Peace & Loaf

[puravida]

Here's my poppy seed loaf this morning.
Turned out beautifully.

 

[Runwell-Steve]

Looks good, I forgot to make any last night

 

[Nunfa1]

That looks fab. I still haven't perfected mine yet. I take it that's your standard recipe? What yeast do you use?

 

[puravida]

Yep - standard recipe that I use every day. The only thing I change each day is the type of flour - sometimes I add seeds, sometimes use malted, sometimes spelt, sometimes a mix of them all.

The yeast is the Doves Farm Instant yeast in the little orange rectangular packet.

Recipe is from Tom Herbert here:

http://www.hobbshousebakery.co.uk/blog/ ... af_recipe/

I use olive oil rather than rapeseed. I add one tablespon of dried milk powder too. I usually leave the first rise in my airing cupboard for a good 2 hrs.

To get the poppy seeds to stick, just brush the loaf with water right before it goes in the oven and either sprinkle on top or carefully turn the loaf over and dip onto a bowl/plate of seeds.

 

[Nunfa1]

I'm still not getting my loaves light and fluffy. What sort of temperature does it need to be during first and second rise? I'm not sure it's getting warm enough, we don't have an airing cupboard so it's just going near a radiator.

 

[puravida]

First rise is probably about 22-24 degrees C. Second is about 20.
It will rise perfectly well at lower temps, just takes longer.

What ingredients / recipe are you using??

 

[Nunfa1]

The recipe listed above, we have started adding wholemeal flour though would that make a difference? Last one was 400g white and 160g wholemeal. The wife's been interfering as well and I don't think she's leaving it long enough. :x

 

[puravida]

Hahaa. Patience is the key! I'm sure the wholemeal won't have made any difference - just need to wait until it has doubled in size each rise.
Treat is rough after 1st rise. Treat is super gentle after the 2nd.

 

[Nunfa1]

Ok, thanks. She's at work over the weekend so I can have another go.

 

[big brew ejit]

Is there any particular size of bread tin or is it a standard generic type that you can get in tescos.
I would like to bake my own but never done it before.
Cheers
Phil

 

[puravida]

Standard ones are just fine!
Make sure you coat thinly in oil before you put the dough in so the bread comes out easily

You can even just shape & dump the dough on a flat baking tray if you like.

 

[big brew ejit]

I got a bread tin and baking tray from tescos who were also doing the bakers brothers book for a tenner(bought one) compared to their website where its on for a score.