Feeding My Enthusiasms: Seedy Braided Bread

You’ll have seen that I have never been baking bread very  a lot lately. There’s a purpose…weight. Sweetie has been dropping pounds, partly by eliminating carbs for many of his meals and partly by making smart decisions for the remainder of his weight loss plan, plus he’s spending much more time being energetic. I’ve been much less cautious in my decisions and have not been fairly as energetic, however I’ve additionally been reducing again on carbs and consuming extra fruits and veggies. 

So what’s a bread baker to do when she is not consuming bread? Bake it for others, proper? Many of the posts for the previous few months that embody bread, pastry, cookies, and so on. have had parts of my freely giving a portion of the dish, if not all of it. This week I am making an exquisite bread that features bread flour, white entire wheat flour, and an entire lot of seeds of varied varieties. I will divide the dough into thirds, form every into a protracted rope, then braid these ropes right into a loaf to bake on a baking sheet.

I did about the identical for a loaf for a just lately widowed pal when he returned house from visiting his grown kids. With a loaf of contemporary bread in the home he would have one thing good to eat for days!

This week’s loaf will likely be going to a silent public sale for our P.E.O. scholarship group, elevating cash for scholarships for girls. Many of the friends know that I am a great baker, so I anticipate that the bidding will likely be energetic. I am additionally auctioning the Scorching Fudge Sauce that I posted yesterday. Combining energy out with enjoyable and fundraising is a win-win-win.

Braided Bread
primarily based on Plaited Loaf recipe in Baking , by Martha
Day

1 tablespoon energetic dry yeast
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup lukewarm milk (not over 100 levels F) – I used undiluted condensed milk 
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 egg, barely overwhelmed
15 oz. flour: I cup bread flour, 1/2 cup white entire wheat flour, 1/2 cup King Arthur Baking Harvest grains combine which incorporates poppy seed, sesame seed, pumpkin seed
Be aware: Flour quantities differ relying on moisture of the flour and of the kitchen
1 teaspoon salt
Glaze: 1 egg yolk overwhelmed with 1 tablespoon water
2-3 tablespoons sesame seeds or 2-3 teaspoons poppy seed (non-compulsory)

Mix the yeast, honey, and milk. Stir and let sit for quarter-hour.

Stir within the cooled butter into the milk combination. Stir within the egg and put the moist combination in a mixer bowl. When you’ve got a big stand mixer use it.

Stir collectively the flours, seeds and the salt. Pour about half into the mixer bowl with
the milk combination and blend with the paddle attachment or stir with a spoon or dough whisk.
Change to a dough hook, if utilizing. Add the remainder of the flour, a couple of 1/3 cup at
a time, till the dough is smooth however holds collectively effectively. On the finish chances are you’ll
want so as to add the flour a tablespoon at a time. If not utilizing a stand mixer, flip
out on a floured floor when it’s too exhausting to stir the flour in. Knead the
remainder of the flour in. Knead with mixer or by hand till dough is easy and elastic.

Place dough in an oiled bowl, flip over to grease either side. Cowl loosely with
plastic wrap and go away to rise in a heat place till doubled in quantity, about 1
½ hours. (I put mine within the fridge for 2 day to accentuate the flavour.)

Grease a baking sheet or line with parchment or a silicone mat. Put aside.

Flip risen dough out onto a floured board. Knead for a minute to launch
trapped fuel. Divide into three even items of dough. Form every bit right into a
lengthy ‘snake’, about 18 inches lengthy. Place the three strands aspect by aspect on the
ready pan. Beginning on the center, braid the three strands, then flip it and
braid the opposite aspect. Tuck the ends below. Cowl loosely and go away to rise in a
heat place for half-hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 levels F. Brush the loaf with the egg glaze utilizing a pastry
brush. If desired sprinkle tops of coils of braid with poppy or sesame seeds whereas glaze continues to be moist. Bake till golden, for about 40-45 minutes. Loaf will sound hole whenever you faucet the again when baked sufficient. Prove onto a rack to
cool.