Now that I have started the “Bread in a Dutch Oven” method for making bread, I have decided to branch out and do something besides a plain old white bread boule. I decided to make this Cranberry Walnut and Honey loaf. Again the dough is a little gooey, but it turned out alright at the end. I think the next time, I’ll add a little cinnamon.
I’m not sure these photos do these cookies justice: they are HUGE. I mean, big. I mean wicked big. So big, in fact, that I used Ghiradrdelli Dark Chocolate Melting Wafers instead of chocolate chips … but as chocolate chips, just really big ones. They are crispy and golden on the edges and still nice and chewy in the middle. A serving is likely only one cookie (they are 1/4 cup each, 4 inches / 10ish cm in diameter!)
My mum has an expression for “leftovers” that loosely translated from German as “sideways through the refrigerator”. I was almost going to call these “Sideways Through the Pantry” Bars, because I am using up a whole lot of odds and ends: chocolate chips, mini-marshmallows, nuts, Chex cereal. They did end up sort of “Rocky Road”-ish with the chocolate and marshmallows though, so I went with that instead. Definitely gives these time to set up… For some reason, the chocolate took forever to harden!
The story of this loaf of bread (condensed version): I’ve been meaning to make this style of bread for a while, but always forget the overnight rise, so remembered last night at about midnight that I was going to start it. I really must have messed up the water to flour ratio (I think I put in 2 cups or more of water, when it should have been only 1 and a half cups). But I figured I’d run with it, put it in the fridge and this morning — well, while it had risen, it was a gloppy mess. I almost didn’t even bake it up, but thought at the last minute that it would be a waste of good flour if I didn’t even go through the entire experiment.
Into the pre-heated Dutch oven, in the oven, it went at 450F. I had no faith.
But then, after 40 minutes, I opened the lid to a lightly tan, but certain the right shape and with a semi-crusty crust loaf of bread. Fifteen minutes later, uncovered, it was beautiful, risen, crusty and frankly, quite lovely looking. I mean, if you think bread is pretty. 🙂 While the crumb / consistency was a little too dense and chewy, not all was lost and I am completely sold on the “baking bread in a dutch oven” method. Gets out your Le Creuset, kids — I’m going to do some more bread baking (without messing up the water/flour ratio next time)!