I overdid it on the fresh-baked bread today. I've made Monday my new baking day in an effort to save money on groceries (and have some fun), and I've been itching to try some new bread recipes so.... I tried two recipes, one after lunch and one just before dinner, and neither was perfect and I underbaked the one we were counting on for dinner. I'm not yet an experienced bread baker.
To add insult to injury, Nathan insisted on "helping" me, which was fun the first time and more of a chore the second time, since he really expected to be involved and was much more pushy about wanting this and that and more flour to sprinkle everywhere. The first time he was happy to play with his own bowl and my the wooden spoon and measuring cups while the dough I'd given him to "knead" sat on the counter and flattened out. But the second time he was grabbing for everything I didn't want him to have, including the bag of flour, and let's just say it didn't end well. There's nothing like a meltdown when you're trying to get dinner ready.
We'll see how I feel next Monday. Tonight I can't imagine baking more bread anytime soon, but when I initially wrote that statement (about an hour ago) -- I had started writing, stopped and started again just now -- I still had a toddler to bathe and thought I'd be taking an hourlong round trip into town to pick up meds for one of our cats. But lucky me, my husband says he'll do it tomorrow, so now I get to sit on the couch and knit.
Whew! I really overdid it today.
To add insult to injury, Nathan insisted on "helping" me, which was fun the first time and more of a chore the second time, since he really expected to be involved and was much more pushy about wanting this and that and more flour to sprinkle everywhere. The first time he was happy to play with his own bowl and my the wooden spoon and measuring cups while the dough I'd given him to "knead" sat on the counter and flattened out. But the second time he was grabbing for everything I didn't want him to have, including the bag of flour, and let's just say it didn't end well. There's nothing like a meltdown when you're trying to get dinner ready.
We'll see how I feel next Monday. Tonight I can't imagine baking more bread anytime soon, but when I initially wrote that statement (about an hour ago) -- I had started writing, stopped and started again just now -- I still had a toddler to bathe and thought I'd be taking an hourlong round trip into town to pick up meds for one of our cats. But lucky me, my husband says he'll do it tomorrow, so now I get to sit on the couch and knit.
Whew! I really overdid it today.
Oh Kelly, please don't give up, it will get easier!
ReplyDeleteMove Nathan to where he can see,but not touch your ingredients. Give him a little bowl and spoon to hold and when you have the dough mixed, hand him about a golf ball size piece to play with while you knead.
Keep it fun and after awhile you won't even need a recipe!
xx
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI have two bread I bake that never fail and I give my children parts of the dough to let them play with it. I fold in there part after they have had their way with the dough and it still turns out awesome.
The first is from Tasha Tudors Corgie Cottage Cook Book. It makes several loafs...doesn't freeze well. It the one with all the Molasses in it (the other didn't work for me)
The next is in the Waldorf Kindergarden school book. We made dragon bread out of it (bread shaped like a dragon) This doesn't make as much but is quicker and less messy. Makes great rolls.
I have used the bread recipe in the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I love that the dough can be kept safely in the fridge for a week or more. We use the basic dough for a lot of things like buns, rolls, and of coarse bread. The recipe makes 3 large loafs or 4 smaller loafs. Do you need me to write the recipe for you or can you get it off the internet?
ReplyDeleteKeep up the efforts to save some money in the kitchen. The baked goods will get better. Your son's help with the baking will be a memory that will last a life time. Take a few pictures to share with his 'soon to be wife' someday. In the mean time to keep the mess down a bit put his bread baking things on a large baking sheet that he can use as a tray. Then when done you can empty it in the trash can.
You are doing a great job.