Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Cinnamon swirl bread is also very easy to make. Make the regular dough, but instead of shaping it instantly into a loaf, roll it out on the counter. Sprinkle the dough with a combination of sugar and cinnamon. You will need about 2 teaspoons of cinnamon together with 1/4 cup of sucanat. Roll the dough up. Poke the ends underneath to create the loaf shape, then put inside a butter bread pan. Allow the loaf to rise about 30 to 45 minutes and bake. You will find that the bread is better if lightly toasted and buttered. Eat with a glass of milk or coffee.

Happy baking,
Renee

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Quick Cinnamon Bread

Quick Cinnamon Bread

Cinnamon bread is a great and delicious snack or breakfast that you can easily prepare by simply following a few instructions. You will find that you can customize the appearance and flavor later on as you master the basics. It is important that you understand the nature of the bread as well, so you avoid minor accidents like burning the bread too much.

Initial Steps

First, take the bread, then toast it at around 4 to 5 degrees to attain the crispy nature. Ideally, you should use whole wheat bread. Make sure that you do not burn the bread. Kids should properly be trained, to avoid any injury. Put honey on the two slices of bread. Just put enough so that you get a bitter taste once you reach the next step. Bee's honey is recommended, especially those that are made only from all-natural ingredients. Processed honey may make the bread too bitter.

Sprinkle cinnamon on both slices of bread as you prefer. There are small packets of cinnamon available at your local grocery store. Stack the slices, then warm these inside the microwave for 20 seconds, so that the honey and cinnamon can melt at the same time, providing you with quality flavor.

To finish off the recipe, you can top the cinnamon with small banana slices or place these at the side. This can be stored easily inside your refrigerator, so you only have to microwave in the morning for a quick and easy breakfast.
Happy baking,
Renee

Monday, June 21, 2010

Making Chocolate Banana Bread

Making Chocolate Banana Bread

Follow the direction in the post How to Make Banana Bread and then...

To make chocolate banana bread, you can add 1 cup of dark chocolate chips, icing sugar (to dust) and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. When sifting the baking powder and flour inside the bowl, add the caster sugar. Melt the chocolate chips and butter in a double boiler. Dust the final loaf with caster sugar. You will need about 1 hour to bake the chocolate banana bread. Allow the bread to cool for 40 to 50 minutes.


Happy baking,
Renee

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

How to Make Banana Bread

How to Make Banana Bread

Banana bread has become a very popular type among families and kids, since it is delicious, nutritious and very easy to prepare. You can serve this for breakfasts, as a dessert for guests or for your child's snacks at school. You can also save more dollars by using bananas that have ripened more than enough to be eaten independently. Here's how to begin.

Gather the Ingredients

To start, gather all the materials and ingredients you need. Take 1 3/4 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 2/3 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/3 cup of shortening or softened butter, some extra flour, cooking spray or butter to grease the pan and a cup of mashed bananas. Try to aim for 2 bananas mashed completely.

The Process

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease all the surfaces of the inside of the pan. Sprinkle some flour into the pan, then shake the flour around until all the sides are already covered with flour. You can ensure that the bread will come out very smoothly this way. Mash the bananas, then mix them in with the other ingredients. Mix the sugar, baking powder, flour, salt and baking soda inside a medium-sized bowl.

Add the softened butter to the flour mixture, plus the shortening, then mix everything until the mixture appears like crumbs. Add two of the eggs then continue stirring. Pour the batter into the floured and greased pan. Put the pan inside the oven, then bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes. Try to insert a toothpick into the middle of the banana bread. It should come out clean to confirm that the bread is baked well.

Final Tips

You will find that work can be easier if you use a bread pan measuring about 4 x 8 inches deep. Try to reduce the total number of times that you open the oven to check on the condition of the banana bread, since heat can escape every time you open the oven door, thereby making baking periods longer.

Use bananas that are overripe or past, characterized by a lot of brown spots on the peel. These are generally sweeter compared to ripe bananas. If the bread is browning quickly, but the center is still raw, you can cover the bread using aluminum foil. The bread will continue baking, although the browning process is slowed down. If you have extra bananas and want to make 2 or more loaves in a single session, freeze the extra loaves to prevent these from spoiling. Always use oven mitts when taking the banana bread out of the oven to keep your hand from getting burning.


Happy baking,
Renee

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

How to Make Flat Bread

How to Make Flat Bread

Flat bread is one of the easiest types of bread to make. There are different kinds available as well. You can expect to whip up a couple or more in only a few hours. You can even have fun inviting your partner or kids along to do the bread making. Flat bread can be very tasty and nutritious, while there are also others that are simple and fat-free. Here are some tips.

Making Fat-Free Flat Bread

Some of the ingredients you will need to begin include baking powder, hot water and flour. Get 1 tablespoon of baking powder for every 2 cups of flour. Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly. Use the dough hooks in a mixer using relatively slow speed. Add the hot water slowly until you form a thick and sticky ball. Use dry flour on both hands, on the counter and on the rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking. Hand knead the dough and be careful not to over knead.

Start forming dough balls with sizes slightly bigger compared to a golf ball. Roll the dough into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. Cook the dough immediately over medium heat or less. Flip it once after the bubbles rise in the dough. Cover the cooked fried bread using a towel until everything is ready to eat. Enjoy the flat bread and eat the same way you would a tortilla. You can deep fry it with butter or sprinkle on some sugar and cinnamon to be enjoyed as a delectable dessert.

You will find it easier to use a round cast iron griddle, although a good mixer can do a decent job. If you do not own a mixer, you can stir the contents using your hand and a sturdy wooden spoon. You can even mix using your fingers. Knead the dough briefly, not like you would a yeasted bread. The goal is just to blend the dough to create smooth consistently, instead of building gluten.

A More Versatile Recipe

Get a cup of white all-purpose flour and a cup of whole wheat flour. This recipe becomes an Indian and Mexican fusion because of the flours used. Add 1 package of dry yeast to the dry flour to keep it protected from the warm water. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar. If you want to experiment using other spices like rosemary, sesame seeds and garlic, you may add these as well. Mix all the dry ingredients very well. Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil into the flour and spices using your hands.

Divide the dough and form evenly round balls. Measure 1 cup of hot water in a measuring cup and 1 tablespoon of molasses or honey. Add these to the dry ingredients and mix together until you form a soft ball that is not very sticky.

Allow everything to rest for 30 minutes. Make 8 to 10 small balls. Cut the dough ball into 2, then half this again. Flatten the round balls using a rolling pin. Allow the dough to rest for a few minutes, while waiting for the griddle to get warm. Cook the dough using medium high heat. When the bread puffs and bubbles, flatten using a spatula and push the air bubble around the inside before you press firmly to let go of the air.

Happy baking,
Renee

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

How to Make White Bread

How to Make White Bread

White bread is one of the most common bread types available. It is a favorite among children and adults because of its great taste, excellent texture and form that makes it very convenient to make sandwiches and the like. You can make your own homemade white bread in just a few simple and easy steps. Discover how much more you can save and how you can boost shelf-life and overall quality.

Starting Off

Place the smooth dough ball into a clean bowl. The bowl must be coated subtly with vegetable oil. Turn the dough one time so that you leave the top part oiled. Cover the bowl using plastic wrap then position in a warm place. Wait until the dough rises to about twice its original size. Observe again after 45 minutes. Put the dough back on the floured surface then punch it down. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces then allow to rest for 5 minutes.

If you want to make a pan loaf, you can use both your hands to roll each piece into a thick cylinder. This should be a bit longer compared to the bread pan. Use the heels of your hands, then press the cylinder, compressing it to the length of the pan. Place the loaves into bread pans with some oil. The sides of the loaves, particularly the short ends, should come in contact with the sides of the pan.

Next Steps

Place a kitchen towel over the bread pans, then let the dough rise in a warm place until it becomes twice as big as its first size. Wait for about 30 to 45 minutes. Place the loaves inside the oven at 400 degrees F. Bake these for about 30 minutes, and wait until these turn golden brown. The bottoms should have a hollow sound if thwacked with your hand. Take out the pans and let the loaves cool on the racks.

When Mixing the Dough

First, sprinkle the yeast over warm water in a measuring cup. Mix salt, 5 cups of flour and sugar together inside a big bowl. Add yeast mixture, milk and oil to the dry ingredients then stir until the dough moves away from the bowl sides. Begin by stirring everything using a wooden spoon. You will have to proceed to using your hands after a few minutes. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, then knead for 10 to 15 minutes. Add a lot of flour, as needed if you feel that the dough is still sticky. Form the dough into a big ball.

Final Advice

Yeast requires a warm environment of about 100 to 110 degrees F to begin growing. A very warm environment of about 115 degrees F will kill the yeast. If you think the water is warm enough, but not hot, this setup is ideal. Bread flour contains more gluten compared to all-purpose flour and will lead to a higher loaf. Gluten is a wheat protein that lets the dough rise well. You can substitute all-purpose flour using this. Do not forget the salt to avoid the loaf from rising very quickly then falling.

Happy baking,
Renee