I worried that little critters would get into the flour (they didn't) but as a preemptive strike, I brought home from the in-law's several large multi-gallon plastic ice cream containers in which to store flour. This was because I had run out of large glass and plastic containers of my own and still had easily more than half a bagful to store. (Incidentally, in Shipshewana, IN, I saw lovely sewing baskets made from these ice cream tubs by the Amish ladies).I filled 3 1/2 of these containers as well as a couple 5 gallon jars and several 1 gallon jars with flour. I had flour coming out the proverbial wazoo as it were.
Occasionally I would make a pizza or a loaf of bread. Unfortunately, these recipes use only 2 - 3 cups flour each. Do you know how many cups of flour are in a 44 lb. bag? Neither do I. But I do know it's a lotta flour!
Lately I have been making pizza and bread more frequently, sometimes as often as once a week. Eureka! I emptied one of the ice cream tubs and a second tub is nearly empty. Another round of bread and/or pizza on the weekend should take care of that one too. Maybe I should start thinking about making a sewing basket or two . . . . or three . . . . or more !The way I make bread is to mix up a rather wet dough early in the day and then leave it to rise all day long, poking it down occasionally. I hear this develops more flavor than the usual one or two risings most recipes seem to call for. Making the dough a day or two before and keeping it in the fridge is another flavor aid. I do whatever I have time for (whenever I remember to do it).
Here is the latest bread, which was quite a success.
I measured 3/4 cup liquid of which about 2/3 was warm water and 1/3 was milk. To this I added about a packet or a little less of yeast (I don't really measure - this time I came close) along with a tablespoon of honey and a small handful of flour.
After a while I added a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil and an egg and beat this well. Then I started adding flour, probably about 2 - 3 cups, and a hefty pinch of salt. I kept stirring in the flour about 1/2 cup at a time until the dough was soft but not very sticky.
I grabbed my can of no-stick vegetable spray and sprayed the inside of the bowl, hoisting the dough out of the way with my spoon to spray the entire bowl. I also sprayed a sheet of plastic wrap (okay, it was a plastic bag from the grocery store that contained fruit or vegetable, torn open). I placed the oiled plastic down onto the dough, tucking in the edges, and set it aside to rise all day. When I went in the kitchen I checked, and if it was rising I dimpled the surface with my fingers to press it down again, gently.
When I was ready to bake I sprayed a bread pan (I hear it's fun to use a coffee can or other appropriately sized can, greased and sprinkled with cornmeal). I nudged the dough onto the plastic, oiled my hands and rolled the dough into a loaf shape, plopped it in the pan and covered with the plastic again, setting it aside to rise.
I preheated the oven to 375 or 400 f (can't remember), slashed at the top of the loaf with a sharp knife and baked the bread about 30 - 40 minutes until it was nicely golden. Brushing the top with milk before baking, or with melted butter after, would have been a good thing but I could not be bothered.
The hardest thing about baking bread is allowing it to cool. But truly, it's better that way. It will slice nicely and keep well. If you just cannot stand the wait, make a little extra dough and bake a small loaf that you can dig into right away. There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, like bread fresh from the oven with butter melting into it. Enjoy!
Quotable Quotes; in the category Is It Soup Yet?
"Mr. Braddock: Ben, this whole idea sounds pretty half-baked.
Benjamin: Oh, it's not. It's completely baked."
From the film "The Graduate"
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