Meet My New Friend

Hello ladies and gents! Hope you have all had a healthy and happy hump day! Ahh, alliteration, I love you so!

So, I’d like to introduce you to my new friend! Everybody, meet Mr. Yeast! Mr. Yeast…everybody!

I cannot even begin to tell you how long I have been afraid of this mysterious little jar of bacteria. Just the word “yeast” would make me shudder. Whenever I saw a recipe that listed yeast as an ingredient, I would immediately turn the page, denying myself whatever foodie goodness lay within because I felt that baking with yeast was just not something a self-taught home cook like me could handle. There is much to be blamed for my ever-present perfectionism.

Then things started to change. Over the last couple of weeks, Allie, over at Live Laugh Eat, has been documenting a food journey of sorts as she learns all there is to know about baking bread. Some lessons she has learned through research…others merely through trial and error, but after a post the other day speaking about all things yeast, I realized that this tiny little jar was nothing to be afraid of! His secrets were revealed and I was on a mission…for homemade bread!

I wanted to start off as easy as possible. The least amount of steps with the least amount of ingredients. I figured it would give me a lesser chance of messing something up! 😉 How do you like my sense of optimism?

A quick Google search led my to the King Arthur Flour website where I found a classic (yet simple) recipe.

Classic 100% Whole Wheat Bread: (makes 1 loaf)
Taken from King Arthur Flour website

  • 1 to 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water*
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup honey, molasses, or maple syrup
  • 3 1/2 cups King Arthur Premium 100% Whole Wheat Flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast, or 1 packet active dry yeast dissolved in 2 tablespoons of the water in the recipe
  • 1/4 cup nonfat dried milk
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

*Use the greater amount in winter or in a dry climate; the lesser amount in summer or a humid climate.

The steps were are pretty straight forward. My reactions are in red. Let it be known that I am NOT a patient person:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until dough starts to pull away from the edges.
“Oh wow, this is easy peasy!”
2. Knead dough on greased surface with greased hands for 6-8 minutes.
“Ooookay, don’t think I’ve worked with greasy dough before. Usually the recipe says a floured surface”…Heather, stop! You are not making cookies!
3. Place in bowl covered with a towel and allow to rise 1-2 hours
“Okie dokie, I can do that!

…1 hour later, “Hmm, maybe I should give it a little longer, doesn’t look like it’s done much”…2 hours later, “Oh yay! That looks right!”

4. Remove from bowl, shape into 8 inch log, place in loaf pan covered lightly with greased plastic wrap and allow to rise a second time (1-2 hours)

“Man, this is a whole lot of waiting! I want some bread now!”…1 hour later, “Nope! STILL not ready”…2 hours later, “FINALLY!”

5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes, tenting after 20 to prevent over browning of crust.

The last step is where my face was pretty much plastered to the oven window wiping the drool from my lips and twiddling my thumbs.

But then, 35 minutes later…it was finished!

It came out perfect! My little sister is staying over tonight and arrived just as I was slicing it up. As she took the first bite, I stood on my tip-toes in anticipation…

Her words, not mine: “Oh my gosh, this is like the BEST bread I’ve EVER tasted! It’s so sweet and…umph…mmm!…so good!”

*Insert happy dance!*

Dinner this evening HAD to be something great to compete with this fantastic loaf of wheaty goodness. I’ve been eyeing the bookmark for Erika’s White Chicken Chili for a week now. I knew tonight would be the perfect night to give it a whirl.

I halved her recipe since it was only for me and my sis and only added in one thing:

1/2 cup shredded zucchini to the onions while sauteing

I love sneaking in veggies whenever I can…you couldn’t even taste or see them!

Oh my goodness Erika! This soup was fantastic! I topped mine with lime, cilantro, and diced avocado. I loved the flavor of the cilantro mixed with the cumin…smoky with a hint of spice. The somewhat sweet-tasting bread was a perfect match to this flavorful soup. I did a good job of “mopping up” my bowl with it at the end of this meal!

What are your thoughts on yeast? Have you ever made homemade bread?

What do you think of the lightbox pics?
I think I’m finally getting the hang of it after a few days of playing around with light and camera angles!

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31 Responses to Meet My New Friend

  1. Wow, you may have officially inspired me to get over my own fear of baking bread… your bread looks awesome… and how freakin easy is that?! Bookmarked, and yeast added to my grocery list!

  2. WOw!! i have never made bread with yeast– i just totally think i will screw it up.. but iv made a quick bread that i will post very soon! so impressed though girl- that looks so legit!

  3. That bread looks AMAZING. I admittedly am fairly terrified of yeast as well… But that’s because I’ve messed it up a few times :/ Usually in the initial stages so it hasn’t been a complete bust, but it’s still frustrating!

    I will ahve to try this bread recipe some time 🙂

    (I think you should make cinnamon rolls next 😛 )

  4. Erika says:

    Glad you and your sister liked the chili! I might have to make that bread now too – it looks so good! 🙂

  5. lindsay says:

    there is something magical about baking bread, isn’t there? Maybe its the smell, the flavor, the warmth. I love it. I have to use yeast when making GF bread otherwise its kinda a rock, haha. Looks wonderful friend.

  6. I have never made bread before. Yours looks amazing though and I love the step by step photos! 🙂

  7. Your whole wheat bread looks amazing!!!! 🙂 STUPENDOUS!!! Can you send me a slice? 🙂

  8. Your bread turned out FABULOUS!!!! Homemade bread really just does not even come close to grocery store bread. Am I right or am I right? 🙂

    Right now I keep turning away recipes that have nonfat dried milk. I just need to buy some!

    • Thanks Allie! You are DEFINITELY right! So much better! I was so excited that I had all the ingredients for this…I’d made some granola bars that called for dried milk and finally had another reason to use it!

  9. I’ve never worked with yeast….i’m still in the “being afraid” stage. Maybe one day I’ll branch out : )

  10. Oooh yummy! Your bread looks fabulous, girl!

    Yes, I’ve definitely made homemade bread… and lots of it. The first year Christopher and I were married, I made homemade bread all the time instead of us using regular store-bought bread. Then I wasn’t in grad school anymore and I no longer had hours of sitting at home studying to wait for bread to rise. 😉 Now I make it for special occasions.

    However, as for yeast… we use it every Friday night in our pizza dough recipe. Yum! 😀

  11. Your chili looks great! I love your lightbox photos!

  12. It came out perfectly! I’m impressed 🙂

  13. inmytummy says:

    That bread looks great. I’ve always been afraid to bake bread for some reason. I’m not sure why.

    • I think part of my fear was the yeast and the “magical power” it has and the whole devoting half a day to baking. I am kind of the “instant gratification” type gal, but this stuff is SO worth the wait!

  14. Anastasia says:

    I’ve always been weird about baking with yeast too.. something about it just seemed so creepy! haha. The bread looks amazing and perfect! Your photos are really great as well.. I gotta check into this lightbox thing :]

  15. Ummm, were you reading my mind?! I literally bought yeast out of the blue today (I’ve never ever bought it before) because I was like “well, I should have some just in case I see a bread recipe I want to make” and then BAM I see this on your blog. It’s fate. I need to make this recipe.

  16. Janine Powers says:

    Yummm! I wish I had been there too! Sad day for me 🙁

  17. elise says:

    i feel like this post was written for me. haha. ive been lusting after make your own breads for way too long and every time i dismiss it bc im scared of that little yeast packet. thanks to your comments, maybe JUST MAYBE ill grow a pair and give it a shot??

    that chili looks pretty legit too.

    • Honestly, if it hadn’t been for all of Allie’s posts, I probably never would have tried! I’m just glad my first loaf went so well (like a freakin textbook) because now I’m motivated to make more loaves. I can’t even begin to tell you how much better a homemade slice taste compared to store bought!

      The only thing I can’t get over is the waiting for the yeast to rise. I’m making some cinnamon raisin bread now and after 4 1/2 hours and 3 rises, it’s FINALLY time to put it in the oven! I am so impatient!

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