Seriously, is there anything better than homemade bread? the smell, the warmth, the dense texture that just seems to soak up the butter, when i was young, my mum would set the breadmaker to start at 4am every morning. It would knead and rise until 7 when she would get up and bake the loaf in the oven till golden and crisp. Although i didnt know it then, I was eating the breakfast of a queen everyday. A successful loaf that actually rises brings such satisfaction to the humble baker, its amazing how often a dud loaf is baked. And theres nothing better than the smell of fresh baked bread.
This afternoon, with the gloomy windy and wet weather brooding outside, i decided to lock myself indoors and cook my own baguette type bread stick to fill with smoked salmon, avocado, tomato, mayo and rocket for lunch- which can i just say is a big effort for me considering in weather like this im more likely to crave and cook anything covered in cream or fried in fat. But, today i am strong and bread tastes good and itll curb my winter cravings... for now anyway.
Makes one bread stick. Double quantities for two.
Ingredients:
1/2tsp yeast or 1tsp fresh yeast
150ml lukewarm water
250g strong flour
1tsp salt
sesame seeds
If using fresh yeast: Put yeast in cup, squash with a few spoonfulls of water and leave till froths. Add to bowl of electric mixer with a dough hook and add flour, salt, and balance of water.
if using dry yeast: Place yeast, flour and salt in electric mixer bowl. Mix on low and gradually add water.
Beat well for 5mins approx till you have a nice smooth dough. (alternatively, for the strong and old fashioned, this will take 10-15mins by hand) Put in oiled bowl and allow to rise in a drought free place till doubled in size. Approx 3hours.
Gently ease risen dough onto workbench, fold in four, return to bowl and allow to double in size again, approx 1 1/2hours.
Remove from bowl, form into long breadstick, cover in sesame seeds and place on baking tray lightly sprayed with oil or dusted with polenta or semolina. PLace in preheated oven 250dgrees and bake for 25mins. Spray water into the oven and onto the dough when first putting in the oven and every 10mins after that. This forms steam and something magical and creates a crusty breadstick! Cool completely before cutting.
