Making bread - this was something inspired by the cooking channel. We always used to have shop bought bread, no-one I knew made bread at all. No-one I knew even played with yeast. I had tried to make pizza bases for a while using yeast, but the shop bought, pre-made ones were easier and better, so why bother? I also had trouble getting the yeast to rise. Then a lady I know who had been to bread making classes gave me hints on getting the yeast to rise, and I was hooked.
I started watching The The Great British Bake Off, and The Great Australian Bake Off, and was inspired into making bread. My first attempt was dismal, it took a lot of kneading! It tasted OK ,and was OK as toast the next day, but took so much time and effort with kneading. So my son ordered me a dough hook for my trusty old mixer and I have not looked back. It may not be the light fluffy bread sold at the bakery up the road, but it sure is good.
This is my fruit loaf, different to what we get in the supermarket. I has dried apricots, dried figs, and dates as well as the usual sultanas and currants. I can regulate the amount of spice that goes in to my taste.
This one didn't even last 24 hours it was so good!
At one stage I contemplated buying a bread maker, but why bother? A dough hook on my near 40 year old mixer and my acquired yeast rising skills are enough.
