Epic Bread Quest... baking bread = failure #2!

Here's my second post on my quest to bake a great loaf of bread... and more failure!  
First off, I have to say that I had a wonderful recipe from a great blogger and she also provided me great tips to work with.  Apparently I can't follow written or verbal directions :(.

The recipe is courtesy of 

Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner, (excellent blog)

and the name of her recipe is:

Grandma Bessie's Homemade Bread

Now you may be asking what happened?  I have that same question swimming in my head too!  As usual the dough started out great, but it never raised to the height I thought it should, but hey... I put them in the oven after waiting SEVERAL hours for the loaves to 'double in size" (I'm beginning to think this is a myth that accomplished bakers say you must obtain just so they can laugh at us fools). OK, back to the oven, I placed them in the oven, set the timer, and because the loaves need to bake about 40 minutes I went back to make some jewelry (no wasted time for me!).  I could smell the bread baking, and my stomach was rumbling, I was imagining the huge pat of butter I was going to put on that first piece of hot sliced bread!

Making jewelry...some computer work...edited a couple of photo's...sorted some jewelry orders...what is that smell?  Is something burning?  AUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!  I didn't hear the timer! My bread had been in the oven over an hour!!!!!!!!!!

Can you say...

Maybe a SLIGHT exaggeration.

pause for this safety tip

Well, I couldn't bring myself to actually post pictures of the results from this episode of the epic bread quest, I do have my pride, and I know you get the gist...

I am going to persevere!  I will try this recipe again, and let you know...  But check out Pam's blog and browse her recipe's-they are awesome!

I swiped this cartoon, don't tell on me-it's just soo fitting!!!

Easy White Bread Recipe =Failure :( for me....

One of my personal challenges for this year is to learn to make great bread.  I have never been successful with this! Anything that requires me to use yeast seems to turn out badly.
I found this wonderful recipe and thought "hmmmm, I can make this!"  Nope, it turned out sad...
The bread actually tasted great but I made flat bread instead of raised bread-lol.
But because the recipe tasted really great I want to share it with you, and I will go back to the drawing board to try again...

This is what great bread looks like

EASY WHITE BREAD

(Makes 4 loaves)

4 c. warm water (divided)

8 Tbsp. sugar

4 Tbsp. yeast

4 Tbsp. vegetable oil

4 tsp. salt

7-8 c. flour

Add the sugar to 1 c. warm water, and then dissolve yeast in the sugar water.  Let the mix rest until it's doubled in size.
Pour oil into a large mixing bowl, add the yeast mixture, the remaining water and the salt.
Adding 2-3 cups of flour at a time mix together and knead until the dough is soft and not sticky.
(The dough is too sticky if you touch it and it sticks to your finger)
Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces.

Looking good so far

Set on a greased counter top, cover with a towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
Lightly knead each loaf for 1 minute, then form into loaves and places in greased bread pans.

Hmmm...not so beautiful but still hopeful

Allow to raise until doubled in size.
Bake at 350 degree's for 30-45 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Remove from oven and rub the tops with softened butter. Allow to cool in the pans for 30-40 minutes, then remove from the pan and allow to completely cool. Store in plastic bags.

WHAT HAPPENED?
What my bread turned out like.   This is sad...

WISHING YOU THE SWEETEST OF CHRISTMAS'!

We wish you and your family the sweetest, yummiest, and warmest of Christmas' ever!

Relax, enjoy, eat LOTS of delicious foods, and have yourselves a Merry Big Christmas!

I love the Coca Cola Santa!

I also love Retro Holiday Clipart!

An image that reminds me of my childhood

This just made me smile :)

{Fun in the kitchen}

Last evening I was searching through some older cookbooks looking for a particular recipe that I know I submitted to one book or another, and as I was browsing through my son's 1994 elementary school recipe collection book, I came across this recipe. It made me laugh and smile so I thought I would share it with you!

ELEPHANT STEW

1 Medium size Elephant

1 Ton Salt

1/2 Ton Pepper

500 Bushels of Potatoes

200 Bushels of Carrots

4,000 Sprigs of Parsley

1,000 Gallons of Brown Gravy 

(can be packaged, but prepare it according to package directions prior to using in stew)

2 Small Rabbits (optional)

Cut elephant meat into bite-sized pieces.

This will take about 2months.

  Clean and scrub vegetable, the cut into cubes

(will take another 2 month). 

Place meat in pan and cover with brown gravy,

simmer for 4 weeks.

  Shovel in the salt and pepper to taste.  

When meat is tender add the vegetables.

  (A steam shovel is useful for this.)

  Simmer slowly for an additional 4 weeks. 

Garnish with parsley.

Serves 3,800 people.

If more people are expected, add the 2 rabbits.  This is not really recommended as very few people like hare in their stew.

Submitted by Ruth Petter