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NaBloPoMo- Challah And Apple Jelly

November 2, 2013 by Renee

DSC_0427There is nothing better than the smell of fresh bread wafting through the house. I’m pretty sure it’s one of those things that realtors use, like chocolate chip cookies and vanilla scented candles, to invoke subliminal emotions of family, warmth and a sense of home to prospective buyers. Never mind that the house only has one bathroom, I smell bread baking-sold!

I used to make challah every week. Everyone loves it when I do but it has been a while since I’ve made it.  The weather has turned chilly here so I’m all too happy to keep the oven on throughout the day now.  Inspired by a new cookbook I received to review about the art of making bread, I decided to revisit my old, trusted challah recipe first.

It’s quite simple and takes just a few minutes to prepare the dough. But it does take a good two hours for the dough to rise. While you could spend that time reading or sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of tea (in my dream life), I find that keeping on top of the ever growing pile of laundry takes precedence and this recipe gives me enough time to throw a load in, make the dough, switch the load, clean the kitchen, fold, braid, twist and bake the bread, put the laundry away and have a slice of freshly baked bread the minute it’s done.

A wonderful reward!

I made two loaves on Friday and one was devoured with dinner last night. The other I started late this afternoon with large melty pats of Beurre d’Isigny (a luxurious French butter) and a hefty spoonful of apple jelly (David Lebovitz’s divine recipe) that I made a few weeks ago after going apple picking.  It was hard to only have two pieces!

Apple Jelly

My photos for the original challah recipe post are terrible-it’s one of my first recipes on the blog- and I had no idea what I was doing back then. Funny though, I was so caught up in the making of my dough and trying to make a tiny dent in the laundry that I actually didn’t shoot new ones yesterday as I intended. Ah well. These things happen.

I did remember today, though barely -the one photo at the top- taken with my iPhone- as I devoured a slice. One of these days I will reshoot the entire recipe.

The new book looks wonderful and I feel like I have the hang of baking bread back. So, I’ll mix my dough tomorrow night after I get home from a day trip to Philly and hopefully will get to bake it Monday. I am excited to see how it turns out. These I will take pictures of!

 

Day #2 NaBloPoMoNaBloPoMo_November_large_0

Filed Under: Eat, Kitchen Sink, Bread Tagged With: Bread, Challah, Challah. Sweet Egg Challah, NaBloPoMo

The Easiest, Easy Bread Recipe

March 12, 2012 by Renee

photo(4)Enjoyed the easiest, easy bread the other day at a friends house. We were actually shocked at how easy it was to make. The base for her bread is just three ingredients- flour, beer and salt. From there you can add rosemary, scallions, garlic, thyme or any other herb or vegetable combination you desire!

We created a sun-dried tomato and basil version that would be amazing for any summer day!

This recipe has been adapted from Shari’s description. Thank you!

photo(5)

Ingredients

2 2/3 cups AP Flour

1 tbs Kosher Salt

1 3/4 tbs baking powder

12 oz. bottle of beer

2 large sun-dried tomato slices

4 large leaves of basil, washed and shredded

 

Method

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine everything in a large bowl. Stir until all the ingredients are incorporated, but don’t over mix. The mixture will be very wet and sticky. This is fine!

Prepare a loaf pan by spraying with a non-stick coating.

Pour the batter in and spread to fill the pan.

Bake uncovered for 55 minutes until lightly browned. Serve warm with a good butter and enjoy this dense, versatile and  savory bread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Eat, Featured Posts, Bread Tagged With: Bread, Recipe

Bread and Roses, Paris

March 11, 2012 by Renee

Just a block away from the lovely Jardin du Luxembourg in the fashionable St Germain des Prés district is one of my favorite spots in Paris to have lunch, Bread and Roses. Besides being a bakery featuring a wide range of beautiful, organic breads, fruit tarts, luxurious slices of cheesecake and other sweet indulgences, this wonderfully cozy spot is the perfect place to enjoy a pot of tea and delight in huge, buttery, savory puff-pastry quiches filled with bright vegetables and herbs.  They are served with a generous mesclun salad infused with sprigs of dill and drizzled with a tangy and sweet mustard vinaigrette. So delicious and filling is this meal that you might not have enough room for dessert.  Which is okay, since it’s nice to purchase a variety to take home with you.

The service was impeccable and very friendly. The charming host and lovely server remembered me on my second lunch there, which, to me is always impressive and makes the whole experience much warmer and neighborly. It’s definitely a place where you can stop in for lunch and end up spending the entire afternoon, lingering over tea and scones.

And while the prices are a bit steep for those on a budget, the food warrants the investment.  After lunch on both occasions, I bought a loaf of their divine brioche to enjoy and turn into the best overnight French toast ever.

I am so looking forward to my return visit and trying to figure out how bring some of their breads with me on my walk!

Bread & Roses
7 rue de Fleurus
75006, Paris
M° Rennes or Saint-Placide

 

Filed Under: Eat, Travel, Featured Posts, Breakfast & Brunch, France Tagged With: Bakery, Bread, Bread and Roses, Paris, Tea, Travel, review, tea salon

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