The Bread Project Week 1: Dense but Edible

My first attempt at bread making was a semi-failure. Or, to look at it another way, it was a semi-success! Hooray!

My problem: I picked a book (100 Great Breads by Paul Hollywood) based on the pictures. Scoff all you want, but honestly I'm a sucker for a pretty loaf of bread. And this book was full of them. Beyond that it cost nearly the exact amount I had left on my Barnes & Noble gift card.

I picked the most basic recipe in the book (white bread) and followed what little instructions there were to the best of my ability. When I went to knead the dough- it was tough. Still, what came out made my apartment smell delicious! And it looked pretty to boot:

The crust was lovely, but the inside was a bit dense. Googling leads me to believe there wasn't enough water, but after talking with a woman at work who's taking pastry classes at the French Culinary Institute (awesome, right?), it could've just been atmospheric issues or too much kneading.

Ah well. It improved with toasting and was great for sandwiches. So all isn't lost. I may come back to this recipe eventually, but I think I'll look for a basic loaf from a book more suited for beginners.

Velociraptors and Other Time Killers

Embroidery is my new go to craft. I guess it's not that surprising: it's cheap, versatile and not too hard to learn the basics. While I'd love to do more sewing, especially at Etsy Craft Nights with their lovely new sewing machines, it's so much easier to transport my embroidery supplies on the subway. This is literally (literally!) the case I used to make friendship bracelets back in the day. AND most of the time I don't even need that. Lovely.

My most recent project isn't complete, but it's reached the stage where I just can't find the motivation. The only thing left was lettering around the outside, which I'd had trouble tracing from the original. Honestly, the logo is lovely enough:

Also in the semi-unfinished pile is this, your friendly neighborhood velociraptor:

It may actually be done, I'm just not sure about the hands. Once I finish a few other things kicking around my mindgrapes, I have plans to do a bizarre series of these. Let's see if I ever get around to it though...

The Bread Project - Introduction

Bread is amazing. And delicious.

picture found here. it makes me so hungry

It can be as simple as flour and water, yeast and salt...but there's something kind of scary and mysterious about the process to me. I've always wanted to learn to make it, but then bread- good bread, even- is so cheap and ubiquitous in grocery stores there's really no need. Lately though I've started thinking about the Zombie Apocalypse. Who knows what's going to happen to all the Wegmans-es and Italian Bakeries around my apartment when society collapses. So it's about time I learned to make my own.

Hence:

The Bread Project

The Goal: Learn to make bread, all different types, well.

The Process: A loaf a bread a week...with a little wiggle room. Start with the basics, though knowing me I won't want to do any once recipe too many times. Work up to fancier styles and loaves. Become awesome at making all of them.

This whole thing will most likely be updated once I've gotten a grip on what my goals actually are. One thing I know about myself is that if I don't start something when inspiration strikes, I'll often start making up excuses and never try it. So instead of thinking, I am doing.

I've picked up a few books from stores and the library, though I'm often picking which pictures make me the hungriest. So if anyone has any suggestions on good places to start feel free to comment.