Big Baking Day

Since we are still waiting to close on our home (any day now:-), I decided to do a big baking day today to get things stocked up so I don't have to worry about it for the next week or two. So here is my lineup: 4 loaves of bread, double batch of granola cereal, breakfast burritos for the freezer, breakfast biscuits for the freezer. I am also considering pizza dough for the freezer, meatballs for the freezer and muffins (not sure what kind yet). Those extras will depend on what happens today - like whether or not we get the call to sign papers!!

I will try to remember to take some photos and post the results of this baking day, for you viewing pleasure:-) But don't hold me to it - my mind is a little random lately with all the stress.

World's Cutest Cookies!

Last week my daughter made these melted snowmen cookies and I think they are absolutely adorable!! I just ate the last one and they are also pretty yummy!!You can make some, too, if you want. There is a great step-by-step tutorial at Stacey's Sweet Shop - step 1, step 2, step 3, step 4.

Baking: Italian Bread and Cinnamon Rolls

Over the past week, I have made several new "bread" items that I wanted to share since they turned out Great! I apologize that I failed to take photos of the process or finished products! I was busy and it slipped my mind:-)

First, last Saturday night/Sunday morning, I made Alton Brown's Overnight Cinnamon Rolls. I saw this on an episode of Good Eats and was inspired! I followed his directions completely, except for using freshly ground whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose.

The result was scrumptiously light and wonderful cinnamon rolls! I was concerned because mine didn't seem to rise as much as his did, but that didn't matter in the tasting. However, I believe next time I will increase the yeast to 3 tsp. to see if that makes a difference, and I will start earlier on Saturday so I can let it rise longer, too. Also, the morning "sauna" definitely makes a big difference, so don't skip that step, even though it makes the time about 1 hour from start to finish in the morning.

Then, on Friday, I made 10 loaves of Crusty Whole Wheat Italian Bread for our church dinner on Sunday. I have never made Italian Bread before, so this was rather brave (or foolish:-). But they turned out great! I quadrupled the recipe (I can make 4 loaves in my mixer at a time) and then made 2 1/2 batches. I followed the ingredients exactly and the only things I did different were because I forgot: I didn't make the slashes across each loaf with a sharp knife and I forgot to brush with water and sprinkle with whole wheat flour before baking. But they came out great, so it must not be too important. Then on Sunday, we spread each loaf with whipped garlic butter (homemade, of course) and baked in foil for 20 minutes at 425 degrees! They got rave reviews and even a few new orders for bread!

Try these recipes and let me know how they are for you! I can't wait to make more! And for more great Kitchen Tips, visit The Finer Things in Life where Amy is hosting Kitchen Tip Tuesday for Tammys Recipes.
You can also find more recipes and kitchen tips at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday over at Blessed With Grace, and Tasty Tuesday at Forever, Wherever!

Whew! That's alot of baking!

Today I sort of started my new business - baking bread to sell. The folks that we visit up in Phoenix have wanted me to bake bread for them, so this week I took orders and have been baking all day for our trip up there to visit tomorrow. I baked 8 loaves of bread and 6 dozen dinner rolls! All tolled, it took about 6 hours from start to finish (4 batches) and made my house very hot and sticky (humidity is VERY high today for the desert). But I enjoyed it and hope they all LOVE the bread made from freshly ground wheat and honey. I use a very simple recipe from the Bread Beckers - Slightly Sweet But Simple Bread - and double it. It seems to take a tad more flour than they say, but makes a wonderful bread!

So, anyone have any ideas for a name for my new "business"? Looking for suggestions, just leave in the comments.

Check Your Oven's Temperature!

I have been baking my own bread for about 8 months now and have finally solved the dilemma of why my bread was either not rising or falling before it was done baking! My oven temperature was too low. When I set it for 350 degrees, it really only heated up to about 300, if I was having a good day:-) Or I would put the bread in before it finished heating up and didn't want to open and check it a little later (would let out heat:-). I decided to quit making loaves and just make rolls (we like them just as well anyway) until last week. Then somewhere I read that if the temperature is too low, the bread won't set up when it rises in the oven, so then it will fall down again. The temperature needs to be hot enough to set the bread pretty quickly when it rises to its fullest height. So, I decided to try setting my oven to 400 degrees or so and waiting about 1/2 hour before putting the bread in the oven. Voila! Perfectly risen and browned bread! I was so excited! So now I can make beautiful loaves, too! And I am getting stoneware loaf pans this week that I ordered with my Christmas money, so I am a happy camper (er...baker?)

You have to understand that I don't have a great track record for baking. I have always been a great cook, but baking has always been a challenge for me. Usually due to oven problems!! When we were first married, I wanted to make cookies for my husband. We were really broke, so the only ones I could make with what I had on hand were sugar cookies. I tried (and failed) at 4 different recipes before I discovered that my oven temperature was way off. My husband bought me an oven thermometer (which I still have over 20 years later) and that helped me alot, but my "baking self-esteem" has never fully recovered. And it didn't help that when I tried to bake bread in my bread machine, it never rose and was always squatty and pretty dense.

Now, I bake beautiful loaves and buns/rolls and feel so good about what I am providing for my family. Isn't it funny how homemade bread can change your life?