Thursday, January 20, 2011

Garlic Pepper Baguettes!

I wanted to tell you about the baguette recipe that I found in my Southern Living Cookbook - a treasure I wouldn't have found if still just 'Googling' recipes.
I'm enjoying going through my cookbooks, something I pretty much stopped doing with the Internet in the house.   Oh the Internet - how I miss thee.  At times.  And other times, I'm so glad I do not have you to distract me.  I've been riding the 'Bi-Polar Express' (thank you Nancy S!) over the whole thing.  I've had the phone in my hand twice dialing AT & T.
Law.
Back to the bread.
I'm always looking for a good bread that will last more than two days without turning into croutons, or breaking any molars.
This bread was super tasty, and fit the bill.  Made great sandwiches.
Easy peasy to make -
I can't remember the last time I 'bought' bread.
I'm going to play with this recipe, adding different spices, finely chopped sun dried tomatoes, etc.
I can't encourage you enough to start making bread.
Like anything worth doing, it takes a bit of practice, and may seem overwhelming if you've never done it.
Seriously - there is only about 12 minutes of 'hands on time' here.
You CAN do this!

Here's the recipe:

1 3/4 cup of water
1 T butter
3 3/4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 pks yeast (or 4.5 teaspoons of instant yeast)
1 T sugar
1 T garlic powder
2 t salt
1 t pepper
1 t thyme
1 T cornmeal
egg white beaten with a little water

Melt the tablespoon of butter into water on stove top in a small saucepan.  Keep an eye on it - you don't want to boil it - just warm it.

Mix 1 1/2 cups of the flour with the next six ingredients, you can just stir it with a spoon, or use your mixer.  I prefer to do it with a spoon, cause I enjoy the hands on work of bread making.

Keep adding flour, a cup at a time until the dough forms a ball, dump it on on a well floured counter and knead away.  Keep adding flour if the dough feels sticky.


Do you know about the baker's window?
It's truly the key to success.
You MUST knead your dough until you get a 'baker's window'.
Click here to find out how...

Once you've achieved your baker's window, throw a dishtowel over the dough and let it rest 20 minutes.

Divide the dough in half, and roll out each portion into a 10 x 15 rectangle.
Roll up each rectangle tightly lengthwise.
Put on greased baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.

Cover with plastic wrap and put in fridge for 2 hours.
(this makes a nice slow rise and a nice fine crumb)

Take the dough out of the fridge whilst the oven is preheating to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Slash the loaves.

Bake the lovely loaves for 20 minutes - brush with egg white mixture, and bake another 5 minutes.

I'm a Pink Chicken, and I approve this blog post.

29 comments:

  1. I love fresh made bread, although I've never made any, however you've encouraged me to venture into the world of bread making. A friend of my said the same thing you did, it takes a little practice. Thank you for the information on the "window pane" I'd never heard that term before. The video clip was very helpful, and if ya can't trust a baker from King Arthur, who can you trust! LOL! Oh, I love your "I'm a Pink Chicken . . . " very cute! Have a wonderful day and if you have time stop by for a "visit."

    Mary

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  2. Thanks for the recipe, will need to try it soon. I knead my dough by hand, and know the term elastic for when it's ready to shape. The same thing! ;)

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  3. Jayme, you're a woman after my own heart! I love homemade bread and I have to say that I don't make it often enough.
    Thanks for the response to my comment. We've had a rough week, not the doing without part but the unexpected expenses like pickup truck tires and belts. Why can't these things just run on air....lol.
    And DH found out that his job will be ending within the next 6 months. The grocery chain did not renew his company's contract so he's looking for something else now. Throw your burdens on our heavenly Father and he'll sustain you. I keep reminding myself of that and so far it's been very comforting and makes for a peaceful heart!

    I'm a Pink Chicken and I approve "YOUR" blog post!!!! You go girl!!!

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  4. I haven't made bread is such along time..do you think you can make this in a bread machine? I know how to do the kneading ~ I just love my bread machine...and the smell of the bread cooking is so delightful~!
    In one of your posts I read that you want to go to Vermont.. I went to Vermont with my son and family. We stayed in Stowe Vermont.. That is where the Van Trapps live from the movie "Sound Of Music".. You can stay in the lodge or stay in one of the smaller cabins.. It was so delightful and I got to knit with the daughter Maria in the big lodge.. Needless to say "I was one happy knitter".. Maria is a delightful lady and it was so fun.
    I love you post...and so glad you can get to the library to post on your blog..
    Have a tiggeriffic day~! ta ta for now from Iowa...annieptigger@aol.com

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  5. Oh my gosh that looks delicious. I used to make bread all the time, but stopped for some reason. I am going to go right in my kitchen and try this. I don't have cornmeal, do you think that will be a big problem?
    LLinKS

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  6. I love a good easy peasy bread recipe! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. how did you know that we were having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner? and how did you know I was gonna google a good french bread recipe today? I'm thinkin'... you have a secret spy camera behind that new pink background and I think you are spyin' on us in the privacy of our homes! Answer that one Missy!

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  8. Thanks so much for this recipe and the new-for-me "baker's window" information!

    I wanted to let you know that I tried your pie crust recipe, unbeknownst to my fam, and my husband came to me later and announced it was the BEST pie crust he'd ever eaten. He's ready for me to open up a shop with Jayme's pie crust recipe now!

    THANK YOU! You are an inspiration on so many levels!

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  9. Just yesterday I told my daughter we would look up a recipe and make some homemade bread. This is one of many reasons that I love the blogging world...I come to 'see' you for some entertainment and I end up with a great recipe! Thanks! If you are just dying to read about my childhood recurrin g dream involving rocks and daisies then stop by my blog for some of your own entertainment! Make sure to read the last two posts to understand it! Happy bread baking!

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  10. Jaybird, I'm so lovin that bakers window. My breads are so delish thanks to you. Say hello to Glen for me.Cyn:)

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  11. Well if it's pink chicken approved, it's got to be good! I love homemade bread for sure.

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  12. Oh, that looks so good... I LOVE bread and I am so giving this recipe a try. Thank you for sharing Jayme!
    Now I'm going to see what a bakers window is...

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  13. As soon as I read you blog today I went and got my bread machine..
    I made the bread.. I added 4 1/2 cups of flour.. and all the other ingredients.. OHHHHHH my house smells so good and this bread turned out soooooo good..
    Thanks it's going to taste good with my roast beef and noodles.. we are having for supper tonight.
    I didn't have any cornmeal ~ it's O.K.. because you just sprinkle it over top when you bake the bread..
    Thanks so much~!~! Keep up the good work... ta ta for now from Iowa..

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  14. What a good looking bread. I went over and watched the video. I will always remember what a window pane is when I am working with dough.

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  15. You lost me at Bakers Window. I do love me some home made bread, and I'm a good cook and baker - but for some gawdawful reason, bread intimidates me, it does.

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  16. Jayme,
    Bless your patients, cause I have none when it comes to baking bread. I just have this resistance to making anything that takes longer than 15 minutes. Although, sometimes I get to jonesing for muffins and will throw those together pretty quickly. I have a friend who use to make home made cinnamon roles from scratch. One Christmas we got together and she showed me how to make them. We actually had to start the dough two days before in order to have them ready to go in the oven on Christmas day. I couldn't believe it took us two days but they were certainly worth the wait. I don't even think we waited for them to cool off before diving into to them. They literally melted in our mouths, they were soooo tasty. The best cinnamon roles I ever ate. Better than Cinnabon. But there is nothing tastier than home made bread, that I agree with you on.

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  17. I bet it smells as good as it looks. I have been trying out bread recipes and really enjoy the process of making bread. I'm still amazed when I peek later and it's actually rising. This looks like one I will definitely be trying this weekend. I love that "window pane" site, too. I'm sure I'll do me some exploring there. I am kinda sorta a magenta chicken today. I'm really going for pink but I'm starting in the red so I know it will take baby steps into magenta till I work into pink. I was on my way to the fabric store to buy just a half a yard (can hear the rationalizing in my voice)for binding for my baby quilt. I actually drove out of my way home from work to get there but I didn't turn in. I went straight home and low and behold...I have something that will (imagine that). See magenta...thanks pink chicken. I hope you're wearing that PC logo on your chest proudly! Law...you inspire me.

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  18. I want to be a breadmaker this year...not to be confused with bread winner!!! and a pie baker too. The problem is the eating, or maybe it's the not stopping. Dilema!!

    I just got your invitation. Are you sure you meant to do that??? I have it in writing, there is no going back. My bags are packed!!!! The SQUIRREL!!! What an honor!!!

    It's funny cuz my dear friend Lynda and I were talking about you yesterday...you are her favorite blog and she thinks if I meet you I'd drop her like a hot potato!!!!! Can we both come???? You two would adore each other!!!

    I was just looking at Aaron's blog and got the Marmie story...love it!!! Can I call you Marmie too????
    Okay, maybe that's too personal, but I will be thinking it!!!!

    Did you get the snow storm??? Was Curious George with you at the library?? (I love that visual!)

    Crazy on the y2k I know, but I was just being honest!!! I could only have done a week maybe, but don't you wonder what kind of muster you have??? Well, we all know that you could do it, but I wonder about me!!

    Stay cozy over there!!!

    Holly

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  19. "I'm a Pink Chicken, and I approve this blog post." that is hysterical!! Love the pink background, once my eyes adjusted...LOL

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  20. WOW!! Make bread all the time and never knew about the window pane! Thanks. jan

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  21. This sounds so yummy. I love homemade bread, but rarely make it. I've been trying to change my evil ways though. I made cinnamon rolls last week. Maybe I should try for once a week, that sounds nearly doable :)

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  22. I just might have to try this recipe! Yesterday I made a rosemary foccacia and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so. I think it needed more rosemary though. Have a great day!

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  23. You know, I was just thinking I need to make bread for soup this week. Perfect timing.

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  24. You know, I was just thinking I need to make bread for soup this week. Perfect timing.

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  25. I made this today! I had this cookbook at home and forgot about it..(can you say I need to de-clutter? working on it I promise) I hope mine turns out as good as yours looks. I am new to your blog and have enjoyed every post, thank you so much for the inspiration and the laughs..I think 2011 is going to be an amazing year.

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  26. Thanks for the inspiration and the dough ti[. I am going to try it tomorrow!
    Lisa

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  27. thanks for posting this.

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  28. Mmm... sure can't beat homemade bread! My sweet momma is a "get-it-all-easily-at-walmart" kind of lady! My hubby wasn't raised this way, however, and I've learned alot, thanks to his challengings! I love baking bread. And eating said bread!
    And reading you blog. Don't get a big head, but you make me laugh and add a ray of sunshine to my day!

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