Artisan Bread Bakers

[ali8780]

oooo--I LOOVE baking bread! I have the best recipe for no-knead artisan bread that will knock you to your knees. Actually it was a nationally published recipe, so I guess I can't say that I have it.

Mmmm... I think I'll make some tonight.

Have you all come to the point where you hate store bought bread? Lately it just disgusts me, it tastes so much like chemicals. I guess I've turned into a bit of a bread snob, but once you've had homemade, there is just no going back!

[CDNSushi]

oooo--I LOOVE baking bread! I have the best recipe for no-knead artisan bread that will knock you to your knees. Actually it was a nationally published recipe, so I guess I can't say that I have it.

Well c'mon then. You can't just come out and make such an outlandish statement without backing it up. Not fair! Now that you've admitted to it, you must post the recipe!

[ali8780]

Well c'mon then. You can't just come out and make such an outlandish statement without backing it up. Not fair! Now that you've admitted to it, you must post the recipe!

Sorry, I was planning on it

Here is the recipe:

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

and here is a youtube tutorial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU

have fun! it's delish. And easy even for first timers.

[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.

[ali8780]

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...

Yes, that's expensive! I've estimated that I can make a loaf of bread for about a quarter.

[funlvnman]

oooo--I LOOVE baking bread! I have the best recipe for no-knead artisan bread that will knock you to your knees. Actually it was a nationally published recipe, so I guess I can't say that I have it.

Mmmm... I think I'll make some tonight.

Have you all come to the point where you hate store bought bread? Lately it just disgusts me, it tastes so much like chemicals. I guess I've turned into a bit of a bread snob, but once you've had homemade, there is just no going back!

Never be ashamed of demanding quality in your life. Settling for less is how we wind up with all the crap in our lives.


And you're not a snob, you are a connoisseur of fine foods. There's a better term but I can't remember it.

[piperdbh]

Never be ashamed of demanding quality in your life. Settling for less is how we wind up with all the crap in our lives.

And you're not a snob, you are a connoisseur of fine foods. There's a better term but I can't remember it.

Epicurean is the word.
A friend of mine used to have a magnet or bumper sticker or something with the slogan, "Settle for more." printed on it. If you're capable pf producing or acquiring the best, then go for, especially when choosing body fuel. Homemade is usually best, and if you're not a cook, barter with your neighbor across the street who is a good cook. Mow their yard in exchange for a loaf of bread or whatever. Raise the cucumbers in your garden and trade for X% of the pickles that someone else can make from them. Make their birthday cake for the next 15 years in exchange for the kilt you've been dreaming of. (I wish that one would work!)

[Erisianmonkey]

Epicurean is the word.
A friend of mine used to have a magnet or bumper sticker or something with the slogan, "Settle for more." printed on it. If you're capable pf producing or acquiring the best, then go for, especially when choosing body fuel. Homemade is usually best, and if you're not a cook, barter with your neighbor across the street who is a good cook. Mow their yard in exchange for a loaf of bread or whatever. Raise the cucumbers in your garden and trade for X% of the pickles that someone else can make from them. Make their birthday cake for the next 15 years in exchange for the kilt you've been dreaming of. (I wish that one would work!)

You've hit on why I really want to get out of apartment living and get a house of my own. Somewhere gestap^H^H^H er, HOA free. I want a good veggie garden and a coop full of chickens. There's nothing like a good meal that you've raised 98% of it yourself. I, unfortunately haven't had a meal like that since my early teens. I sure miss it. I didn't realize how much until we found a store called Sunflower market that specializes in fresh produce. The difference in what they sell and the cardboard that the big box stores sell just really underlined for me how lucky I was to get raised how I did. I really think that people who don't like veggies these days are mostly folks who have never truly had veggies fresh from the garden.

At the risk of derailing this thread, one of my pipe dreams is to start a little cooperative venture where everyone gets a few acres next to each other and everyone invests some time and energy into raising wheat, veggies, fruits, and meats (and maybe dairy) for the co-op. It might seem like a lot of work, but it would sure bring everyone involved a much higher standard of living.