latest prices increase on food how will it effect your food budgeting ?

Topher

So what's the key to leven/leaven?
I'm going to google it, but I'm sure some clever person on here knows. Is it like a live starter that you keep refrigerated?
T

Penny-Pincher!!

npsmama wrote: »

My tips:
- make your own bread - it's very easy even without a breadmaker - ask here for advice if needed

How do you make your bread away from the BM please?

Thanks

PP
xx

ceridwen

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

How do you make your bread away from the BM please?

Thanks

PP
xx

See my basic bread recipe I posted yesterday on the query entitled "Anyone with a very basic bread recipe" on this forum (thread 558258 - post no 5). I had put this on there before I realised OP was actually talking about breadmaker recipes. Its an ordinary yeasted bread made by hand.

Having been rebrowsing Hillbilly Housewife website - I am going to experiment next time I make it and use half the quantity of yeast but leave it overnight to rise (instead of the normal 40 minute rising time) - I gather from what she says that it takes longer to rise because the yeast has to "work harder", as there isnt so much of it. Shall be interested to see if that works too.

(PS Without going back for a check to see for sure - I have an idea the Hillbilly Housewife website might include recipe for naturally leavened bread - think this type of bread is also called sourdough).

ceridwen

Found a sourdough bread recipe for those interested

http://www.io.com/~sjohn/sour.htm

npsmama

A great place to learn about leavened breads (leaven is just another word for starter) is a book by Dan Lepard called The Handmade Loaf.
Dan is VERY generous with his recipes and has a great discussion board in which he actively participates. Googl his name and it will come up.

A good thread on this subject: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=277793&highlight=sourdough

My method:

To make a leaven I used a tip given on MSE OS: get a small bunch of ORGANIC grapes. Put them in a medium sized bowl. Crush lightly. Add some water and some flour until you have thick gloop. Cover with a tea towel. Leave at room temperature for 24hrs.
Throw away 3/4 of the gloop and add flour and water again to get the smae consistency. Leave 24hrs
Again, throw away 3/4 of the gloop but this time fish out the grapes and throw them away. Add flour and water again to get the smae consistency. Leave 24hrs
Keep doing the "Throw away 3/4 of the gloop and add flour and water again to get the smae consistency. Leave 24hrs" until it starts to bubble.
Once it's bubbled you have a starter/leaven which provided you take care of it will outlive you.

kethry

I make our bread every couple days by hand - the initial breadmaking takes maybe 15 minutes to half an hour (depending on exactly what i'm making, regular bread takes as little as 15, but if i'm making herbycheesygarlicy rolls then that takes longer, as i grate the parmesan and snip the sundried tomatoes in). Although i have had breadmaker bread (my MIL has one) i'm not overfond of the hole that the paddle comes in, and i prefer the process of making my own. Although the process takes a while (4-5 hours) you don't have to stand over it, you can just go away and get on with other things, and just go back to knock it back or shape it or pop it in the oven. Its great in that respect. I don't think i'd ever buy a breadmaker, even if my life got a whole lot busier (i don't currently work and have no children). its something i do for *me*, more than anything else, as my OH puts it, the smell of it is the smell of happiness, and making it, everything about it, just soothes my soul in a way that very little else does (gardening is about the only other thing).

anyway if anyone wants, my recipe (inherited from my grandfather) is here.

and you know.. i started this post, thought.. "oh! bread!". went to make some, came back half an hour later, knew what i wanted to say but forgot what thread it was on. So, to get it back on topic: even with the current price rises, given the way that i make mine (with extra bran, half white/half stoneground wholemeal, a variety of seeds), i reckon that mine costs around 50p a loaf. to buy the equivalent, or the nearest equivalent commercial products (probably something like wharburton's seeded loaves) would cost £1.40.

keth
xx

JAMIEDODGER

thank you so much for this recipe!! i am going to have to give this a go this week. i usually use the BM but am too naffed off with the huge hole where the paddle goes!!!!

thanks again!!

Hapless_2

I only mix the dough in the Bm (I have carpal tunnel syndrome) then bake it in the oven.

beetrootjuicer

npsmama wrote: »

- wash your face using mild olive oil. Google "oil face cleansing method". Also removes make up and is not toxic for the skin or eyes (but don't put it IN your eyes obviously). Try it. Whether you have dry or oily skin (like me). Also, you won't need moisturiser at all and your skin won't feel greasy.

Kind to sensitive skin too. I used olive oil until discovered the e-body face glove for removing make-up. It's made from a microfibre fabric and works like a charm - removes make-up well with just water and gives the skin a mild exfoliation while it does it. The bonus is you don't need to buy make-up remover, cotton wool or tissues. Don't know how long microfibre lasts, been using mine for 2 months now and it's still working fine so although it cost £6.99 think it's going to work out very economical.

Justamum

rachelleblondel wrote: »

Just thought I would add a few thoughts on bread... I bought my first breadmaker about 10 yrs ago & have never looked back BUT about a month ago I got a book called 'Bread Matters' by Andrew Whitely (village bakery man) and haven't touched my breadmaker since.
I have been making all my bread by hand using a leven which means I don't even have to buy yeast now and the bread is FAR superior to anything that my breadmaker churns out and it doesnt take hours. Stays fresher longer & freezes well.

So my advice is (to all my fellow bread addicts) before you spend your hard earned cash on a machine invest in this book & give making bread by hand a go. Has some great info on commercial breads & the muck they put in it but 'dont' have to include in the ingredients including some nasty stuff made from pigs inards which I'm sure vegetarians wouldn't be too chuffed about.

Good Luck Rachellex

I bought a breadmaker about 10 years ago and had nothing but trouble with it, so when it finally gave up the ghost (just after the guarantee expired) I got rid of it, and if I want to make bread I do it by hand.

I got a copy of Bread Matters too after going to see Andrew Whitley give a fascinating talk earlier this year. I haven't got round to making a leaven yet though. Must get onto that.