Of All Smells: Bread!
There is nothing more characteristic of the prairie home than homemade bread. It is in my blood. I have always loved making it. I have always been interested in making it. I bought my first Magic Mill stone wheat grinder when I was 18. Working full time for the past 20 plus years has certainly curtailed my bread making as it is a bit time consuming for one not at home through the day. Now, with my Thermomix, I can effortlessly bake wholesome homemade bread, and grind the wheat with it, to boot, should I choose. (Yet, I still can’t part with my Magic Mill.) Though, this is not a “commercial” for the Thermomix. Like a calculator, you have to know how to do the math before you can use it properly. There is nothing as gratifying as working the dough to get that pillowy soft consistency that you feel growing even as you place it in its proofing bowl. And, who did discover that these four basic and simple ingredients (salt, water, yeast and flour) could create such fragrant sustenance?
This Basic White Bread recipe is extremely versatile. Take a look at what I have done with it here and here. There is nothing that says “HOME” more than the smell of yeasty bread wafting through the air. Butter it. Taste it. Savour it. Home.
Of All Smells: Bread
This is a very versatile recipe for a basic white bread dough. Dough is only 4 ingredients. It is how you work with the dough that makes all the difference.
Ingredients
- 500 grams flour
- 10 grams of salt
- 10 grams of yeast (not instant)
- 350 grams of tepid water
Instructions
Instructions for using the Thermomix:
- Scale flour and salt into TM bowl; combine for 5 seconds at speed 3.5
- Scale dry yeast granules into TM bowl, or same weight in wet yeast; combine for 5 seconds at speed 3.5
- Scale water into TM bowl; combine for 10 seconds at speed 4-5, until mixture starts clumping
- Set time for 3 minutes on knead; stay near the machine while it kneads the dough
- Remove from TM bowl; place in lightly floured bowl in warm dry place to proof for about an hour, or until until doubled in size
- Once doubled in size, carefully follow the instructions within the slide show below to make either bread or buns
- Let rise for 45 minutes and bake at 500 F for 12 minutes
Instructions without a Thermomix:
- Weighing flour for bread making is best; weigh flour into a large basin
- Add salt and combine; add dry yeast granules, or same weight in wet yeast; and combine with fingers working it into flour (salt and yeast should never touch when making dough)
- Weigh water; add water around edges of basin, using D-shaped spatula with your hand to work water into dry ingredients
- Mix water into flour thoroughly; this is a highly saturated dough (do not add more flour)
- Pour mixture onto working surface; using D-shaped spatula, gather all flour into dough and form a ball (it will be sticky)
- Dust hands lightly with flour; throw ball of dough onto counter in a circular motion, using both hands to gather it in, then throw it out onto the counter, pulling it back in a circular motion (it will stick at first, but after about 15 minutes, gluten with be worked enough to stop sticking, and you will then make a ball with the dough
- Sit it in a warm place to proof until double in size, about an hour
- Carefully follow instructions within slide show below to make either bread or buns
- Rise for 45 minutes; bake at 500 F for 12 minutes
Thanks for sharing the recipe Valerie. I remember this bread very well – it was really yummy. I’ll have to try make it myself.
This is the truth… of all smells… I wish I wasn’t so addicted to bread, this berad! Jason would eat it by the boat load if he could, as well! I hope I can make it half as good as you!
Hi Valerie
I want to use your recipe for basic white bread. You make reference to a slide show in relation to shaping the dough and you mention to follow instructions carefully. I can’t seem to locate the slide show that you are referring to? Is it still available on line? Thsnk’s for your wonderful website, I follow it regularly. Also, would you mind telling me which brands and types of flour you use for your bread making. I know you mentioned Gold Forest Grains as s good source.
HI Hanne!
I think of you often, too! I use Highwood crossing or Sunnyboy flours for my bread making. I do use Gold Forest Grains Red Fife and Rye Flours, too. But the others are white flours. The slide show has long been gone – sorry about that! I will have to revise the post – or better yet, renew and redo it!
Hugs
Valerie
Please redo the slide show: show instructions. Thank you so much!
Sorry, Georgine
This post is so old that the slide show was lost when it got brought forward to a new platform. ARG!!
Thank you for letting me know.
Valerie
Made a wonderful discovery coming across this site! So many wonderful recipes and the stories behind them. I came across the white bread recipe and the lack of the slide show was sad. However, I did look at the links and think this is what could be used instead of the slide show if this dough is as sticky as the images show. Love your site!
Best,
Ingrid
Thanks, Ingrid,
Yes, that is a sad thing about older posts in a website. As the technology is updated, at times, the old images get lost during the transfers or updates.
I was heartbroken, too.
🙂
Valerie