How to make home made, Artisan bread.

Tony has been baking bread for many years and loves experimenting with bread from around the world. He enjoys passing on his experience.

Fresh From The Oven

Daily Bread

Give us our daily bread.

Bread is such a fundamental food and there is nothing more satisfying than baking your own. The evocative smell of fresh bread stimulates the appetite and has to be a favourite smell.

For over 30.000 years, man has made some sort of bread, even before the first recognised civilisations crude grain mixes were being made into flour to bake some type of bread.

As a foodstuff of great historical and contemporary importance bread has been used as a symbol of life and a euphemism for money, in many languages the word for bread has been incorporated into a language, for example The word companion comes from Latin com- "with" + panis "bread".

The Structure of Wheat

Wonderful Aromas ans Delicious Flavours.

The Origins of Bread Making

As civilisations began to emerge and crops were improved, so bread improved. Wheat, which is the only grain to contain gluten, and makes the dough nice and stretchy, slowly emerged as the best crop for bread making.

There is one problem for milling wheat, wheat is rather an odd shape, with a crease down one side.

Stone Ground Flour

Traditional stone ground flour for bread contained much more bran than modern ground flour. Modern steel mill wheels have teeth that split the grain so that more of the bran and semolina can be removed. The flour used for supermarket white loaves has had all the bran and most of the goodness knocked out of it by massive steel rollers that reduce the wheat to dust.

There are specialist millers still who are more careful, and after first milling it with toothed wheels to crack the wheat they sieve it to remove the bran and the semolina before milling it again, the semolina then goes to smooth rollers to grind it into flour. Semolina is very hard so it is gradually reduced making it into flour by grinding and sieving several times.

If wholemeal is required then all the bran and wheat germ is added back. The end result is a consistent quality flour which can absorb water (slows down the staling of bread) and feed the yeast (to give more lift).

Chef's Tip

N.B. 1g instant dry yeast = 1.25g active dry yeast = 2.5g fresh yeast

Finished dough temperature: - 28º c if possible

The French method of dough making

Bread Recipes

There are so many recipes for bread, and just about everyone has their own favourite no matter from which country around the world they come from.

I suppose bread breaks into two main categories, leavened, or risen bread and unleavened bread such as chapatis and flatbread.

Sourdough bread is the oldest way of making bread by using the natural yeast in the air and grain. The flour and water are left to ferment using these natural yeasts that are in the are.

There is some evidence that this style of bread is better for diabetics than normal yeasted bread.

Recipe for a Simple Loaf

Ingredients.

500 gm of strong white bread flour. There are many different flour types, but the easiest one is white flour. I like to use a mixture of flour; one third of each of these, white, whole grain, wholemeal. The result is a very nice blend to be eaten anytime.

A pinch of salt

1 ½ teaspoon of sugar, or you can use honey if you wish.

300 ml of warm water

Yeast, I use one sachet of dry yeast.

And that is about it, of course you can add extras; such as sesame, sunflower or poppy seeds or a combination just as you please.

Chef's Tip #2

Tip if you want really crusty bread, place a metal tray in the bottom of the oven to get hot and then add some water to turn to steam during the cooking.

you can also mist your dough as you put it in the oven.

Instructions for Making Bread.

1. Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until you have a slightly sticky dough.
2. Prepare your work surface with a generous dusting of flour.
3. Put onto your floured work surface and knead until the dough becomes smooth and stretchy, soft and silky.
4. Place back into your bowl and cover for 30 minutes this is called the ‘bulk proof’. In this time, it should double in size.
5. Turn the dough onto the work surface.
6. Push the gas out without tearing the dough and then bring the sides of the dough into a tight ball. (This process is called “knocking back.”)
7. Put to one side (cover with a damp tea towel to avoid it skinning) and stand it for another 15 minutes, this is called inter­mediate proof.
8. Knock back the dough again and then mould it into your final shape.
9. Place on your tray or into the bread tin and cover it again to keep it nice and moist.
10. Stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes final proof.
11. Bake at about gas mark 9; 240ºC for ten minutes.
12. Then for another ten minutes at gas mark 6, 200º C, finally turn your bread over and cook again at gm 6 for another ten minutes.

How to Enjoy Your Dailey Bread

So often these days bread just holds in the contents of a sandwich or mops up the gravy, but at one time it was the meal and consequently more important.

So I suggest that you try making your bread and then enjoy it by cutting some real 'door-step' slices spreading thickly with some quality butter or soft cheese.♥

Bread Craft

Just before you pop it in the oven, you need to make a couple of slits in the top to allow it to rise easily. So why not be a little bit artistic and make up a design for your bread.

Go to my other bread recipes

• Indian style Chapatis and Roti, cooking on an India style iron Tawa pan
  An easy to follow guide for making great tasting chappaties and roti. Lots of tips and advice.
• Milk Loaf, Fruit Malt loaf, Bread Recipes
  The recipe and easy to follow instructions for two totally different loaves, and yet they both are full of taste and comfort. Indulge yourself with these two old favourites.

HIgh in fibre a fantastic food source

Wholemeal Bread

Wholemeal bread.

A good wholemeal loaf is a complete meal in itself, spread it with butter, add a little homemade jam; you are now as close to heaven as you’ll ever be in this life.

Make what is known as a flying sponge, which will help to give it an extra lift.

With wholemeal flour you must let it soak awhile, so don’t be in a hurry. Have a coffee about now, maybe do a crossword. Keep the sponge somewhere warm.

Ingredients for Making the Sponge

• 100 gms Whole wheat flour
• 1 oz Fresh Yeast or 4gms dried
• 100 ml Luke warm water

Instructions for Making Your Sponge.

1. Add your flour to a warm bowl.
2. Add your yeast.
3. Add your warm water.
4. Mix the ingredients.
5. Store in a Kilner Jar or any jar with a loose fitting lid. This allows the natural Yeasts to get into the mix.
6. Store in a warm place.

Chef’s Tip #3

I like to rinse my metal mixing bowl with quite hot water before I start; this makes sure that everything stays warm.

Daily Bread

Ingredients for Bread Making.

1. 400 gms of Wholemeal flour.
2. 100 gms Starter mix.
3. 50 gms Strong white flour.
4. 350 ml lukewarm water.
5. 1 Teaspoon of salt.
6. 1 Tablespoon of butter or oil.
7. 12 gms dried yeast.

Instructions for making Wholemeal Flour

1. Put your flour into the mixing bowl and make a depression in it.
2. Add the sponge carefully turning the dry flour over it.
3. Leave it to soak for five minutes.
4. Add the other ingredients.
5. Start your mixer using the dough hook on its slowest mix.
6. Add more water but mix very gently.
7. Add salt and butter.
8. Mix to a smooth dough.
9. If it looks to tightening up add more water the last thing you want now is it to go dry.
10. When it starts to come away from the edge of the bowl, rest it a few minutes and then mix again. (if you are using a machine, do not mix for more than ten minutes.)
11. Turn it out onto a floured board.
12. Knead gently for a few minutes.
13. Put aside to rest.
14. Let it rise for ten minutes until it is noticeably bigger.
15. Shape your dough or place in loaf tins and leave to rise for about an hour.

Cook at gas mark 7 or 450º for about 22 minutes.

Now for the best bit, let it cool on a wire tray, slice it thickly, and add a generous layer of butter. That is a complete meal nothing else required.

Cook Time

• Use up your leftover bread easy recipes, Bread and Butter pudding and a Tuscan La Panzanella
  Bread and Butter pudding, tasty dessert, plus an Italian classic salad

Comments

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on July 06, 2015:

thanks for nice comment. I love bread making and when I've time I like to try something a bit different, I added caraway seeds recently which was interesting although I don't think I'll do it again.

good luck.

Paula from The Midwest, USA on June 28, 2015:

Hello Tony, what a great hub! I love bread, maybe too much. Recently I needed some really good bread to make a great sandwich. I would have loved to make some bread like some you share here. I will have to bookmark this for future use! Voted up and more. Thanks for sharing!

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on June 12, 2015:

pstraubie48

hi there thank you for your comment. I agree with you about the joy of baking bread at home. My flour supplier imports flour from all over Europe and the flavours are really special.

Happy baking

ttfn

Tony

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on June 09, 2015:

I will have to give your wholemeal recipe a try. Just within the last three years I have learned to make bread. And it is so satisfying. The baking bread fills the entire house with an intoxicating aroma. YUMMM Thanks for this well explained hub

Angels are on the way to you this evening ps

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on July 08, 2013:

Indian Chef

Thank you for your visit and kind comments, votes are always appreciated. Have a try and you will never buy shop bread again once you have tasted your own.

regards

Tony

Indian Chef from New Delhi India on July 07, 2013:

I never made any bread at home and your step by step instructions with such beautiful pictures made it look so easy. Voting it up and awesome.

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on July 04, 2013:

vespa

I'm a complete bread-nut, there is nothing of greater taste and better value for money and as healthy than home made bread. Even the smell is wonderful.

thanks for following and your kind comments.

regards

Tony

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on July 03, 2013:

Ah, there's nothing like hot-from-the-oven wholemeal bread. I enjoyed your recipes and beautiful photos. I wish I had a loaf in my hands right now! Thank you for sharing.

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on May 31, 2013:

HendrikDB

thanks for calling by and leaving your thoughts on the subject.

regards

Tony

HendrikDB on May 31, 2013:

Thanks! You are correct, bread is easy and simple to make, but very delicious; especially fresh out of the oven with bread and jam!

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on April 24, 2013:

rajan

thank you for the kind comments and vote up. I hope you do try as I'm sure you will enjoy them if you like bread.

regards

Tony

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on April 24, 2013:

Tony, your breads are tantalizing. I can literally smell their fragrance. Thanks for sharing these recipes and one of these days I'll be trying out one.

Voted up, useful and awesome.

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on February 26, 2013:

Viking305

I agree there is nothing as good as home made. I can't eat shop bought bread any more it tastes so bad.

Thank you for the votes and twitter

regards

Tony

L M Reid from Ireland on February 25, 2013:

I do love to make my own bread too. Shop bought bread is not anything like what you can make yourself. Thanks Tony for a very interesting hub about the history of bread making and the great recipes

Shared on Twitter and voted up

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on April 12, 2012:

Derdriu,

with good bread you need very little else, Jersey butter is my favourite, a deep yellow hue, and rich taste.

I'll look for another cheese for the recipes other than M/Jack.

regards

Tony

Derdriu on April 11, 2012:

Tony, Yes, I do bake my own bread, but not recently. A simple slathering of butter, cheese (not Monterey Jack) or honey will do it for me in terms of covering my bread, which I prefer not to do too much.

Respectfully, Derdriu

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on April 11, 2012:

Derdriu,

smelly-telly would be good for some things, I can image the smells floating through space, going where no smells have gone before. Beam me up.

Italian bread is covered in my ciabatta, and focaccia recipes, although I have more in the pipe line.

I'n not into sweet so much, I like pate and cheese spread on my bread. Every year I make loads of different batches of what ever fruit is abundant, but most of it I give away. what do you like on your bread? do you bake your own?

many thanks Derdriu.

regards Tony

Derdriu on April 10, 2012:

Tony, What aroma, fragrance and scents you spread cybernetically with your appetizing, delicious, scrumptious bread! In particular, I appreciate your pivotal, practical tips such as on having crusty bread and custom-designed tops.

Do you have a recipe for Italian bread?

Do you ever have bread with honey, jams or jellies?

Thank you for sharing, voted up + all.

Respectfully, Derdriu

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on March 05, 2012:

HI Matthew

thanks for the comment. I'm sure you are right, the cultivation of wheat, baking bread and brewing beer all seem to be fundamental to the onset of civilisation, although I think they were using wild grains even before that.

cheers Tony

Matthew Kirk on March 04, 2012:

Have my own little theory on the history of bread. Perhaps the very base of civilisation?

https://matthewkirk.hubpages.com/hub/A-brief-histo...

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on November 15, 2011:

Hi phil

there is nothing like home made anything and bread is no exception. Get the machine going and get some made, you'll be so glad you did. Hand making is not so hard, and very satisfying; most mornings I spend a couple of hours baking for the day, and friends and family.

Phil Plasma from Montreal, Quebec on November 14, 2011:

We have a bread machine that doesn't get used very often, obviously it isn't what you are suggesting here, but your hub reminds me that we should make use of it more often.

Voted up and interesting.

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on July 24, 2011:

Hi rishiks

many thanks for vote, an d I am glad that you thought it useful.

sorry for delay in reply but I have unfortunately been in hospital for the past week or so

cheers

RishiKS from India on July 14, 2011:

I am voting this up. It is a very informative hub. Thanks for sharing this with us :)

Tony Mead (author) from Yorkshire on July 01, 2011:

Hi Rod

thanks for the comment, I think every country has its own type and style, and so many cerals can be used, I've made bread with rice, potato,semolina, to mention a few

try my simple recipe and enjoy

cheers

Rod Marsden from Wollongong, NSW, Australia on July 01, 2011:

I will vote up. You are right about the historical aspects of bread. It has a very long history in many countries.

Mind,you ancient Egyptian style and Lebanese style bread tends to be circular and flat. German black bread tends to be ideal for soups and stews but not so good for sandwiches. So there are in reality quite a few different varieties that have come about. I have barely touched the surface.