NTKOG #111: The kind of thrifty, homey domesticator who eschews preservative-pumped store-bought bread for the fruit of her own kitchen.
I am: a woman living in the 21st century. You know, the one in which the phrase “best thing since sliced bread” is archaic because nobody bakes bread?!
I am not: sure I’ve even bought a loaf of bread since I moved here. I’m more of an English muffin person.
The Scene: My postage-stamp apartment, armed with a few ingredients and a fantastically easy bread recipe from The Simple Dollar. Although the ingredients are all pantry staples, I had to run to the convenience store for milk and butter, ’cause I don’t keep any moo in the house. Dragged my goods up to the dude at the counter and whipped out my Visa.
Cashier: Ooh, sorry, your total is $3.89. We have a $5 credit card minimum.
TKOG: Bugger. Do y’all sell Nutella?
Cashier: Happy Valentine’s Day.
Love it, sir, and love you. Went home and after twenty minutes, the little cutie was rising. After I rolled it out for the second rising, decided to cinnamon swirl that motha up. My addition to the recipe: mixed two tablespoons each cinnamon and sugar; brush rolled dough liberally with moo juice; sprinkle with delicious. Let rise and bake as noted in recipe.
Look how cute! Now imagine it slathered with Nutella and warm caramelized bananas! Now stop drooling on your keyboard.
The Verdict: Holy friggin’ gosh are you kidding me?! The whole shebang took less than half an hour of active time (plus two and a half hours of passive rising/baking time) and was some of the best bread I’ve ever eaten. For $4 and with pantry staples, I got enough supplies to make dozens of loaves. Which I’m totally doing the next time I have a free afternoon.
Also: whaling on the dough for ten minutes is the second most satisfying thing ever. Waking up hungover and inhaling a warm slice of this smeared with Nutella is the first most satisfying.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow lady, that looks amazing. I’m spoiled (at least when I’m home) as my mom makes fresh challah weekly, but we have a bread machine, so it does a ton of the work. Looove the smell of fresh bread!
Those look delicious! I admit that I’m spoiled, too. My dad can make a killer loaf of bread that would make the strictest dieter a slave to carbs again! There is nothing better than homemade bread and cinnamon rolls!
Beautiful. Yeast is such a wondrous thing, and how can you not love the smell of baking bread?
Mental note to self: MUST BAKE THESE!!
Cannot believe how yummy they look!
Wow, what a great effort for your first bread-making experience! I’m so glad you’re hooked.
I am a 21st century lass who makes her own bread, every day. My husband thinks he’s the luckiest dude on earth. We haven’t brought store-bread in ten months, except for a couple of slices at the fish and chip shop to make chip buttys. I soooooo don’t miss it!
Well, I get that. I make most of my own bread, except for an odd “Scots plain” loaf (If you’re not familiar with this, you get it in most grocery stores in Scotland, but nowhere else in the World that I know of) and a coarse wholemeal from a local bakery that I just can’t replicate the taste and texture of with retail flours.
Looks delicious, I espcially like the sharpie in the background, it says “I’m going to eat this delcious bread, and also get high on marker fumes” you have to appreciate that.
omg, get out of my head!
It’s scary how easy it is to get high off a marker that size.
Whaling on the dough is soooo satisfying. Making consistently delicious bread is something I’m adding to my list of things I’m going to do this summer if I get into grad school.
OOOO! Looks good :) I enjoy bread way too much
Nutella is the devil. For reals. He lives in it and consumes your soul. But being possessed by the devil never tasted so good.
I love to cook……it’s very satisfying to create…falls under my artistic natures……..at least that’s what I tell myself when I get blocked or a painting goes all wrong and I head into the kitchen to work out my frustrations…..knives and kneading are my therapy….then something warm and delicious and beautiful comes out and I feel refreshed.
Your bread was beautiful! Good for you……just remember the golden rule of cooking…give away at least 1/2.
Ooooh, that’s a good rule! I cut up half the loaf into individual slices and froze ‘em — it’s a gift for Future TKOG!
It looks yummy! And Nutella…*sighs*
INow imagine pancakes with nutella! Now that’d be cute too… :)
I can’y believe you made that. It looks so good!
Whaling on dough? Sounds great! Sign me up for Bread Therapy. Perhaps you can teach a class, much like “lying on your back”. Also, nutella eaten with a spoon is ultimate chocolate-craving satisfaction.
Wow, that recipe looks good enough that I want to come over and have a slice (what, did you think I was gonna say bake it?). Good job!
Note to self: Must do this now!
I testify to the awesomeness of the bread and add that it also tastes quite good smeared with Marshmallow Fluff! I commend thee, TKOG.
Alternative title:-
TKOG Who No Longer Contains Preservatives and Flour Improvers.
Enough said I think!
I love kneading too. I mostly punch the dough as hard as I can. SUPER satisfying when I’ve got something on my mind!