yeast bread

Bready or Not: Mini Focaccia for Two

Posted by on Mar 20, 2024 in Blog, Bready or Not, side dish, yeast bread | 0 comments

This Mini Focaccia recipe creates the perfect serving amount for two people to use as a side with a nice meal!

Bready or Not: Mini Focaccia for Two

One blessing/curse of most bread recipes is that they can make a lot of bread. This can be problematic if a person has limited freezer space or simply doesn’t want leftovers.

Bready or Not: Mini Focaccia for Two

Let this recipe come to the rescue. It uses only about a cup of flour to create a small, thin loaf, the perfect size for, say, a yeast bread side for a date night or for one person to even use as a treat for a meal or two.

Bready or Not: Mini Focaccia for Two

I completely rewrote this recipe from a poorly written, confusing one that I found online.

Bready or Not: Mini Focaccia for Two

Need a small focaccia loaf to feed a couple people as a supper side dish? This is the recipe for you! A food scale is a must, as all ingredients are done by weight measurements for precise results.
Course: Bread
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: yeast bread
Servings: 2
Author: Beth Cato

Equipment

  • food scale
  • bench knife or spatula
  • towel or plastic wrap
  • loaf pan

Ingredients

  • 120 grams all-purpose flour or bread flour
  • 3 grams kosher salt
  • 5 grams white sugar
  • 90 grams warm water 90-110 degrees
  • 3 grams active yeast
  • 10 grams extra virgin olive oil plus about 2 Tablespoons for pan
  • Italian seasoning or pizza seasoning
  • flaked sea salt

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, stir together flour, salt, and sugar. Pour the warm water into the middle. Sprinkle yeast on top and wait a minute for it to begin to bloom. Add oil, then mix dough together.
  • Use a bench knife or spatula to begin folding the dough over, turning the bowl to knead from different angles. Dough will be very sticky. Work it until it can form a small ball.

Cover dough with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise for 15 minutes.

  • Using a damp hand or the bench knife, knead the bread, folding it over repeatedly until it begins to tighten.

Cover again to rest for 15 minutes.

  • Knead again using the same method. It may still be somewhat sticky, but the dough's texture should be smooth.
  • Add about 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to the loaf pan. Use fingertips to rub it across bottom and sides. Transfer the dough to the pan. Use already-oiled fingers to stretch it out toward the sides of the pan, but don’t expect it to make contact.

Cover pan and let dough rise.

  • After about 30 minutes, oil fingers again and push and stretch dough with fingertips to reach the sides and corners of the pan. It's okay if fingertips touch the bottom or tear the dough; it'll rise again. Cover pan again to rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Right before putting the focaccia in the oven, drizzle more oil over the top. If desired, add a sprinkling of herb seasoning and a sprinkle of flaked salt.
  • Bake for about 20 minutes, until the top is a nice golden brown. Pull pan from oven. Carefully tip the bread out onto a cutting board and let cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
  • Enjoy right away. Leftovers, if there are any, can be stored in a sealed bag and reheated later.

OM NOM NOM!

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    Bready or Not Original: Small Batch Crusty Bread

    Posted by on Jan 24, 2024 in Blog, Bready or Not, yeast bread | 0 comments

    Some bread recipes make a lot of bread. While bread freezes well, not everyone has the space or wants the bread for later. If you just want a small, special round of bread to be shared by 2 or 3 people, this is the bread for you.

    Bready or Not Original: Small Batch Crusty Bread

    This round is rustic, simple, and delicious. It doesn’t require kneading, and therefore doesn’t even ask for a electronic mixer for ease. You don’t even need bread flour. All-purpose does the job just fine.

    Bready or Not Original: Small Batch Crusty Bread

    I first tried this recipe when most of my kitchen was packed up for the move. I didn’t have all of my usual implements or ingredients, but I could make this, and wow, was it good.

    Bready or Not Original: Small Batch Crusty Bread

    I’ve tried this in my small cast iron skillet and in a Pampered Chef covered stoneware dish. Both worked well, but I actually preferred the rise and extra crustiness that came with using the cast iron. These pictures actually depict the stoneware-baked bread, and I daresay, they still don’t look too bad.

    Bready or Not Original: Small Batch Crusty Bread

    This recipe yields a small bread round perfect for 2 or 3 people to share with a meal, with no leftovers likely. The outside is crunchy and crisp, the inner crumb tender and flecked with holes. This is an easy bread to make; everything is done by hand, and kneading isn't necessary.
    Course: Bread
    Keyword: yeast bread
    Author: Beth Cato

    Equipment

    • digital thermometer
    • cotton towel or napkin
    • small cast iron skillet or small stoneware dish
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • 2/3 cups warm water 100-110 degrees
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 to 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, stir together the yeast, honey, and warm water. Let it sit about 5 to 10 minutes. The yeast should activate and begin to bloom near the top of the water.
    • Add flour. Using a sturdy spoon, stir until everything starts to come together, then add the kosher salt. Continue mixing until no dry flour remains in the bowl. The dough should be shaggy and somewhat sticky. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and stash it in a warm spot in the kitchen to rise for an hour. It should double in size.
    • Set out a small bowl and layer a cotton towel inside. Generously flour the towel. Lightly flour a work surface. Tip the dough onto the work surface. Be gentle as to not lose the bubbles. Shape the dough with cupping and tucking motions, drawing the round to be tighter by tucking the rough bits underneath. Place the formed round in the floured-towel bowl with the seam underneath. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap to rise for 30 minutes.
    • Begin preheating the oven at 450-degrees. Place the small cast iron or stoneware inside the oven to heat up as well–and please remember to use potholders when handling it throughout the baking process!
    • Pull out a piece of parchment paper. Tip the risen bread onto the parchment, gently tugging it free with the towel if it sticks in spots. Pull the hot pan from the oven. Use the parchment as a sling to set the parchment and bread inside the pan as levelly as possible.
    • Bake for 22 to 25 minutes. The bread should be browned and sound hollow if tapped on the bottom. Let cool about 10 to 15 minutes so that it can be handled to be sliced and enjoyed. If there are any leftovers, store them in a sealed bag at room temperature or to freeze for later. Freshly-made bread is best eaten within a day.

    OM NOM NOM!

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      Bready or Not Original: Portuguese Sweet Bread Rolls in the Bread Machine

      Posted by on Oct 11, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, side dish, yeast bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not Original: Portuguese Sweet Bread Rolls in the Bread Machine

      These Portuguese Sweet Rolls come together fast thanks to a bread machine. The resulting bread is sweet, flaky, and perfect to go with any meal–though as a born Central Californian, I have to recommend serving alongside tri-tip!

      Bready or Not Original: Portuguese Sweet Bread Rolls in the Bread Machine

      I grew up surrounded by a vibrant Portuguese community. That meant a lot of awesome food, like linguica on Me-N-Eds pizza, and rounds of sweet bread on the counter at Boston Pizza. We didn’t have a lot of money, so when we could grab that bread loaf, it was a real treat!

      Bready or Not Original: Portuguese Sweet Bread Rolls in the Bread Machine

      As with most any bread, these rolls are great to freeze and eat later. The fresher they are when you freeze them, the fresher they’ll still taste when you warm them up later!

      Bready or Not Original: Portuguese Sweet Bread Rolls in the Bread Machine

      Bready or Not Original: Portuguese Sweet Bread Rolls in the Bread Machine

      The convenient sweet rolls are the perfect accompaniment for many meals!
      Course: Bread, Side Dish
      Keyword: yeast bread
      Servings: 23 rolls
      Author: Beth Cato

      Equipment

      • bread machine
      • 2 1/2-inch cutter
      • rimmed baking sheet
      • plastic wrap

      Ingredients

      • 1 cup half & half
      • 1/2 cup water
      • 1/3 cup melted butter 80 ml
      • 1/2 cup white sugar
      • 2 large eggs
      • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
      • 4 cups white bread flour plus more
      • 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast or bread machine yeast

      Instructions

      • Place the half & half and water in a liquid measuring cup and gently warm in a microwave-safe cup in microwave to reach 100-110 degrees.
      • Follow bread machine directions for loading ingredients into the bucket; for most, that means liquids first. Stir together the half & half, water, butter, and sugar. That should lower the temperature enough to make it safe to add the eggs (you don’t want them scrambled!); stir those in to break the yolks. Add the salt, flour, and yeast. Start the machine on the DOUGH cycle.
      • Check on it once it starts mixing. If the mixture looks runny, add spoonfuls of flour until it comes together; if it’s too thick, add a touch of warm water. Let the cycle finish.
      • Grease a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray or butter.
      • Lightly flour a flat surface. Pat out the dough to be about 1/2-inch thick. Use cutter to slice dough into rounds; place rounds spaced out just a touch on the greased pan. Press dough scraps together as much as possible, and bring together into more rounds. Loosely cover baking sheet with plastic wrap and set in a warm place to rise for about 45 minutes.
      • Near the end of the second rise, as the rolls begin to look puffy, preheat oven at 350-degrees. Discard plastic wrap.
      • Bake rolls for 17 to 20 minutes, until they are golden across the top. Let cool a few minutes before pulling apart to enjoy.
      • Rolls may be eaten fresh, or will keep in a sealed bag at room temperature for a day or two. They can also be frozen right after initially cooling, and thawed later for later enjoyment. They can be eaten at room temperature but are even better warmed up.

      OM NOM NOM!

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        Bready or Not: Herb Butter Bread Mixed in the Bread Machine

        Posted by on Aug 30, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, yeast bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Herb Butter Bread Mixed in the Bread Machine

        I offer up another great bread recipe that starts with a bread machine. This Herb Butter Bread isn’t heavily herbaceous (though you can certainly modify that) but has a gentle flavor that lets the butter and bready goodness shine through.

        Bready or Not: Herb Butter Bread Mixed in the Bread Machine

        For me, this is a special occasion bread to serve alongside a roast or steaks. This produced a large boule, so unless you have a crowd, there will be lots of leftovers.

        Bready or Not: Herb Butter Bread Mixed in the Bread Machine

        Those leftovers are no problem because bread is just about one of the best things to freeze to preserve for later. I like to individually slice it before freezing so I can pull out the exact amount I want to thaw.

        Bready or Not: Herb Butter Bread Mixed in the Bread Machine

        Modified from Making Artisan Bread in the Bread Machine by Michelle Anderson. [Affiliate link.]

        Bready or Not: Herb Butter Bread Mixed in the Bread Machine

        This bread round is lightly seasoned with herbs, which also add lovely speckles of green to the interior. This bread is great hot with butter but is also fantastic for savory sandwiches of all kinds, including grilled cheese! Modified from Making Artisan Bread in the Bread Machine.
        Course: Bread, Side Dish
        Keyword: yeast bread
        Author: Beth Cato

        Equipment

        • food thermometer
        • bread machine
        • baking sheet
        • parchment paper
        • plastic wrap
        • pastry brush

        Ingredients

        • 1 cup milk or half & half (lukewarm, 100-110-degrees F)
        • 1 cup water (lukewarm, 100-110 degrees F)
        • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted divided
        • 2 Tablespoons honey
        • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
        • 4 cups bread flour plus more for work surface
        • 1/2 Tablespoon mix of dry herbs such as parsley oregano, and thyme
        • 1 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast or bread machine yeast
        • canola oil or olive oil

        Instructions

        • In the bucket of a bread machine, add the milk, water, 3 Tablespoons of melted butter, honey, and salt. Follow up with the bread flour, herbs, and yeast. Start the Dough cycle.
        • Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Clean a section of counter or table and add a sprinkling of flour.
        • When the Dough cycle is done, tip the dough onto the work surface and shape it into a ball by gathering the rougher dough beneath. Make the ball smooth and tight, creating surface tension. With the smooth portion on top, place the loaf in the center of the parchment. Lightly coat the dough with oil. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled, about an hour. Near the end, start preheating the oven at 350-degrees.
        • Score the top of the loaf three times in the direction. Bake the bread until it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped (don't burn yourself!), about 30 to 35 minutes. If desired, discreetly plunge a digital thermometer into the center of the loaf; it should be over 190-degrees. Melt the last tablespoon of butter and brush it over the top. The loaf may be huge, but will shrink some as it cools. Let it cool at least 30 minutes before slicing.
        • This bread is good at room temperature but even better hot. It will keep for up to 2 days at room temperature, or slice and freeze it promptly to thaw for later enjoyment.

        OM NOM NOM!

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          Bready or Not: Country Loaf

          Posted by on Jun 14, 2023 in Blog, Bready or Not, yeast bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Country Loaf

          The blog is called Bready or Not, and today we are definitely bready with this gorgeous, old-fashioned Country Loaf.

          Bready or Not: Country Loaf

          This is a basic boule in the French style. Water, salt, sugar, flour, yeast. Baking is done with added steam–boiling water in a pan below the bread, sending up a cloud to give this loaf the perfect crust.

          Bready or Not: Country Loaf

          This bread is absolute perfection toasted with butter, but it’s also great for sandwiches or to go along with soup. Some breads are best hot, but this one is more versatile.

          Bready or Not: Country Loaf

          I modified this recipe from a fantastic cookbook called Making Artisan Breads in the Bread Machine by Michelle Anderson. Click here to get it through my affiliate link.

          Bready or Not: Country Loaf

          This is your old-fashioned, basic, and absolutely divine bread round with a crunchy crust and a soft, tender exterior. Note that this dough goes through a sequence of rises, and so requires a chunk of the day. The baking stage gets a boost from steam; a pan with boiling water is placed below the bread to send up steam, resulting in a crisp crust. Modified from Making Artisan Breads in the Bread Machine by Michelle Anderson.
          Course: Appetizer, Bread
          Keyword: yeast bread
          Author: Beth Cato

          Equipment

          • bread machine
          • large bowl
          • parchment paper
          • baking sheet or pizza stone
          • cake pan
          • kettle for boiling water

          Ingredients

          • 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water 100-110-degrees
          • 2 teaspoons sea salt
          • 1 teaspoon white sugar
          • 4 1/4 cups bread flour
          • 1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

          Instructions

          • Add ingredients to bread machine bucket, which usually means liquids first–so water, sea salt, sugar, bread flour, and yeast. Let the dough cycle run.
          • Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl, tucking dough under the sides to form a tight ball. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap to let rise for an 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
          • Lay out a large piece of parchment paper. Flour lightly. Roll dough onto it, deflating the round and tucking the dough to form a new, smooth round. Flour lightly on top. Cover with towel or plastic wrap again to let rise, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
          • Preheat oven at 500-degrees. Place baking pan or stone on middle rack. On rack below that, place a cake pan with 1 or 2-inch sides. In an electric or stovetop kettle, boil about 2 cups of water.
          • Use a sharp knife to score a hash mark across the top of the risen dough. Place the hot baking sheet or stone on the stovetop. Very carefully, use the parchment paper as a sling to move the bread onto the hot pan. Place it in the oven. Immediately use the kettle to carefully pour water into the cake pan on the lower rack; no need to measure the water, but get the pan about half full. Close the oven and do not open it again until the end of baking.
          • Bake for 5 minutes. Lower the temperature to 400-degrees. Bake an additional 30 minutes. The bread should be risen and golden. Cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing in.
          • This bread is fantastic at room temperature or heated up again. Use it with butter, for sandwiches, whatever you want! While the bread is still fresh, freeze leftovers for later enjoyment, too.

          OM NOM NOM!

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            Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

            Posted by on May 3, 2023 in apples, Blog, Bready or Not, breakfast, cake, cheese galore, yeast bread | Comments Off on Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

            This Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart isn’t a beginner’s recipe, I’ll say that straight up. There are gobs of steps, multiple rise times, lots of dirty dishes. But the result? Wow.

            Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

            This is really a show-stopper kind of bread for a dessert, breakfast, or brunch. You have an enriched bread with a creamy, rich filling topped with spiced apples.

            Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

            We had to test the best ways to eat the leftovers, too. The tart is fantastic fresh. Because of the creamed cheese, it needs to be stored in the fridge–but it’s thick and cloggy if eaten cold.

            Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

            However, heating it in the toaster oven doesn’t work–the cream cheese will melt off! Like Goldilocks, we eventually found the “just right.” It was a quick zap in the microwave, maybe 15-20 seconds depending on your machine. Enough to take the chill off without making it hot.

            The things we bakers must do for science and the good of the people…

            Bready or Not: Apple Cream Cheese Brioche Tart

            There’s no denying that this is a complicated, time-consuming recipe, but the results are delicious and beautiful to behold. Modified from Red Star Yeast, and uses their Platinum Yeast.
            Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
            Keyword: apple, cheese, cream cheese, yeast bread
            Author: Beth Cato

            Equipment

            • rimmed baking sheet
            • 9-inch springform pan
            • parchment paper
            • stand mixer with paddle and dough hook
            • nonstick spray with flour
            • pastry brush
            • uneven spatula
            • instant read thermometer

            Ingredients

            Apples

            • 2 cups apples peeled then sliced to 1/4-inch, about 1 1/2 medium apples (Honeycrisp recommended)
            • 1 Tablespoon white sugar
            • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
            • 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

            Dough

            • 2 cups all-purpose flour divided
            • 1 1/2 Tablespoons white sugar
            • 1 1/2 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
            • 1 0.25oz package Platinum Yeast
            • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
            • 1/4 cup milk or half & half, warmed to 120-F to 130-F
            • 2 large eggs room temperature
            • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
            • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened

            Filling

            • 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter softened
            • 3 Tablespoons white sugar
            • 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
            • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
            • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
            • 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
            • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
            • 1 large egg room temperature
            • 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

            Topping

            • 1 large egg for egg wash
            • 1 Tablespoon water for egg wash
            • Swedish pearl sugar for sprinkling

            Instructions

            • Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
            • Prepare the sliced apples by using a large bowl to stir them with sugar, lemon juice, and pie spice. Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread apple mixture in an even layer on prepared pan.
            • Bake the apples until they are fork-tender and have released significant moisture, 12 to 16 minutes. Rotate the pan and stir halfway through. The apples should reduce in size slightly but retain their shape. Let the apples cool while continuing with other stages. Also, turn off the oven, as it won’t be needed for a while.
            • Begin the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1/2 cup flour, white sugar, brown sugar, yeast, and salt at medium-low speed. Add the warm milk, eggs, and vanilla, beating everything on medium about 2 minutes until it’s combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of bowl a few times. Gradually add the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour.
            • Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at low speed until dough is smooth and elastic. It should start to pull away from sides of bowl. This will be around 6 to 9 minutes.
            • Add the softened butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition. This will take 6 to 8 minutes total. Scrape the sides of bowl and dough hook as needed. If the dough looks slightly broken during this stage, that's okay–keeping beating it and it'll come back together.
            • Increase mixer speed to medium-low and beat until a smooth, elastic dough forms, about 6 minutes.
            • Turn out dough onto a clean surface and knead 4 to 5 times. Shape into a smooth round. Place dough in a large ungreased bowl. (At this stage, the dough could be covered and placed in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.) Cover it and place it in a warm spot until it doubles in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
            • Cut a piece of parchment to fit in the base of a springform pan. Apply nonstick spray with flour in pan. Add cut paper. Spray again to coat paper and sides.
            • Punch down dough, then cover it and let it rest for about 10 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 11-inch circle. Use the bottom of the springform pan to poke a 9-inch circle in the middle of the dough. Fold and press outside edges inward to create a crimped edge. Lift the dough to place it in the prepared pan. Press dough to make sure it fills the bottom. Crimp and secure the edges again if needed. Cover and let rise again in a warm place for 25 minutes. Dough should be puffed and hold an indentation when it’s poked.
            • Preheat oven to 325-degrees.
            • Now make the filling. In the clean bowl of the stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and pie spice at medium speed. Gradually add the cream cheese, beating until smooth. Add egg, beating until combined, then add the flour. Scrape the bowl to make sure everything is mixed.
            • Use your fingertips to dimple center of dough back down, leaving outside crust higher and puffed. Crimp and secure edges if necessary, and press out any air bubbles if you see them.
            • Spoon and spread cream cheese mixture in an even layer in center of dough. Arrange the sliced apples slightly overlapping in two concentric circles. (You may have leftover slices. Eat’em on their own!)
            • In a small bowl, whisk together egg and water. Brush outer edge of dough with egg wash. Sprinkle pearl sugar along the crust.
            • Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate pan. If the crust is browning, cover it with foil. Bake for another 25 to 28 minutes. When the tart is done, the crust will be golden brown. The filling should be set around outside edges and slightly jiggly in center. An instant-read thermometer inserted in center should register at least 175-degrees.
            • Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Using a small offset spatula, loosen edges of bread. Remove sides of springform pan. Let cool completely on pan base on a wire rack.
            • The tart can be enjoyed fresh after it cools. Leftovers should be stored in the fridge, but will be cloggy if eaten chilled. It’s best warmed with a short zap in the microwave, about 15-20 seconds; if it’s made too hot, the cream cheese melts! Leftovers can also be individually wrapped and frozen for later. Thaw in fridge.

            OM NOM NOM!

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