Thankful {things I love} Thursday...

My kitchen is a mystical place,

a kind of temple for me.

It is a place where the surfaces seem to have significance,

where the sounds and odors

carry meaning

that transfers from the past

and bridges to the future

~Pearl Bailey~

***

Since it is -40C with the wind today, I thought it the perfect time to do a little baking & bread making. A nice warm kitchen to sit and look at the birds at the feeders, enjoy a coffee and browse through my favourite cookbooks.

2 large bookcases flank the large window in my kitchen and are filled with cookbooks and baking related items as well as nicknack's and family photos. It really is the ♥heart of the home♥ and a favourite spot.

Homemade soup for lunch is on the menu & baked ravioli for supper, so a few loaves of crusty bread are in order.

This is my favourite Country White Bread recipe and the one I use all the time. It's simple & makes 2 perfect loaves with a nice crunchy crust. I've copied the recipe as it is in my recipe book. Although I love the "hands on" approach, and always found it very therapeutic, these days, I let my standing mixer with dough hook attachment do the kneading (and work) for me.

Country White Bread

***

Yields 2 loaves

350 degree F oven 25-30 min

2 cups milk

1 pkg active dry yeast

3 tbsp sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp salt

4-5 cups unsifted all-purpose flour

Egg Wash - 1 large egg mixed with 1 tbsp water

*We like a crunchy, dark crust and an egg wash of 1egg beaten and 1 tbsp water or a brush over the top of the loaves with melted butter will do the trick *
Directions

1. Heat milk in a small saucepan until bubbles form. Remove 1/2 cup of milk to a small bowl and set aside to cool to 110 degrees F. Stir into yeast and 1 tbsp sugar. Let mixture stand until foamy approx 5 min.

2. Add butter to remaining milk in saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring to melt the butter.

Pour milk and butter mixture into a large bowl and set aside to cool to 110 degrees F.

3. Add remaining 2 tbsp sugar, salt and yeast mixture, along with 3 cups of flour to milk mixture and using a wooden spoon, stir to blend completely. Add enough additional flour to make the dough manageable.

4. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding more flour as required until smooth and elastic ~ approx 8-10 min.

5. Lightly oil a mixing bowl and place dough in oiled bowl, turning to bring the oil side up over the dough. Cover with a clean cloth and allow dough to rise in a warm spot - free from drafts- until doubled in size - approx 1 hr.

6. Grease two loaf pans.

7. Punch down dough and turn out onto a floured surface and cut in half.

Fit dough into greased pan and cover with a clean cloth. Let rise until double in size - approx 35min.

8. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, beat egg with water to make an egg wash.

Brush loaves with wash and bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

9. Remove loaves from oven & place on a wire rack - they should sound hollow when tapped on top.

Allow to cool to room temperature before cutting.

10. Enjoy ♥

***

Bread deals with living things

with giving life

with growth

with the seed

the grain that nurtures.

It is not coincidence

that we say

bread is the staff

of life

~Lionel Poilane~