The Bread Slut

Yes, I know what you must be thinking. But it’s kind of a funny story. I have this thing about bread. It’s like Christmas when I see freshly baked bread. I feel like a little child in a candy store. I really go gaga over bread.  The smell alone sets me over the moon. I can’t explain.

One day my sisters and I were walking at the slow market and there was freshly baked bread. I could feel the excitement building up. And my sisters were walking so slowly . . . I just wanted to get to the bread! My youngest sister gave me one look, and said, “You’re such a bread slut.” I was smiling from ear to ear. The whole world can come to a stand still while I enjoy my bread. There is nothing as sexy as freshly baked bread. I don’t care what anyone says. I don’t care what kind of bread. I love all kinds. I mean artisan bread, not that processed stuff you buy in the shops.

Imagine a piece of freshly baked ciabatta bread (that’s my favourite of course). And put some butter on it. As you smear the butter its starts to melt and soak into the bread. OOOOOH! Lord, TAKE ME NOW!!!!! And as you take your first bite you taste the soft pillowy texture, and the salty taste of the butter. Then a dribble of butter runs down your chin. After that, I can die peacefully. My day has been made. What can I say, I love bread.

This is one of my favourite bread recipes. Easy and convenient.

Ingredients

4 cups flour

6og Soft butter

20 ml Sugar

1 Packet of dried fast active yeast (10g)

500ml Luke warm water (you may add a little more, if needed).

5ml Salt

Method

Mix the flour and sugar together. Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like bread crumbs. Add the yeast and salt. Make sure that you don’t add the salt directly to the yeast, because it will kill the yeast. Add the water and mix everything together until you get a soft dough. If the dough is too dry, add some more water. If the bread is too wet, add more flour. Knead the dough for a couple minutes. Put the dough in a clean bowl that’s been oiled. Rest the dough for 20 minutes in a warm place.

After 20 minutes shape the bread as you like. Myself, I like to divide the dough into two equal pieces. Then I take the one piece and divided it into three portions and roll each peace into a long sausage. I plate the three pieces together. Do the same with the other piece. Let the bread rest for 40 minutes and bake at 190 degrees for 20 minutes. You can brush the bread with egg and sprinkle some seeds on the top before you bake the bread.

Other options

If you’re looking for a different kind of flavour you can add pesto to your bread before you add the water. It gives a whole new flavour. You can even make it into a savoury loaf. You can add bacon and onion to the mixture for a more savoury flavour.

If you do make the bread, please let me know what you think of it.