Just been baking :)

[numpty]

First time I have made bread from scratch and no bread machine!
and haven't made cakes for years!
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs173.snc3/20047_314498559374_526594374_3217878_914328_n.jpg


http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs193.snc3/20047_314497014374_526594374_3217858_1307449_n.jpg

[Dominic]

Can you PM me your postcode Numps? I have the sat nav out and am just about to jump in the car :D

[janice mac]

looks yummy. We have had a cake baking week here, can go back on the diet on Monday!

[Tuckerpoo]

Yum they look delicious Numps. Good for you. Wish I could bake:rolleyes:

[Tuckerpoo]

Can you PM me your postcode Numps? I have the sat nav out and am just about to jump in the car :D

Pick me up on the way please Dom:D

[numpty]

PTS tour bus!!!!! toot toot! all aboard all the cakes and bread you can eat!

[numpty]

using up bits from moc days icing betty crocker lol, and flowers, hundreds thousands when they were really cheap!

[Deedee]

fantastic looking bread Numpts, looks beautiful, enjoy.

[jonquil]

looks lovely :D

[Spottiswoode]

Mmmmmm yum yum, looking good.

[Diamond]

lovely yubbly!! How long are they going to last?!!

[RuthyRu]

can you let me know the bread recipe as it looks incredibly edible..

[numpty]

can you let me know the bread recipe as it looks incredibly edible..

its a jamie oliver one!,
i've never made bread and was surprised how easy it was!


ingredients
• 1kg/just over 2lb strong bread flour
• 625ml/just over 1 pint tepid water
• 30g/1oz fresh yeast or 3 x 7g/¼oz sachets dried yeast
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 level tablespoon fine sea salt
extra flour for dusting

basic bread recipe
snacks and sides
I’m still really mad about bread – I love it. It’s so exciting. It’s such a rewarding, therapeutic, tactile thing and you’ll be so proud of yourself once you’ve cracked it.

Stage 1: making a well
Pile the flour on to a clean surface and make a large well in the centre. Pour half your water into the well, then add your yeast, sugar and salt and stir with a fork.

Stage 2: getting it together
Slowly, but confidently, bring in the flour from the inside of the well. (You don't want to break the walls of the well, or the water will go everywhere.) Continue to bring the flour in to the centre until you get a stodgy, porridgey consistency – then add the remaining water. Continue to mix until it's stodgy again, then you can be more aggressive, bringing in all the flour, making the mix less sticky. Flour your hands and pat and push the dough together with all the remaining flour. (Certain flours need a little more or less water, so feel free to adjust.)

Stage 3: kneading!
This is where you get stuck in. With a bit of elbow grease, simply push, fold, slap and roll the dough around, over and over, for 4 or 5 minutes until you have a silky and elastic dough.

Stage 4: first prove
Flour the top of your dough. Put it in a bowl, cover with clingfilm, and allow it to prove for about half an hour until doubled in size – ideally in a warm, moist, draught-free place. This will improve the flavour and texture of your dough and it's always exciting to know that the old yeast has kicked into action.

Stage 5: second prove, flavouring and shaping
Once the dough has doubled in size, knock the air out for 30 seconds by bashing it and squashing it. You can now shape it or flavour it as required – folded, filled, tray-baked, whatever – and leave it to prove for a second time for 30 minutes to an hour until it has doubled in size once more. This is the most important part, as the second prove will give it the air that finally ends up being cooked into your bread, giving you the really light, soft texture that we all love in fresh bread. So remember – don't fiddle with it, just let it do its thing.

Stage 6: cooking your bread
Very gently place your bread dough on to a flour-dusted baking tray and into a preheated oven. Don't slam the door or you'll lose the air that you need. Bake according to the time and temperature given with your chosen recipe. You can tell if it's cooked by tapping its bottom – if it sounds hollow it's done, if it doesn't then pop it back in for a little longer. Once cooked, place on a rack and allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes – fandabidozi. Feel free to freeze any leftover bread.

[RuthyRu]

Thanks... did you use the fresh yeast or dried?

[Ladyshopper]

Looks yummy Numpty!

[numpty]

dried yeast those little packets :)

[snailsontour]

It must be something in the air 'cos yesterday I made a victoria sponge cake - 1st cake I've made in donkeys years - told dh to think it was his birthday cake come early - birthday 4th March. It was delicious:) Recipe courtesy of Darina Allen.

Bread in our house comes out of the breadmaker - but it is pretty yummy.

Last week it was cherry scones...

Next week - celery:)

[arniep]

Thanks numpty, I haven't made bread since I was 8. I have some yeast and stong flour so might have a go next week.

[Homer J Simpson]

That's a fine pair you've got their numpty

:behindsofa:

[frexy]

That's a fine pair you've got their numpty

:behindsofa:

Yes and they have risen well:p

[Freebird]

I have a sudden urge to make Twinks!

[Floosy]

I have a sudden urge to make Twinks!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

[Freebird]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

It's star week so YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS :D

[Floosy]

It's star week so YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS :D

Mine too so nooooooooooooooo excuse lol xxx

[Freebird]

Spoilsport :mad: :D

[numpty]

go make twinks lolololol

[arniep]

I had a go at making the bread the other day. I think I need advice though. I thought did it in bloomer style, but when I left it for second prove it spread sidewards and didn't go upwards.
It looked like the clay tortoise I made when I was in year 7 at school....flat:o

[mummum123]

I had a go at making the bread the other day. I think I need advice though. I thought did it in bloomer style, but when I left it for second prove it spread sidewards and didn't go upwards.
It looked like the clay tortoise I made when I was in year 7 at school....flat:o

lol I know its not funny but that sounds like what would happen if I tried, really fancy trying to make my own bread though you can almost smell it through the puter screen, and I want to eat it all walm with proper butter. mmmmmmmm:D

Actually think I best not try, can see those pounds hitting my hips lol

[numpty]

I had a go at making the bread the other day. I think I need advice though. I thought did it in bloomer style, but when I left it for second prove it spread sidewards and didn't go upwards.
It looked like the clay tortoise I made when I was in year 7 at school....flat:o

how about putting it on a loaf tin for second prove? that should force it up, btw poundland have them ;)

[numpty]

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs396.snc3/24074_329725024374_526594374_3266405_4329942_n.jpg

mixed herb rolls :)

[mummum123]

numpty - you are doing me no favours at all, they look so so good, are they still warm mmmmmmmmm

[numpty]

nope not warm, (but will be later ;) ) made them yesterday for a party later, trying to stop everyone eating them!

[numpty]

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs436.ash1/24074_329732929374_526594374_3266412_3414584_n.jpg

dads birthday cake!

[mummum123]

love that too, always want to make good cakes, did a train for my lad last birthday but made it from pieced together choc logs from asda and bags of liquorish allsorts lol think i want to make him optimus prime this year but no idea where to start lol

[RuthyRu]

I made the bread last week, it did end up wide and flat but it tasted really good and was simple as could be. Might go for a second batch but try adding seeds or something.:clap2:

[Homer J Simpson]

Numpty - putting your baps online again :shocked:

:behindsofa:

[pookienoodle]

love that too, always want to make good cakes, did a train for my lad last birthday but made it from pieced together choc logs from asda and bags of liquorish allsorts lol think i want to make him optimus prime this year but no idea where to start lol

this is the best site ever for character cakes.
http://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/transformers-cake.html

[pookienoodle]

Numpty
they all look so lush.
I am avoiding baking as its not good for my diet but i might make some healthy muffins and a hedgehog loaf today.

[arniep]

Thanks Numpty, I've have a go at that next time.

[snailsontour]

Confession time, we cheat in our house - Panasonic makes our bread for us - and it turns out fab.

Baked some Pasteis de nata - Portuguese Custard Tarts - yesterday. They looked a total mess, but wow were they delicious. Not sure what went wrong, so will just have practice and make some more:D

What a beautiful Birthday cake Numpty:)

[numpty]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs528.snc3/30011_391543814374_526594374_3746592_5545697_n.jpg

for a harry potter loving friends son!

[addictedtosaving]

That is brilliant Numpty. Well done.

[Floosy]

and there is me thinking Ben 10 wears glasses numpty... Note to self I must wear my glasses at the computer. Tis a good cake - will show you my dinosaur when its made for nephew xx

[markat]

Brilliant Numpty, very impressed - will let you know when my birthday is coming up hun !!

[numpty]

Brilliant Numpty, very impressed - will let you know when my birthday is coming up hun !!

no problem, would you like a manly chest cake !:) :D

[markat]

no problem, would you like a manly chest cake !:) :D

Well either that or a fairy cake !!

[arniep]

Very impressive Numpty!

So where do we send the orders to? :)