Strong Drink!

In the course of reading numerous books about baking I have come across reference to making bread using Beer, intrigued by this I thought I would give it a go. So a quick trip round a local supermarket on Saturday ended up with me rolling towards the checkout with several well selected bottles clanking noisily in my trolley.
As I was going to substitute beer for the water content I thought wholemeal flour would suit the loaf better but not wanting it to be too dense I settled for a 50/50 split between white and wholemeal. the books I read recommended heating the beer up so as to remove the alcohol and as all the beer was not required the rest had to be drunk or thrown away. Hmm can you guess what happened to it? I can. The dough was a little hard to work but once it had been kneaded it was fine, the bread rose beautifully the first time round and the final result once it had risen again was really good, baked in the oven as I would a white loaf. The result was an excellent loaf and once left to cool down a taste test ensued. there would have been a picture but the bread got eaten within 30 minutes a testement to how good it was.

Baking News Update

I suppose I should start by apologising for not posting anything for the last week so I will, Sorry! I have been so busy with work that I haven't had a chance to update this rambling attempt to document my rise in the baking world. I have been baking on and off over the last week or so and I have pictures to prove it. It was my brothers birthday last week so I made him a giant cupcake with a chocolate topping, I think it went down well but it he may have been more delighted by the indoor firework than the cake.

First coating of chocolate

Second coating plus chocolate bits

Okay the final result wasn't as good a I expected but tasted okay, it must have done because there's none left.

I'm always being asked for cakes and biscuits from my work colleague's and as I need feedback for all my baking efforts they have become my testers. So with a request in mind I whipped up a batch of Lemon Poppy Cupcakes to try out on them. I had some people queuing at my desk before I had a chance to say anything, I think they had spotted the cake tins I was trying very discretely to hide under my desk. They seem to be well received as I had a few requests for more. 

I thought I would try something different out on them, something quick and easy to produce. Biscuits came to mind as they always go well with the afternoon cup of tea. 

Monday Night's Creations

Sticks and stones will break my teeth err, no that's not right. Monday nights efforts saw me turning out a few breadsticks. A basic white loaf dough cut up and rolled out on a baking sheet, allowed to rise and then brushed with olive oil. a sprinkling of salt or pepper and then in the oven for twenty minutes.

Also on the menu was another Walnut and Sultana loaf which went down a treat on Tuesday after a few pancakes were consumed.

My best bread ever so I am told.

Back On Form

This week sees my baking efforts return to form, after last weekend the only way was up. On the menu was a Walnut and Sultana bread with Almonds and an ordinary white loaf. The Walnut Bread was slightly modified as when I went to my cupboards I found that I had run out of Walnuts, so I substituted Hazelnuts instead, I think the overall result was excellent. The principal flour was wholemeal (400g) and the remainder was strong white flour (110g). After the initial rising I then added the nuts and sultanas, rolling the shaped loaf in the almonds and then allowing it to prove for another 40 minutes.

My second loaf turned out just as good but I think you can guess which one got eaten first.

On Course

In my quest for to create the  perfect loaf I have booked myself onto another baking course this one is at The Welbeck Estate School of Artisan Food, just a one day course on baking. The course is on the bank holiday weekend at the end of may, so I've booked a hotel room for a couple of nights to make a bit of a holiday out of it as well. I'm sure there will be plenty of places to visit in the area, I will have to do a bit of research to see whats there.