough forms. You then cover loosely, and in two hours the bread dough will have doubled and you can refrigerate until later. No punching down, proofing of the yeast, kneading . . .

I decided to make cinnamon raisin bread (sans the raisins). I rolled out a rectangle of dough, then brushed on an egg wash and sprinkled liberally with a sugar and cinnamon mixture. It was easy to roll up the dough, jelly-pan style, and place in a buttered bread pan to rest for 40 minutes.

 

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Right before I put it in the oven to bake, I added the extra egg wash to the top of the loaf and sprinkled a small amount of sugar. This lent it a beautiful golden crust.

I made this in the early afternoon, so by tea time it was done.

We don’t really have tea time here. I’m just messin’ with ya.

 

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But we did enjoy a wonderful slice of freshly baked bread with a cup of tea at approximately four in the afternoon.

 

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I slathered it with a little butter and served it on my favorite new plate – one I bought on sale at Anthropologie this week.

And biting into this heavenly concoction, I believe I heard the angels sing.

And I saw my husband smile.

Damn, this bread is good.

 

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I bought a new pair of slippers, too.

My favorite sheep slippers, ones I purchased years ago through the Garnet Hill website, had seen better days. I looked on the website, but this particular style from Haflinger was no longer available through Garnet Hill. I posted a photo of them here on this blog, back in early 2009:

Sheep slippers

Luckily, I found them available at Zappos. And even better, I had a store credit I hadn’t used yet. I love these slippers, so I took a photo of them for you. Please don’t mind my pajama pants and my dirty kitchen floor. Thank you.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

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41 comments:

Hilary said...

I have that book, and you are right, the bread is awesome......I find that I just don't get it out very often. And you are right again, it packs on the pounds if you get too liberal with it.
Ooh, but it looks delish.

Laura~peach~ said...

OHHHH DROOL! but please give me raisens too!

Daryl said...

Oh me likee the new ones better .. Zappos is my go-to shoe/boot store .. I have a pair of sheepskin slippers that have been better days and nights .. I might need to mosie/mosey over there and see if they have some similar to the ones I got at another webstore...

Angie said...

Oh YUMMMMM! I have that book---with the cooler weather coming, I need to dust it off and make some too. :P Haflingers---my most FAV shoes in the whole wide world---didn't know about those slippers, tho. Thanks for showing those to us---I'm going to get ME a pair :D

Connie in Hartwood said...

I saw slippers a lot like those at the Plow and Hearth outlet in Madison (Va) ... except they had a pig on them. I almost brought them home.

You're making me hungry again. :)

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

Why oh why can't we just live on bread and butter???

The JR said...

I've been seeing recipes from that book and have really been wanting to try them.

Awesome!

barbara l. hale said...

Yum! That looks great. Love the slippers, too.

Anonymous said...

I've been putting off buying new slippers too because I am so hard on them. I wear them in the house, out into the garage, down the driveway and out to fetch the mail, rain, snow, sleet... Mine are trashed to say the least, but I just don't want to spend a lot of money on a new pair that will also suffer the same demise at my hands... er... I mean feet.

Great looking bread, something I have no will power to refuse if offered..

Carolynn Anctil said...

Just yesterday, I told the Frenchman that one of the first things I want to do when we get a few things unpacked in our new home next week, is bake bread. And pumpkin pie. I have a no-fail bread recipe, but I may give your version a try, too.

LOVE the slippers!!

Lili said...

Oh I have that book too Kate and now I must go downstairs and dig it out. I must have put it away during my last bread binge. Dare I say, you're quite the little cook there with that perfect crust and buttery yumminess! xo ~Lili

JC said...

Well, now you have me thinking I ought to make some bread ...

Gone Country said...

I am always on the lookout for a good bread recipe so thanks for sharing this! Now I have the book on my Amazon Wish List! Where o where is the Fairy Hobmother when I need her, heehee!

Enjoy your bread and don't forget to walk!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I'm thinking I want that bread book. and oooh, do I love those slippers!!...

Michelle said...

If your husband is as scant with verbal praise as mine is, a smile really means something! And. Must.Have.Sheep.Slippers!

Michelle said...

If your husband is as scant with verbal praise as mine is, a smile really means something! And. Must.Have.Sheep.Slippers!

Talia said...

Oh, my! The bread looks amazing. I'd love the recipe!

The slippers are adorable. How I love slippers - perfect foot wear and if I could wear them for work, I would! :)

Reena said...

Lovely post today ... and that bread. Yummy! But it's the slippers that I want to steal away. Okay, maybe I'll just have to go buy me a pair instead.

Jen at Cabin Fever said...

That bread looks awesome! I am such a carbs junkie. And something about this post made me smile. I think it was just because it was such a stream of consciousness. :)

Donalyn said...

That bread is the best thing ever - just wait until it sits for 6 or 7 days - it just keeps getting better. It makes one heck of a great pizza crust too!

Deb said...

cute cute cute slippers....the bread looks good...no calories for looking...

JaneK said...

my mouth literally started watering at that pic of your yummy bread with butter on it! I think your husband will be fattened up in no time with all that yummy food made with incredible amounts of love..... thanks for the posts; and I'm glad you are doing some good things for yourself too such as the plate and slippers!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Cinnamon raisin bread sounds amazing! I love to bake bread when I have time!
Glad to hear that your hubby is improving! I'm loving those slippers--they may just have to go on my Xmas list!
V

Candace said...

So glad to hear your husband is doing well and loving that delish looking bread.

Cloudia said...

that baking smells WONDERFUL!

Glad you are enjoying this healing time.


Aloha from Waikiki;

Comfort Spiral



> < } } ( ° >

Dawning Inspiration said...

I can hear those angels singing when I look at that bread with the melted butter.... oh my goodness that looks delish! Enjoy - WITH your new adorable slippers!

Linda Powers said...

Hi! I haven't read your blog recently (for no reason other than I just hadn't) and I have to tell you, I was sad to learn of your latest problems and trauma with cancer. Your husband is one stubborn fighter, and you aren't too shabby yourself! I'm glad you are able to bake again. And write.
Blessings to you. And happy feet!

Mary said...

Oh man, I used to bake bread all the time back when I was skinny... now I'm too fat to bake it because I would probably break the bathroom scale!

I read somewhere that you should eat bread WITH butter because the fat slows your absorption of all those carbs and thus prevents glucose spikes, or something like that... sounds like a good enough excuse to me.

Love your slippers, btw!
xoxo

Tammy said...

oh how I love the smell of baking bread. i think it's so awesome your hubby smiled - he was in heaven for sure. i love those sheep slippers, gonna go to zappos and check those out, they look warm and comfy.

The Weaver of Grass said...

What;s pyjamas and kitchen floor between friends? Of no importance whatsoever! Glad things are on the up - not too much of that butter on that lovely - looking bread though (double for your husband and none for you would be sensible).

Sheila said...

The bread looks delicious and easy to make. I hope you and your husband enjoy the weekend!

GailO said...

I have that book too! I never made the Cinnamon Raisin bread though...will put that on my to do list:)

Replacing a beloved old piece of clothing is nearly impossilbe! I have been trying to replace my 15 year old slippers too but Uggs no longer makes the same style. I bought mine from Eddie Bauer before Uggs became the "it" shoe...Now they make everything but the one I want:(...I will have to try Zappos!

Anonymous said...

I need this book. I haven't baked bread in quite some time. Photos and post are awesome!

Ruth Andre said...

I have been away and just read through several posts to catch up with you. You are so good to share so many things, even the really hard things. My heart and prayers are with you.

homegrown countrygirl said...

Your photos and writing are so beautiful and so genuine. You share the moments of life like no one else. Much love to you and your husband and your family at this time. (I apologize if this is a repeat comment... I left one comment and it seemed to disappear.)

mrs mediocrity said...

Hahaha... you always make me smile. Love those slippers. Can you send me a slice of that bread?

Bluebird49 said...

I've heard SO much about that book! Maybe I'll check and see if the library has it before I go off half-cocked and buy another book i may not use but once. Of course, I collect cookbooks--but I find I cook less and less by them! And we need to eat more bread like we need a hole in our head around here. Fat and (not too) sassy for both of us old folks!

You're doing SO good--I'm amazed.

Low Tide High Style said...

I'm finally getting caught up, and that bread looks delish! I took some pictures of sheep (the real thing) yesterday, but they aren't nearly as cute as your slippers! I have sheep jammies though...love them!

Kat :)

(GBS) NewsFromTheHill said...

Adorable slippers.... and I love Zappos!
I could practically smell the bread!
Soooo glad that your husband is improving and feeling good enough to be tempted by your culinary feats!

Grace

Mental P Mama said...

I am finding myself drawn to those fancy pajama bottoms...

Donna Boucher said...

Those are the world's cutest slippers!!!