I’m really getting into the Great British Bake Off now, despite the missing Mary, Mel and Sue. It’s all about the baking after all.
This week was bread week and I love baking bread…but I’ve not done so for a long time. The signature task was to bake tea cakes, something I’ve never tried before but I may try one day as I do like a nice toasted tea cake with my cuppa. The technical challenge was a cottage loaf, again I’ve not made one before but I do remember making a mini one many many years ago at school. Finally, the show stopper was a bread sculpture, yes, like I’d have the time, or energy for that!
So, I went for the cottage loaf. I love making bread kneading by hand but with my hands giving me so much trouble lately, it was good to have two little helpers to hand, Star and Boo, who each took turns with the kneading.
The recipe I used was a basic white loaf recipe.
Ingredients
500g bread flour
25g butter
1tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp of salt
1tsp dried yeast
320 ml of warm water
Method:
rub the butter into the flour
add the sugar, salt and yeast,
mix in the water a little at a time until you have a firm dough
knead the dough for 10 mins and leave in a bowl covered with cling film, or a tea towel for about 1 hour
knead the dough again and shape into two rounds, one slightly bigger than the other
Put the smaller mound on top of the larger one and push two fingers all the way through both rounds from the middle of the top round.
leave to prove, covered lightly, for a further 30 mins.
Bake at 180 C for 40 mins, or until it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Anne, that looks brilliant and I love that the kids helped out. Did you eat it warm with lots of butter…I love freshly baked warm bread 🙂 #MMBC x
I LOVE bread too. Your cottage loaf looks amazing! I might give it a try – although I'm not known for my bread making/cooking skills 🙂 #MMBC
what a brilliant cottage loaf and how lovely that star and boo helped with the kneading. x
I ate mine with some spiced apple and date home made chutney which was delicious 🙂
all it takes is patience 🙂
I couldn't have done it without them, but they do love to help x
That looks brilliant! You would have got star baker if you were on the show. Well done.
That's a great looking cottage loaf. I think I attempted one once but the top separated from the bottom so it was useful to watch the finger trick on bake off & now I will know for next time!
Anne your loaf looks delicious! the colour of it is glorious too. It looks a little like a tear and share cottage loaf, which is perfect for sharing with your fab helpers after it was baked. thank you for linking to #GBBOBloggers2017. x
Looks fantastic!
Your loaf has a gorgeous glossy finish, did you egg wash it? I'm loving the new format, it seems to have seamlessly moved on and yet stayed the same. Ultimately as you said it is about the bakers.
yes, I did egg gloss it, I don't normally but I fancied something glossy for a change 🙂