Reply to: Are Nuts a Waste of Time?

[hyperD]

Is it true that organic flour doesn't produce as good a loaf?

Not sure about that - I always use organic to avoid the enhancers etc It might be that the improvers used in non-organic flour could "rescue" or boost a bad bread mix but I've not noticed any problems with organic. Sometimes if the yeast is a little lazy it can take some time for the bread to rise but normally it the opposite: bread rises out of the bowl with the same enthusiasm as the green gunk from the b-movie Andromeda Strain.

[ladymuck]

I don't use a bread machine any more as I find it's just as quick and better for making nice shapes using "au natural" and an oven (with some sprayed water/dish of water in to avoid drying the bread out while cooking).

Have to admit I do tend to use it just for the kneading and such, and then do rolls or other shapes in the oven. Means I can get on with other things and not have to worry that I've forgotten about it (yet) again.

I have done garlic bread, very yum! Also done some herby ones, and an olive and sundried tomato. Just need to get the hang of a decent wholemeal loaf! Is it true that organic flour doesn't produce as good a loaf?

[Fungus]

Perhaps he meant kneed.

Perhaps me meant need.

[stackpole]

All sorts of different nuts I put in, and they make quite a rattle as you kneed the mix.

knead

Perhaps he meant kneed.

[Lucifer Box]

hyperD, sounds like you had a super holiday and were lucky to get in there before the mob arrives. And some new work awaiting your return as well.

You should definitely give it a go with the butter. I make all my own butter now and it's so easy and so superior to the shop product. It sounds corny but it's how butter used to taste, creamy with that slightly sharp aftertaste.

The beans are easy to do, but take a long time to do as the secret of the flavour is in the cooking time. You can make a massive batch and freeze them successfully in portions.

Anyways, soak your haricot beans (about 400g) overnight in cold water, drain and rinse. Cover with more cold water then boil rapidly for 10 mins and simmer for 30.

Now to make the sauce. In a flameproof casserole whack in 60g dark muscovado, 2tbsp tomato puree, 2tsp black treacle, 2tsp golden syrup, 2tsp mustard powder plus salt and pepper and warm very gently. When liquid, throw in a few rashers of chopped streaky bacon, 3 or four onions cut into quarters, the drained beans and enough water to get it to the consistency you want. Bring it to the boil then cover tightly and stick in a 140C oven for 4-5 hours (the longer the better).

Delicious.

[hyperD]

Do all sorts, many unrepeatable, even if I tried. The latest one had some fruit in rum stuff left from Xmas and the bread came out purple. Tastes really good.

Ah, the old Star Trek props bread! LOL!

[Churchill]

If you like cheese & jalapeno, try making garlic bread with lumps of real garlic in - very pronounced taste and keeps the Romanians away.

Garlic Bread... Garlic Bread? It's the future!!!

[hyperD]

Bread machine!! I keep leaving it and forgetting to do the extra kneading after the rising periods, so I gave up and slung it all in a box. I did think the sugar element seemed a little excessive and did wonder whether the recipe would work without. I'll give it a try and see how it goes! Thanks!

As LB says, you don't need any extra sugar otherwise you'll get a "fruit cake" type taste.

I don't use a bread machine any more as I find it's just as quick and better for making nice shapes using "au natural" and an oven (with some sprayed water/dish of water in to avoid drying the bread out while cooking).

Also, I over did the yeast on some bread mix and the mixture poured into the heating element stinking the place out. Threw it away as the smell contaminated the bread.

If you like cheese & jalapeno, try making garlic bread with lumps of real garlic in - very pronounced taste and keeps the Romanians away.

[hyperD]

Hello, hyperD, you old gourmand, you. I hope you had a super holiday and are ready and raring to get back into work mode.

I can't quite match that array there, but I made my own baked beans last week. A definite success: I will never buy a can of the over-sweetened, over-salted, modified-starch-laden buggers again.

Many thanks - Anguilla was quite good - a sort of cross between Maldives and Caymans - quiet, no tourists, a la carte cooking at New York prices, white sands and blue lagoon seas... moratorium on development but prob won't last sadly. Expect condos in 5 years from the american investors leading to a Barbados tourist resort.

Just had more work come in from a dormant client - a large airline company (that we happened to be flying with to Anguilla) on top of the usual oil & gas companies. Fearing I might have to outsource all this... well, at least the wife's shopping bills will be paid now...

Baked beans? Now that's good - what do you use as the sauce? (I've still to try making my own butter - will try and do this weekend).

[The Master]

That certainly explains your smile.

[GBH123]

I'm not that old!

but do you have great Baps or should i say Rolls

[ladymuck]

Don't put any sugar in. It's not necessary, despite what any recipes might say.

Are you using a bread machine or kneading au naturel?

Bread machine!! I keep leaving it and forgetting to do the extra kneading after the rising periods, so I gave up and slung it all in a box. I did think the sugar element seemed a little excessive and did wonder whether the recipe would work without. I'll give it a try and see how it goes! Thanks!

If she was naked, at her age her tits'd be getting mixed with the dough...

I'm not that old!

[Churchill]

Don't put any sugar in. It's not necessary, despite what any recipes might say.

Are you using a bread machine or kneading au naturel?

If she was naked, at her age her tits'd be getting mixed with the dough...

[Lucifer Box]

I'm just starting to have a go at that baking thing. I find all my bread turns out too sweet for my liking. Does it have to take ages to actually find a nice recipe? I've spent a fortune on flour, etc and have only produced icky rubbish to date. But my fave so far was a very simple jalapeno and cheese effort. Yum!

Don't put any sugar in. It's not necessary, despite what any recipes might say.

Are you using a bread machine or kneading au naturel?

[Churchill]

Evil little devils that go all bitty and make you cough - having a peanut shoot out you nose is no fun let me tell you

Although a nut in the culinary sense, in the botanical sense the fruit of the peanut is a woody, indehiscent legume or pod and not technically a nut.