New project and new bread
The craziness continues over here with more bread making! I know, I'm not really sure what's gotten into me either. After the successful loaf I posted earlier, I've made 3 more using variations on that No Knead recipe. They all came out ok but a little bland, so I've started experimenting with other bread recipes. Here's the one I made yesterday:
I used this basic recipe that does call for kneading but only takes about 2 hours to rise. It didn't rise very much because I don't have a loaf pan so I just put it on a baking sheet, but the texture and flavor were both perfect. Here's what the inside looks like:
It was so good Adam and I ate half the loaf immediately! I have a real problem letting the bread cool down before cutting into it (have I ever mentioned I'm impatient?), and I'm sure it would have been even better had I let it cool down first. Probably the other loaves could have benefited from that, and maybe a little extra baking, too.
Since I can't seem to think of anything other than bread, I went out and bought a few necessary tools like an oven thermometer -- which revealed that my oven sucks at keeping an even temperature. No surprise given how old it probably is. Next I have to get a loaf pan and some oven mitts, I burned myself on the oven's roof (not too badly and doesn't affect the knitting, don't worry).
I've been giving half of each loaf to my parents each week when we see them and they, if possible, are enjoying this even more than me! I got a request from my Dad yesterday to make a loaf with nuts in it. . . so that's what I'll be trying next. And one with olives for me, I love olive bread. . . too many choices! At least this is a really cheap hobby!
As for the promised new project, here's the first half, fresh off the needles:
The color's a little crazy in this picture, the pink is a baby pink and the brown is a heathered chocolate brown, and the yarn is String Classica again (yes Shana I went with my first instinct!). I absolutely fell in love with the Herringbone Mitts pattern from Elliphantom Knits and had to immediately cast on. I had some trouble getting the colorwork started, it kept not lining up, but then I stopped trying to follow the chart and just looked at the pattern as it emerged an it went very smoothly after that. The pattern is very clear and clever, you should try it too!
It's finally gotten cold here in NYC and I could really have used these today . . .
5 Responses
weaverknits
Wonderful Neopolitan color combo. I have a bathing suit with similar stripes. Yum!
Emily
Mmmm. That bread looks lovely! And I love a Herringbone pattern. My mom is in NYC and I’m going to be making her a scarf and hat for Christmas.
Shana
Hey, save me some bread. I’m hungry over here ;-) I forgive you for going with the pink and brown. It is a classic color combo after all and they do look really nice together. Save some of that brown Classica for me, by the way!
Lella
That mitten is really beautiful. It’s a temptation to make mittens like that.
The bread looks perfect. Just like an artisan bread. Soon I will have a new stove and an oven, after months of no oven, and I am going to make us some BREAD! ;-)
Elli
November 13, 2007
woo-hoo! it’s so cool to see the first herringbones show up in blogland! so…are you going to Pom?