I made the best bread ever today. It really took me to spiritual heaven. I never buy the breads in the supermarkets, even organic wholemeal, because if you look at the ingridients, they almost always have preservatives, often loads. Up until now, I have always just not ate much bread.
But this is my recipe for bread;
1) Almond and Raisin Bread
1kg organic wholemeal spelt flour
Packet of yeast culture (follow directions on pack for how much)
700ml warm water (adjust as necessary when mixing with flour)
2 tablespoons organic honey (necessary to active the yeast cultures)
2 tablespoons organic extra virgin olive oil
1 small cupful organic almonds
1 small cupful organic raisins
2 tablespoons organic cinnamon powder
Method;
Put the almonds and raisins in water to soak, as this stops them from drying the bread.
First, pour flour and yeast into a large mixing bowl, and fill jug with 700ml warm water. Stir 2 tablespoons of honey into the water, until it completely dissolves. Honey is necessary to feed to yeast, so cannot be omitted. Gradually add the water and mix in. Add the olive oil, and then continue to add the water very gradually. It might be more or less than 700ml, but adjust as necessary.
Once into a stody ball, not to dry, not too wet, kneed for as long as possible (5-10 mins I do). Longer the better because it aerates the bread. Don't add the extras yet. Leave in a warm place to rise for 30 minutes. (37celcius is ideal, so depending on climate you might need to put in on a radiator).
Once risen, take the risen ball, and sprinkle in the almonds, raisins and cinnamon powder. Kneed for a further 5-10 minutes to thoroughly mix the extra stuff into the bread.
Leave ball to rise for a further 30 minutes, after which, grease a loaf tin with extra virgin olive oil, and mold it into the tin. 1kg flour should make 2 loaves. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes, at Gas mark 6. Obviously, check before to see how it is doing and whether it needs less/more.
Take out and let cool, and indulge in sublime!
2) Cocoa and banana bread
This one is the one that transported me to paradise. Absolutely sublime. When I talk cocoa I talk Ital, pure cocoa beans. Not chocolate.
Exactly the same as before, just the extras are 2 organic sliced bananas and a cupful of organic cocoa nibs (these are smashed cocoa beans).
You should soak the cocoa nibs first.
Enjoy!
All the best,
Joe
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