January 3, 2010 - 2:12pm
cheaper than therapy....
When nothing seems to be rational in my life and I have lost all of my center I can always turn to baking...and so it has been for 37 years or so. I made my first Challah in 1976 or so...here it is again...almost every week since then. I had some extra "discard" starter and bananas and applesauce that I made last summer and lo and behold it becomes bread and muffins. My freezer is full and for a little while the demons are held back.
The formula for the "discard" banana bread has been posted before in this blog and also elsewhere on TFL. I would be glad to tell you how it came about if you like. The Challah are from a recipe...no formula for this...cups and measures...if you like that too can be posted. c
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Beautiful stuff, Trailrunner!
David
tonight at least...as you know from your work....the demons have a mind of their own...thank you and I hope your New Year is as lovely with baking as the last. c
When I feel stressed out I bake a loaf or two but never that many! Baking therapy is good for the soul and stomach too! Your loaves are beautiful! Al
I like to double the recipe for things or as in the banana bread I 4x it. I put it in the freezer and we go through it pretty quick. You are right , it is a good way to alleviate what ails you . It is why I still do kneadable yeast breads...have to get my hands on that dough. c
The breads are beautiful and I would love to have the recipes if you wouldn't mind. And like you I love love love to feel dough in my hands. Busy Lizzy
Challah:
this makes 4 loaves of 28 oz each. I bake them at 350 convection for 35 minutes. You can halve the recipe easily and I do lots of times.
3c warm water add
8 tsp inst or ADY yeast
sprinkle of sugar and let this foam up;
Place 13 c AP or bread flour in a very large bowl. To the above foaming mixture add 6 beaten eggs, 1/2 c sugar , 4 tsp Kosher salt , 8 Tbsp soft butter. Beat well and pour over the flour. Mix to a shaggy mass and cover. Let autolyse for 30 min. Knead till a silky smooth but firm dough. May add sprinkles of flour as needed. Cover and let rise approx 1 hr to double. Shape in desired loaves and let rise till puffy and double approx 1 hr. ....if you make 1 1/2 # loaves or 1 # they bake 30 min only. May glaze with an egg yolk beaten with a small amount of crem or 1/2 and 1/2 before baking.
Banana bread from wild yeast starter discard.
Beat 1/3 c butter with 1 c sugar, 1 egg, 1 c bananas mashed , 1 c discarded starter. If I don't have enough starter I add buttermilk to make the difference. If I don't have enough bananas I add anything else...like applesauce to the mix to make a cup . This is a VERY flexible recipe. I also use 1c chopped cranberry/orange from Thanksgiving instead of the banana and it was wonderful. Anyway put 2 c AP flour and 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt in a bowl . Add all the wet ingred. and mix well but lightly. Place in loaf pans and bake at 350 for 55 min or till a knife comes out clean . May add chopped nuts, grated citrus rind, vanilla, cinnamon ....anything you like to the basic batter. It always comes out great.
I quadrupled the recipe for this batch and it made 5 8x4 loaves and 12 muffins. I had only 3 1/2 c starter so I added 1/2 c buttermilk and I had 3 c bananas so I added 1 c applesauce. It was fantastic.
Good Luck ! c
Thank you so very much I copied them and hope to get to them sometime soon. My family will love them I'm sure. Again thanks for the time and trouble. Its people like you that make this site so special. Busy Lizzy
If you ever have any questions please ask. c