Artisan Bread Bakers

[CDNSushi]

Sorry, I was planning on it

Here is the recipe:

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/...d&rsc=header_4

Thanks for that. I'll give it a whirl. Seems like I have everything that I need to make it.

Sometimes that's a challenge here in the Far East. Since the locals have different consumption patterns from the West, oftentimes obtaining ingredients that are commonplace back in Canada or the U.S. (like buttermilk or molasses) just don't exist at all here (no, I'm dead serious about the molasses and buttermilk -- they seriously don't exist in this country -- most people don't even know what they are)... Even as far as bread goes, I think ingredients are rather expensive. If I want to make myself even a simple "artisan" loaf of bread, I can expect it to cost me roughly $4.50 in ingredients. (Which, is coincidentally about the same amount I'd pay for a similar loaf in a "French" bakery here). To be honest though, IS that expensive by Western standards? I've lost all conception of the value of money by N. American standards. I've lived in Japan too long now, earning local currency to know what things are like elsewhere...

For anyone who's curious, bags of bread in Japan are not sold by the loaf... First of all, your average supermarket is unlikely to sell anything but white bread (soft, cotton-like, generic, devoid of substance -- kinda like Wonderbread). They are sold in sets of 4,6 or 8 slices. They are all the same size -- the bag with 4 slices is the same as the bag with 8 slices, except the slices are twice as thick (so I suppose it's good if you want to make something with thick-sliced bread). The Japanese use those to make toast and spread it with butter, white granulated sugar and soybean powder (called "kinako"). The resulting concoction tastes a little bit like peanut butter (which is another virtually unknown substance here). The bag of 8 slices is much like Wonderbread in size, texture and taste.

Anyway, one such bag of bread will run you ¥150, or, about $1.50 Again, I'm not sure about things "back home" but something tells me that's kind of expensive.

I think I'll stop writing now. Somewhere I do believe I had a point but I've forgotten what it was and I just got caught in my senseless ramblings. My apologies.