bread - is it really challenging to make at home?

Question

do you recommend a baking "stone"?
unfortunately.. i have an electric oven!

Answer 1

Use this recipe.
If you follow it carefully, the bread tastes magic.

Wholemeal bread

Combine a 7gm sachet of dried yeast with half a cup of warm water in a small bowl: stir in 1 teaspoon of caster sugar. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 5 minutes until bubbles appear on the surface.

Sift 2 cups of unbleached plain flower, and mix with 2 cups plain wholemeal flour, add 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons dried wholemilk powder and 1 tablespoon caster sugar into a large bowl.

Make a well in the centre, add yeast, quarter cup cooking oil and 1 cup warm water.

Using hands or large spoon, mix to a soft dough. Turn onto lightly floured surface, Knead ten minutes or until smooth and elastic. If needed incorporate up to half cup extra flour until dough is not sticky.

Place in large lightly oiled bowl. Leave, covered with a teatowel in a warm place for 1 hour or until well risen. Punch dough down, and knead for 1 minute.

Divide and shape into loaves or rolls. Leave covered with plastic wrap for 45 minutes or until well risen. Place in a tin which has been lightly oiled with butter or oil. Or mould into free-form shapes and place on a greased baking tray.

Bake in tins in a 210 degree C (Gas 190 c) oven for 10 minutes, lower heat to 180 c - bake an extra 30-40 minutes.

Bake free form loaves in a 210 c oven for 10 minutes - lower heat to180c and cook for 20-30 minutes. Cooking times will depend on size of loaves or rolls. To test for doneness, tap bottom of bread with knuckles. A hollow sound indicates bread is done.
Note. Dough is enough for 1 large, 2 medium or 3 small loaves, or 16-24 rolls.
If white bread is prefered replace the 2 cups of wholemeal flour with another 2 cups of plain flour.

Answer 2

A baking stone is nice, but not necessary. Very good bread can be made in conventional bread pans or on a flat cookie sheet.

The most important thing about making bread is to knead it long enough. My own arms get too tired to do it right myself, but for a young and relatively strong person, it can be a great way to work off aggression or anger. I recently read the comments of a woman in Al-Anon, whose husband is an alcoholic. She made great bread as she pounded and pushed the dough and thought about her husband and his latest transgressions. If you are not that strong or that angry, share the kneading with someone else. You should keep at it until the dough is really, really smooth and elastic.

Answer 3

This recipe is really easy and is suprisingly good...no kneading!

Batter White Bread

1 package dry yeast
1 ½ c. warm water
2 tbsp Crisco shortening
2 tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp salt
3 c. all purpose flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix Crisco, sugar, salt and 1 ½ c. flour in a large bowl. Add yeast, stirring constantly. Beat vigorously as you add the rest of the flour.
Cover with cloth and let double in bulk in a warm, but not hot place. ( I put mine on top of the TV!)
Do not punch but stir down. Spoon batter into 10 inch loaf pan and pat with floured hand to shape.
Let rise, covered, another 30 minutes. Bake 45 minutes at 375 degrees.
Cool slightly and remove from pan. Loaf should have a ‘hollow’ sound when thumped on the bottom. Place loaf on rack and brush top with melted butter.

Answer 4

bread is not tha big of a challange, it's easy to do, the only challenge is having enough patience to let it rise 3 times before baking

as for the baking stone, if you want a crisp bottom crust on your bread, then that is the way to go, if you want a soft chewable crust then don't use the stone, unless your baking the bread without bread pans.

Answer 5

I taught myself to make bread. If you are angry or frustrated that is the best time to make it, cuz you get it all out while you knead the dough. You don't need a baking stone, just use a loaf pan.

Answer 6

no...it's easy..make sure that the yeast and the water are at the right temperature...warm....and let it rise twice...then yer good to go...350 degree preheated oven for 50 - 60 minutes or until golden brown...you should be able to tell when its done....mmmmmmmm....homebaked bread...bring that.....gl....