Artisan Bread

Plain artisan bread. It looks pretty nice, right? and guess who made this, yup I did it.

My first Artisan bread.

3 tsp yeast
1 1/2 cup of lukewarm water
3 1/4 flour.

In a mixer, stir together yeast and lukewarm water, let mixture stands for 5 minutes.
At a slow speed, gradually add in flour and mix into all flour is incorporated, this will take about 5 minutes. Dough will probably be sticky, either transfer dough into a big bowl or leave dough in the mixing bowl. Let dough rise in dry warm area. Dough will rise over double, punch down dough.

Cut dough into half with a knife. Fold dough into a ball shape, using a sharp knife cut/slit 1/4 inch deep cross line on the ball of dough. Set dough aside for 30 minutes.
Heat up oven at 450 degree for 20 mins, placing a pan with an inch of water at bottom rack of oven when you turn on oven.

Once oven is heated up after 20 mins, put dough on middle rack. Bake for 30 minutes and there you have it your Artisan bread.

Banana bread, 2 different versions

These are loaf breads, sprinkled with lots of coconut banana bread.

Updated:
6 weeks later, as I wanted to bake for office party, I made these banana breads, instead of sprinkling with coconuts, I dripped syrup over the bread top. Taste testers love them. Both versions are winners.

Potato Cranberry Braid

Freshly baked from the oven. Smelling good and tasting good too.
Found this recipe from the Bread Experience blog. Girl, does she know bread. I just found myself a real bread treasures. I modify her recipe (of Pumpkin Cranberry Braid ) with potato and fresh cranberries. She does not use any liquid. I add 1 cup of almond milk and some changes here and there which I noted in my recipe below.

Recipe:

A.
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 cups flour
1/3 cup  + 3 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1/3 oil
1 cup almond milk ( you can use water + 2 tbsp milk powder ), luke warm

B.
1 big potato ( cut in small cube, boiled separately till soft and tender, then mash with folk, add 2 to 3 tbsp of milk to soften mixture ).
3 to 4 cup flour
1 cup fresh cranberry (or frozen or 1/3 cup dried cranberries or 1/3 raisins) ... optional.

1. In a electric mixer with a hook ( or manually in a big bowl ), stir up all the items on A. except the milk, then add milk and mix it well.
2. Gradually add more flour from B to the mixer.
3. Add mashed potato to mixture, mix well.
4. Add in cranberry, mix well.
5. Continue to beat on medium speed for a total of 15 mins. (max)
6. Place dough in mixer bowl. Cover, let rise in a warm place until double.
7. Punch dough down. Cut dough into 6 pieces, form each piece into long strips.
8. Braid 3 strips to one loaf, makes 2 loaves. Let rise in a room temp or warm place for about 30 minutes.
9. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

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