Hearth Loaf

I am attempting to redeem myself after the last time I baked bread from scratch. The last time I made baguettes, a shape that I do not recommend for amateurs.I also tried to place the formed loves on the baking stone via peel, when I should have put them in on the pan they rose on. Disater struck as nearly a day of work came to an abrupt halt as the loves twisted and turned as I clumsily attempted a quick little maneuver to get them off the peel and onto the stone. The end result tasted great but was not very pretty.

EPIC FAILURE!!!

This time, I told myself, I would do it different, I would do it right. My confidence was brimming, I had all day to complete this simple task of making bread. I am proudly announcing success!

I have been reading The Bread Bible, by Rose Levy Beranbaum. I wanted to make a good, rustic loaf that was good for eating and for sandwiches. I choose the basic hearth loaf recipe. 

 

I love how bread in its simplest form has 4 ingredients, but can be very daunting. Bread making is mostly technique. Its funny because no two recipes for bread making are the same. I like how no matter how much instruction you have, you really have to feel the dough in your hands and experiment with it to get the feel of it. 

I hope I redeemed myself. My Grandmother would be proud. Her mother baked fresh bread daily for 9 children often while her husband was out of town, My Great Grandfather was a traveling minister. My Grandmother taught us to bake and make bread at a young age. Some of my earliest memories include our Northern WI cottage in the winter, letting a bowl of bread dough rise on the heath of the fire. My Grandmother would always let us punch down the dough.