Use Your Loaf – Bake Your Own!

[sunpuppy]

I've just started making my own bread (loaf two was on Sunday!) and need some advice.

My bread didn't rise as much as I wanted it to, and I wondered if it was because I didn't use enough flour for the tin (2lb tin), or water, or both.

I used:
500g of wholemeal flour
1tsp Quick Yeast
1tsp salt
1tbsp olive oil
325ml hand hot water

I mixed the flour, salt and quick yeast together, then mixed in the water, followed by the oil. After I kneaded it, I left it in the mixing bowl in a warm place for an hour and it doubled in size, but when I took it out to knead it again, it shrank and never recovered! It rose a little bit more when I left it for another half hour, but never managed to rise above the edge of the loaf tin.

Help! Are my measurements at fault, or is it my technique?!

NB: the bread tasted fine though, apart from not rising!

[Andy Hamilton]

Did you cover it with a clean tea towel or plastic bag both times?

[sunpuppy]

Did you cover it with a clean tea towel or plastic bag both times?

I covered it the first time, but not the second (not sure why, probably forgot!)

[sunpuppy]

next time I'll leave the second rise a bit longer.

Might also increase the quantities of flour and water a little too...

I have to say, it's mightily satisfying making your own bread, and the taste is just so much nicer than shop bought.

Thanks for the input.....

[Andy Hamilton]

I have to say, it's mightily satisfying making your own bread, and the taste is just so much nicer than shop bought.

much cheaper too I highly reccomend trying elsinore bread http://www.selfsufficientish.com/elsinorebread.htm - certainly one of my favorites. I have seen similar bread for sale in deli's for £2 a loaf I work this out to be about 45p a loaf!

[sunpuppy]

I highly reccomend trying elsinore bread http://www.selfsufficientish.com/elsinorebread.htm - certainly one of my favorites. I have seen similar bread for sale in deli's for £2 a loaf I work this out to be about 45p a loaf!

Sounds interesting - the only thing is, I can't stand cottage cheese. Does the bread taste cottage-cheese-like when it's done?

[Andy Hamilton]

It does not taste of cottage cheese what so ever. My girlfriend hates cottage cheese too and she really likes this bread.

It does strongly taste of dill seed which I think is quite a warm flavour. Took me a while to hunt down some dill seed I found some in a health food shop in the end. I nearly ended up buying some from a garden centre!

[sunpuppy]

It does not taste of cottage cheese what so ever. My girlfriend hates cottage cheese too and she really likes this bread.

Fab - I'll give it a go this weekend....

[Wombat]

I used to make my own bread years ago, using a recipe that was given to me by a naturopath friend, but it was quite complicated . I have been reading about wood fired ovens (goin' ta build me a cob oven! ) and most of the writers favour the longer rising sour dough type. Has anyone any expereince with making sourdough type bread?

Nev