Can a loaf of bread make you feel good?

Answer. Yes if you bake it yourself.  Yes I know you can go and buy a loaf full of chemicals and preservatives for a quid down the local supermarket. It will be sliced, tasteless and just act as a practical way of filling you up. Okay that’s fine, but why not push the boat out and make your own? Why I hear you cry, why shall we? Well let me explain.

 Making a loaf of bread is probably one the first things us humans ever cooked. Bread is a vital part of many cultures, it’s a great way of sharing however this is not a history lesson on bread, it’s a kick you up the backside to do something good for yourself lesson.

 Making a loaf stimulates everything, your brain, nose, mouth and exercises your hands, arms and shoulders.  You will create an aroma in your home that is so comforting, so exquisite that you may never go back to buying those awful packet pre sliced loaves.

 As you pull your loaf out of the oven, tap the bottom and realise it is cooked all the way through, you will get a buzz. It is as uplifting experience you can have. Sitting there waiting for it to cool, or placing a nice knob of real butter on sliced piece and watch it  melt into all those small holes. You cannot hold back anymore, you need to taste it and as you bite in to it and wonder why you had never done this before, there will be an explosion of taste in your mouth. Guess what? You did that. Trust me it feels good.

Find Basic recipe below, bake and then invite me over.

Ingredients                             
1kg flour
10g powdered dried yeast
20g fine salt
600ml liquid (warm)

Preparation

Step 1
First Mix the dough, add flour, powdered dried yeast, fine salt in a large bowl add the liquid mix all together to make rough dough. Use your hands, don’t be a mamby pamby.

Step 2
Knead the dough as a guide this will take around 10 minutes (your arms should feel like they are going to fall off)

step3
Shape the dough into a round ball once you have done Kneading, then place this into a clean bowl cover with a clean towel and leave to rise for about 1/2 an hour,  longer if dough is cold

Step 4
Once risen beat it to within an inch of its life, I told you this would be good. Tip on to the work surface pressing all over with your fingertips. Then form into a round ball (you can repeat this process up to 4 times rise/deflate this will improve the texture and flavour)

Step 5
Now it’s time to prepare for baking, Turn the oven to 250′C/Gas mark 10

Step 6
Divide the dough into as many pieces as you wish, shape these into the shape of your loaf tin and place them into your tin(s) leave to prove (rise) until doubled in size. Or form a large round dome and place on baking tray

Step 7
Once doubled in size you can slash the tops if you like place the dough into the oven
Turn the Heat down after 10 minutes to 200′C/gas mark 6 bake the loaves until they are well browned and crusty 30-40 minutes for small loaves (if this is the first time keep checking so your loaves don’t burn) No one likes to burn their baps.

Step 8
take out the oven and leave to cool on wire rack (a good tip is to tap the bottom of the bread if it sound hollow then your bread will be fine you can place it back in the oven if it doesn’t sound hollow)

Step 9
Once cooled completely cut into your bread and enjoy it.

Let me know how you get on.