I love baking.
I love mixing ingredients, adding spices and transforming food, from a few basic, store cupboard ingredients into delicious and delectable cakes, biscuits or bread.
When I saw the first flurries of snow this morning, I felt that baking some warming, family treats for the weekend would be the right way to spend the day.
So between the school run, food shopping, coffee with friends and walking the dog I have baked soda bread, a banana loaf and a gingerbread house.
My daughter and I will be decorating the house tomorrow, she can then take it into school next week. This half term she and her class are studying Katie Morag as part of their Geography topic, and with Burn's Night next Friday, we are going with a Scottish theme for this month's house!
I'll show you some photos when we have the house completed.
I bake soda bread regularly, and I'm always tweaking the recipe.
Today I used:
1/2 lb plain white flour
1/4 lb buckwheat flour
1/4 lb spelt flour
1tsp salt
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
Buttermilk
I mixed all the dry ingredients and added enough buttermilk to make a good dough. I formed the dough into a round shape, cut a cross and baked it in a hot oven for twenty minutes, then turned the heat down to 170 degrees until the bread was ready.
As with other bread, a tap on the bottom and a hollow sound indicate that the bread is ready. This loaf should be perfect for breakfast tomorrow with some of the Marmalade I made this week, or maybe for lunch with some homemade Mackerel Pate.
The banana bread I baked today was this recipe, Spiced Banana Loaf, which I came up with last winter. It smells scrumptious, and no doubt we will be having a slice with coffee, after supper tonight.
I hope you all enjoy the snow and have a cosy and happy weekend.
 |
| Baking! I Love it! |
 |
| These bananas will transform into |
 |
| This delicious banana bread! |
 |
| Take a few simple ingredients... |
 |
| And make a wonderful loaf! |
 |
| The framework of a Gingerbread House |
 |
 |
| Happy Baking |
I totally agree: cold weather (snow, if If I get as lucky as you) equals baking. There is this warmth of the baking smell that gets me all warmed up!
ReplyDeleteThis banana loaf is a good idea, cause my bread is already done!
I totally agree..I love baking in all weathers but baking on a cold, snowy day is the best! Your baking looks delicious :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, dear Jude...the same for us here...except we are at minus 20 Celsius! Brr...
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is banana bread time for me...yum.
Your bread is gorgeous...
I peeked at some previous posts...Congratulations on your beautiful new addition to the family...oh, he is so royal! :)
Enjoy the decorating and goodies..
Hugs,
- Irina
How delicious Jude. I completely agree with you - baking is such a lovely thing to do on a cold day. I will try your soda bread recipe next week - it looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat soda bread looks amazing and I am sure you will enjoy that with your marmalade. I made my marmalades and think my lemon one is excellent and the Seville is pretty good but I am going to try one more next week. I made a huge amount & it took ages to reach setting point but did get there eventually. I look forward to seeing the Gingerbread house very much!
ReplyDeletePerfect way to spend a snow day :) Your soda bread looks brilliant!
ReplyDeleteThe cold weather does have its plus side!
ReplyDelete