Category: Bread & Enriched Dough

1. Help! My Bread Tins Stick!

   Posted on 4:55pm Saturday 17th Oct 2020

    

    

   How to remove bread from sticking bread tin? This is a question I'm often asked at my Bread Baking Courses.  It's not a problem if you are baking traditional breads like sourdough, but if you want a nice sandwich loaf, you do need to use a bread tin.

    

   It's not really an issue, if you are using modern cake loaf tins, which are usually non-stick, but it could be a huge problem if you have an older tins or like me like to use a vintage and professional bread baking tins.
   

    

   So, what can you do to prevent your bread from sticking to the bread tin? Well this is what I have tried and tested. And yes, like you I was standing with a hot bread tin trying to shake it out (and believe me swearing doesn't really work).  So what does?

2. How to bake bread at home

   Posted on 9:22pm Tuesday 25th Aug 2020

   For the last year or so I have been thinking of writing a book - a bread baking book that is. And after several months spend in front of computer screen and testing new recipes, I'm really pleased to say, that I'm nearly there!

   The book is now being proofread, formatted and I'm finishing setting up all the technical stuff behind the scenes. Did you know how many things you need to work out and connect if you just want to download a pdf? 

3. Is sourdough bread good for weight loss?

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 7th May 2020

   

   One question we often get asked during our sourdough bread baking class is 'Is sourdough bread good for weight loss?'.

   Since we already know that swapping a home baked bread for shop bought is always a good idea, I wanted to find out more about the benefits of eating sourdough bread.

4. Bread Baking Questions and Answers

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 29th Apr 2020

   

   Bread Baking Questions and Answers

   Why does my bread split on the top?

   There could be number of reasons for this:

   Oven too hot

   Your oven could be too hot for the type of bread you are baking

   No bread slashing

   Inadequate or lack of bread slashing. When you slash bread, you direct where you want your bread to 'open up' and it allows the excess air from bread to escape and it won't burst on the top or where you don't want it to.

5. How to bake a No knead bread without a dutch oven

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 23rd Apr 2020

   

   For the last twenty years, I've been baking my bread using the traditional method of kneading bread dough, leaving to prove twice, shaping it and finally baking it in a standard domestic oven.

   But until recently, I've never tried the 'no knead' bread. I have to say, I was a bit sceptical, thinking to myself that if not kneading your dough was the way to go, why would anyone even knead bread dough anymore?

   Surely 'no knead' bread can't be as good as the traditional bread? The kneading is essential as it awakens the gluten in bread flour, which is what makes the dough so elastic and holds its shape when your bake it.

   If you read my other bread recipes on this blog, you already know that there is a bit of science behind bread baking and every element of the bread baking method has its purpose and reason.

   With this in mind, let me finally let you on a little secret! 

6. Sourdough Starter Troubleshooting Guide

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 15th Apr 2020

   

   Sourdough bread baking is a fairly complex baking process, and many people struggle with getting started and especially establishing their new sourdough starter. The problem, in my opinion, is that sourdough bread baking is like a science, where you constantly need to consider all the external elements and constantly adjust your method.

   What works one day, might not work in exactly the same way next week as your kitchen might be slightly different temperature, you use different bread flour, and the starter is less or more vigorous than the previous week. 

7. Easy Tortilla Bread Recipe

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 12th Apr 2020

   

   Today I wanted to share with you one of the easiest types of bread there is - a tortilla flat bread!

   So, what's so great about this recipe? You don't need to be a seasoned bread baker to be able to make this bread, it's brilliant starter bread for beginners.

   You also don't need to worry too much about rising, testing or baking this bread. Few minutes of simple kneading will do the job! This recipe doesn't need a yeast (or any other raising agent), which is why you don't need to worry about your kneading technique to much. 

8. Sourdough Bread Recipe

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 8th Apr 2020

   

   Over the years, I’ve tried different sourdough bread recipes, but I seem to be always coming back to this one. I like that it’s a relatively simple recipe, so even if you are a beginner you can follow the recipe with good results.