Artisan Bread Bakers

**CDNSushi** · 26th June 09, 11:06 PM

Oooohhh challaH! I LOVE me some good challah! I used to have a wonderful recipe, but alas, lost it during the move to Japan. <sigh> It was light, fluffy, sweet.... Man, if I could only get that recipe back again someday.

**Old Hippie** · 29th June 09, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Oooohhh challaH!

Might not be what you want (not sure about the whole kashrut thing...) but check out "The Bread Bible" by Rose Levy Beranbaum. There's like eighteen books with that title, so make sure you get the right author.

She goes on at great -- GREAT -- length about brioche, as she does also in "The Cake Bible" and "The Pie and Pastry Bible." As she writes, "I have more to say!"

Believe me, you will understand brioche, which she says makes an excellent challah.

I generally don't mess with making little brioches -- I just make a big brioche loaf. Excellent for French toast, too.

:ootd:

**CDNSushi** · 29th June 09, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Old Hippie

Might not be what you want (not sure about the whole kashrut thing...) but check out "The Bread Bible" by Rose Levy Beranbaum.

Sounds interesting. Bread poses some interesting questions for those who keep kosher. Even though there are no Biblical or rabbinical prohibitions against vegetable products (with the exception of the prohibition of grain products during Passover), other ingredients being added (like milk, animal-based shortenings or emulsifiers) can make finding kosher bread a nightmare if you don't live in an area with a high Jewish population or aren't willing to bake your own.

I'm not so picky. I try to keep Biblical (as opposed to Rabbinical) kosher as best I can, but I'm not strict about it. Besides, that gets into some verbotten topic territory on XMTS... But one thing that I will NEVER eat -- because I just think it's a crime against food: ham & cheese bagels!

**funlvnman** · 29th June 09, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by CDNSushi

Oooohhh challaH! I LOVE me some good challah! I used to have a wonderful recipe, but alas, lost it during the move to Japan. <sigh> It was light, fluffy, sweet.... Man, if I could only get that recipe back again someday.

There is a restaurant here in town that serves stuffed french toast made from challah bread. The filling is bananas and orange flavored cream cheese. The topping is cinnamon flavored maple syrup. A half order puts me into state of blissful carb coma for hours. Good thing I can only go every so often or I'd be huuuuuuuuuuuuge.

Maybe we can get a poll going as to which type of artisan bread is your favorite. A poll where you can rank stuff from 1-5 so you can vote for more than one type.

**Dall_Piobaire** · 29th June 09, 01:38 PM

I used to make Boston Brown bread for my Grandfather, you actually steam it. Warm with honey butter, once you try it you are hooked for life

**vmac3205** · 30th June 09, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Dall_Piobaire

I used to make Boston Brown bread for my Grandfather, you actually steam it. Warm with honey butter, once you try it you are hooked for life

My Mom used to make it. I now have the perfect can to steam it in, so I think as soon as the weather gets cool, I'll make some. Yummmm

**Erisianmonkey** · 30th June 09, 07:23 PM

This thread makes me want to start a loaf of bread, but I don't have the oomph to deal with the kneading.

Ah, well, maybe my body will behave tomorrow.

**Standard** · 30th June 09, 07:33 PM

My grandmother taught me a simple bread recipe when I was about 7 years old that we used to make all the time. When ever I make it now, the memories of all the time spend together flood back in.

The kneading of the dough was and is one of my favourite parts of the baking proccess. I've never used a bread machine before, prefering the hands on method.

**Dall_Piobaire** · 30th June 09, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by vmac3205

My Mom used to make it. I now have the perfect can to steam it in, so I think as soon as the weather gets cool, I'll make some. Yummmm

Oh yeah, I remember the hunt for the perfect can, lol. Finally, the 1lb Hills Bros coffee can worked out pretty well. A rack in the bottom of a large stewpot worked well.

Whipped butter and Brown Bread. I can smell it now!

**piperdbh** · 30th June 09, 08:27 PM

Would someone please PM me the recipe (or a link to it) for the aforementioned Boston Brown Bread? I'd like to try it. Thanks a heap.

By the way, I just discovered something. When I oil the sides of my bread pan, sometimes the bread sticks. If I oil it and then sprinkle it with cornmeal, the bread doesn't stick and it has a nice crust. The part I discovered was that when you're out of cornmeal, steel-cut oats work just as well, and when that runs out, use instant grits.