Bread scares me. Not the finished article, I don’t have an irrational fear of a crusty baguette. But the making of it fills me with bread dread. Kneading is not my forte and the time required to prove this, prove that, prove you’re a good enough baker… *Sigh*.
Which explains to some extent why I’ve fallen very behind in my Bake Off Challenge bake-along. I’ve been dodging week 3: Bread Week.
So I thought I’d double up and do two week’s worth in one go for Monday Munchies.
And don’t you just love the title? I do. Except it’s a lie as I didn’t make brioche. And yes I know it’s ‘Binoche’ but the former worked better. It does have chocolate in it though!
And the battered part? Well, that covers week 4 – a first for Bake Off with Batter Week. I am definitely earning my bread and batter… (sorry).
So what’s on the menu? Well Bread Week’s technical challenge was dampfnudeln. ‘Huh?’ I hear you say. Exactly, let’s skip these traditional, steamed bread buns shall we?
I’m not about to make a show stopper loaf either, when I’m afraid of making things with strong flour, so the basic/signature is what I went with. The requirement was a chocolate bread and I’ve gone with a chocolate and cherry plait.
Paul Hollywood’s recipe seemed easy enough to follow: I did mess up with one of the ingredients though, buying black cherry fruit filling (coated in syrup) rather than just cherries. Oh well, it just made it a little more gloopy so I didn’t add as many of them.
The plaiting part however… what on earth are those instructions? Talk about confusing! I tried following them but got completely lost so did it my own way. I have long hair – I know how to braid!! Mr. Hollywood on the other hand…
Looks plaited to me!
The end result was very satisfying, if a little burned. And sliced whilst still slightly warm, with a lashing of butter on it is the way to go. Although I imagine it will be very nice toasted with some jam too.
There was a healthy crack, as Paul would say, when I cut into it and it passed the spring test. Have I conquered my fear? Perhaps… Still, shops exist so I’ll not be indulging in making the weekly loaf for sarnies just yet!
Batter week had delicious churros for the showstopper and ‘lace’ pancakes for the technical. But as a Yorkshire lass, I couldn’t bypass the signature Bake that wanted 12 identical Yorkshire Puddings. Especially when (shock, horror) I’ve never made them. But when you have someone like Bessie in your family, where’s the need?!
Anywho, they were surprisingly easy. However, the identical part was more of a problem – large, voluminous and misshapen was more like it. Oh, and they had to be filled. Except there was no ‘well’ left to fill. So it was more ‘ladle at will’ with the chilli!
Still, they tasted good and that’s the main part, right? I will, however, be crossing that off my life skill list and return to paying Bessie in the future!
So what do you think? Would I progress to Week 5 in the tent? Let’s hope so, next time I’ll be tarting up… something!
Both recipes can be found via the links below – enjoy! 🙂
Image Credits: My own plus kitchenproject.com, ravepad.com and foodnetwork.co.uk
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Good work! I love bread (just eating, not making).
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Haha, thanks Tara! Yes, the eating is far less stressful and equally as satisfying 🙂
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Your bread looks amazing! I’ve made bread a few times but those times were so very long ago!
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Thanks Sandra! 😊 I’m in awe of anyone who can make it regularly – I definitely got lucky this time.
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Well, I think I made it about 4 times in my life, so… 🙂 What I really want to make are homemade cinnamon rolls… but I’m too lazy. 😀
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I feel you’ve publicly set yourself a challenge 😉
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Haha! Uh-oh!
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Your bread looks great!
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Thank you! Next time (if there’s a next time) I’ll attempt not to burn it!
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The bread looks fabulous, Haylee. I actually unconsciously did a big inhale to see if I could smell it off the screen. And I did chuckle at your Yorkshire Pudding comment…I tried (once) to create a Christmas feast (in New Mexico of all places) and to serve Yorkshire Pudding…disaster…absolutely no rising happened…but the taste was OK…and it was fun to try. 🙂 By the way…love the title of this post. 🙂
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Haha, thank you – I’m so sorry we don’t have scented posts! I LOVE the fact that Yorkshire puds made it to New Mexico, regardless of whether they looked the part!! Special points for trying 🙂
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Oooh the plait thing looks just lovely! I make my own bread regularly but I have a bread maker, so it doesn’t really count, does it? But I am so very tempted by the chocolate and cherry creation that I might have to give it a go.
12 identical yorkie puds?! I thought yorkie puds were like snowflakes – no two could ever be the same! Yours look incredible. I am drooling at the sight of them 😀
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I love the idea of a bread maker but I know I’d not use it – well maybe twice until the novelty wore off! And exactly… surely only factory baked. Above so precise? I quite liked that they continued to billow!!
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