The Search for the Perfect Simple Bread Recipe
My name is Michael Nolan, and I’m a breadaholic.
There, I said it. It’s been four days since my last real homemade bread experience – a banana nut bread that made me want to cry it was so good – and I have been a slacker ever since.
Okay, when I went to the store a couple of days back I saw a beautiful ciabatta bread at the bakery and yes, I bought it, despite my frugal nature. I haven’t even touched it.
There are times during the day when I will stand in front of my pantry, staring at the shelves full of ingredients in the hope of being blessed with some divine carb inspiration and yet – nothing. Nada. Zilch.
So I call upon you, my dear readers to share with me your favorite simple bread recipes. Bread machines, oven, hell even microwave bread (though I pray there is not such a travesty in existence), I don’t care! I’m a desperate man, you see, and desperate times call for desperate measures!
Wait, that came out wrong. I’m not implying that my readers are my last resort or anything, I’m just sure that many of you are as addicted to homemade bread as I, and I wanted to get some input from sources that I have yet to fully exhaust.
Banana bread, zucchini bread, artisan bread, I want them all! While I’m on the subject, the zucchini in my garden is looking rather plump and I haven’t made a zucchini bread in a year now…
The bread in the photo is the addictive banana bread mentioned previously and yes, those are sunflower seeds nestled so deliciously atop this treasure of a loaf. If I am feeling particularly generous, I’ll share that recipe with you soon.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Check out the book “Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day” from the library. The recipes are super-simple and quick and make enough dough (which you leave in the fridge for up to two weeks) for three or four loaves. Right now I’m loving the wheat bread made with white flour and wheat bran.
June 21st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I’m going to look for it. I love reading about bread! I’m so crazy that I just love playing with bread dough!
June 28th, 2008 at 12:22 am
I have to ask if you’ve tried the No-Knead bread. That stuff is like crack. I had to stop making it for a while as my waistline was at risk of widening!
June 28th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Kyla - it is baked crack, I totally agree!