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February 17, 2019 at 6:28 pm in reply to: What are you Cooking the week of February 17, 2019? #14782
Today I made a potato salad and a broccoli salad to go with a ham steak for dinner. Sick of winter and winter foods, ready for summer. Also made Special K Bars but used plain cheap corn flakes instead of Special K cereal.
I've used Peter Reinhart's books (Whole Grains, Artisan breads, and BBA) more than any others, although I must say none of my favorite breads come from his recipes. My favorite bread books are some that a group of us on the old baking circle decided to buy and for about a year, we selected a recipe every couple of weeks that most of us made. We got some surprises - I remember the loaf I made that looked exactly like a cow's udder. I don't remember if it tasted good or not, but I never made it again! Does anyone here remember making those recipes?
That sounds like a good recipe for me to try. I have so many baking books and I rarely use them; I have had Bread by Jeffrey Hamelman since it was published, yet have never made a single recipe from it. Although I love to read through them, it's quicker to just walk into the pantry, grab a couple bags/containers of flour/grains, usually whichever are taking up the most space, and start measuring and mixing.
Today I made Harvest Grains sandwich bread, using the recipe on the bag with a few changes. It used to be my favorite sandwich bread, now replaced by the Super 10 Blend. I also made a chocolate cheesecake and baked it in two 7 inch springform pans - one to eat and one for the freezer.
Skeptic, that is what the instructor at KAF told us: they are supposed to be gummy, damp on the inside, and can be fork-split and eaten as soon as they come out of the oven -- after toasting of course - to get rid of the gumminess. We also made crumpets, which she said should be "wet" inside! You are right - more peanut butter and jelly!
I made two loaves using KAF's Super 10 Blend and the recipe on the bag.
February 12, 2019 at 6:10 pm in reply to: What are you Cooking the week of February 10, 2019? #14735To use up some leftovers, we had quesidillas for dinner tonight - green peppers, onions, tomatoes, black olives, thin sliced pork, salsa, Monterey Jack and pizza blend cheese. Not quick and easy, with all the prep and standing at the stove, but tasty and warmed up the kitchen on a cold and snowy night. We've got a prediction of 12 inches.
That's interesting about the holes forming during kneading. I frequently hear and read that kneading puts air into the dough which makes the bread rise! My response is "then why would you bother to use yeast?" I've been told that a wetter dough yields bigger holes, and if I'm not following a recipe exactly, I do use more liquid. This recipe made a very soft dough, I don't recall the hydration. I wouldn't let my muffins rise longer - they went from a 1/2 inch "patty" to over 2 inches tall, in one hour. I suspect that is about max for rise time. The ones we made in the class at KAF only rose to about one inch, in a proofing oven, for about an hour, maybe a little less.
Mike, I've used the recipe in BBA and it was OK, but no big holes -- which is my goal! I've also made both the batter and the dough versions of English muffins. I prefer the dough, but still use the rings because that makes them look more "perfect"! It also helps to flip them without deflating. I'm happy with how this batch turned out. Next batch l'l try cinnamon-raisin.
We had southern style pork ribs cooked on the smoker, with whole kernal corn and spinach salad.
Today I baked English muffins, using the recipe we used in my class at KAF 2 weeks ago. I made a couple of small changes: I used white whole wheat instead of AP for one cup of flour, and buttermilk instead of regular milk; I also made 8 muffins instead of 9 because that is what will fit on my built-in griddle. They came out great!! They rose twice as high as the ones we made at KAF! Much lighter, same good flavor. I had a little trouble finding the right temp on the griddle, as it is labeled 1-10, not in degrees F. The thermometer said 200* but I think the insides should have been cooked a little more, they were a tiny bit gummy. I've noted the cooking temps, and will make some adjustments next. My only disappointment is that they are not very holey - and that is the same problem I've always had with my English muffins. Oh well, they still taste better than store-bought.
Joan, they are delicious! The recipe is on the KAF website, except I add green olives to the cheesy filling. I'm going to try to upload a photo:
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You must be logged in to view attached files.Tonight I roasted sliced Kielbase, chunks of potato, carrots, onions, peppers, and served with crusty gruyere-olive rolls and a spinach salad.
No cooking here, just heating up leftovers: tomato soup and mushroom-spinach stromboli.
We had breakfast for dinner: ham, cheddar, and veggies omelet with home-made English muffins.
Today I made a lemon-zucchini coffeecake, using some of the shredded garden zucchini in my freezer. This has lemon juice powder from KAF in the cake and also in the streusel. If you love a strong lemon flavor, I highly recommend this powder, expensive as it is. It out=performs any of the lemon oils I've ever used, or lemon juice and zest.
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