Baking bread ....

[mrs.chappie]

Does anyone do it? I don't mean in a machine.....I mean from scratch, kneading it by hand and all that.

My OH made a loaf this afternoon. It was scrummy!

[merciasounds]

Everyday except Sunday Mrs Chappie!! Starts my day off. I find it very theraputic, especially if there's something on my mind, and at the moment I'm thinking of the tax man when I knead it - filled in my tax forms right for the last seven years paid too much tax and can only have a rebate for the last four.....yet they can go back claiming from you as far as they like! So the dough gets a good 'punching' and turns out nice and light!

[pastafreak]

I used to all the time...and always thought of my mum baking when I did it. Now-as it's just me, I don't bother-I can't afford to be as big as a house!

[jomifl]

I make our bread about once a fortnight,freezing what we don't need immediately. I make it from scratch. A few tips 1. Use good quality flour min 12% protein if you want a light loaf. 2.Get the yeast water mix started first then you can check if the yeast is working before wasting the flour. 3. The easiest way to knead by hand is to roll out one loaf's worth of mix at a time on a board using a rolling pin.Fold into 2 or 3 then roll out again. Repeat about 5 times. This is quicker and more effective than pushing with the heel of you hand and very easy. 4. Don't leave it to rise any longer when holes appear on the top as it won't get any bigger but will be full of holes.

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks for replies peeps, and thanks for those tips!

Mercia, you must be gutted about that. No wonder the dough's getting a good punching!

:o)

[DaisyNonna]

yes

[seadogg]

Been baking bread like yours Jomifle for donkey's years. Re kneading try putting the bowl on the floor, kneeling on a cushion and rocking back and forth using the hands to press and stretch as you go. I always bake up 2kg of wholemeal flour and the kneading is easy this way. In fact, with Radio 3 on its a pleasure.

[mrs.chappie]

<Mrs.C's now getting a mental image of seadogg kneeling on the floor, praying to the dough.>

:o)