Crusty Bread for Everyone!

So, prior to the Fall, I was set on finally learning how to make a nice crusty loaf of bread. I bought the book, but like many things realized I would need some proper tools before I could begin my artisanal journey in breadmaking. Thanks be to Christmas and a birthday, a few months later I had the peel, stone & gusto to start my first loaf and I have to admit I'm pretty darn impressed with the results.

I was also amazed at how EASY it was to do it, given the proper guidance & tools. This one calls for no proofing & no kneading, which I find amazing!

Here is my recipe, Organic Crusty Bread Recipe (adapted from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day)

3 cups warm water (100 degrees F)

1 1/2 T yeast

1 1/2 T sea salt

6 1/2 cups Organic All Purpose White Flour

Makes 4 loaves.

Tools Needed:

Baking Stone

Pizza Peel

Broiler Pan

1. In a large bowl (16 cup capacity), add water, then sprinkle the yeast & salt in the same bowl. Don't worry about mixing.

2. Then add all 6 1/2 cups of flour at the same time. With a wooden spoon mix all the ingredients just until it is all moist with no dry patches.

3. Let rise until double about 2 hours. Once it has risen, put it in the fridge for up to 3 hours or overnight. (It can stay there for up to a week until you are ready to bake).

4. On baking day, divide dough into 4 parts. Flour your pizza peel well. NO NEED TO KNEAD THE DOUGH! Just cloak it with flour & shape into desired form. Then place it on the pizza peel. Let rest 40 minutes. Make sure you have enough flour on the bottom so that it does not stick.

5. Put stone on middle rack of oven, and an empty broiler pan on the rack below it. Preheat for 20 minutes at 450.

6. Once dough is rested, sprinkle tops with flour, & cut by making a criss cross or line pattern on it by slicing 1/4" down into top of dough (see pics).

7. Now add 1-2 cups of water to your broiler pan. It will start to steam. With a flick of the wrist slide loaves onto the stone.

8. Bake 30 minutes. Let cool on racks. The loaves will be golden!

This dough is very versatile, if you wish to divide it and bake one loaf at a time it works great that way. I also used some of the same dough to make sticky buns!

winter salads

A great way to make and use local ingredients in the winter is to be creative with your salads. I get bored with what people usually expect of a salad... lettuce, tomato, cucumber... they're all well and good, but anyone notice that in most parts of the country this is a bonafide summer salad?

In the winter you need to improvise. Last night I made up this easy winter salad using up some veggies in the fridge from the farm. I also finally, just bought a manual vegetable slicer with several attachments for grating, slicing etc. Normally I HATE gadgets, I just hate the extra clutter really. I prefer a simplified kitchen. Whe the hell needs an egg slicer? How lazy are you that you need this? But, believe me folks this is one thing you absolutely need! It saves so much time if you eat alot of vegetables. Although I do have a good food processor, clean up is ridiculous if you only need a few things sliced, and this wastes no electricity. Needless to say, I was so excited when we bought it. I asked Doug, isn't this great as I showed him how quickly I sliced up a head of cabbage. You know its true love when your husband gets as excited as you about your vegetable slicer!

Winter Cabbage Salad Recipe with Asian Dressing

1 small head of cabbage

2-3 carrots

2-3 stalks green onions

Handful of snow peas

Dressing

1/8 c rice vinegar (or whatever you have, rice vinegar is milder)

1/4 c oil

2 T tamari soy sauce

1 t crushed red pepper

1/8 c sugar

Shred up your veggies. Whisk up your dressing, pour over and let sit a few minutes before serving to marinate. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds & fresh ground black pepper.