Here is my second bread to show off for Bread Week: an artisan cinnamon raisin bread. I’d say that it is a cinnamon “swirl” bread, but with no knead breads, they are pretty hard to create the swirl itself, so it is more like cinnamon “streak” bread. I know that raisins are a a controversial food item (sort of like Brussels Sprouts). If you don’t like ’em, leave ’em out. 🙂
Browsing Category
Breads
Anadama Bread: one of those typically Massachusetts / New England breads. I actually revised this one — and then entered it into a contest, which I don’t think that I will win, but nevertheless, I entered — by adding a little bit of nutmeg, a very dark avocado blossom honey to go with the molasses, and then baking it in one of my dutch ovens instead of the traditional loaf pan. Came out quite nicely. It’s a lovely breakfast bread, so may become part of my standard bread making routine.
More experimenting with artisan non-knead breads baked in my Le Creuset Dutch Ovens. I am still not 100% with the texture of this Rosemary, Fig and Toasted Pine Nut Rustic Loaf — a little too dense — but I actual fear that I added too many figgy bits. Serves me right as I love figs, but too much of a good thing can hinder the rise. nevertheless, a decent attempt, flavor is good and the crusty outside from the dutch oven is amazing.
I had a bout of insomnibaking last night and this morning. I went to bed at a reasonable time, but then woke up at about oh-dark-thirty, thinking about focaccia. Yep, strange thing to be dreaming about, but I have been ruminating on this recipe for a while, so maybe less of a surprise than one would think. It is actually the base for a pizza/focaccia recipe from America’s Test Kitchen, and then I started drawing with veggies and grains. Anyway, believe it or not, I got up, made the dough for this and went back to bed. Then, as I always get up at about 5 AM, before work I made the rest of it and baked it off just before work. It is actually really good, so even though it is “artwork” (it actually looks like a 4 years old’s drawing), you can eat it. I could see an Italian restaurant serving this as a starter with olive oil and sea salt. Nom nom nom.