Book & Baking Blog Entry 21

Well, it's been a while since I covered baking.  So, just for fun I'm trying a new recipe that I found on Allrecipes.com.  I also filled out a profile and joined.  It's free.  I just hope that I don't get a bunch of stupid emails (yes, I used the word stupid.  It's not a four-letter word.  Count.)


So, in honor of October (OktoberFest) I'm going to make soft pretzels for our Mommies & Mojitos drop in for drinks on Friday.  Usually I'm a cookie woman, so it will be interesting to see how this recipe turns out.  So far, I'm a little skeptical because you don't boil the bread prior to baking (a traditional method for bagels and pretzels.)

So the pretzels are made.  Ruth and I spent a short period of time putting them together.  I found the recipe on allrecipes.com.  Interesting site.

The recipe itself was very quick and easy to put together.  Flour, sugar, yeast, water, and salt.  Let it rise and cut it into pieces.  Shaping was fun.  Ruth decided that she wanted to help.  She also decided she wanted to eat the dough.  She really liked it.  So we worked together to create "snakes" and then fold them into pretzels.  Then we dipped them into hot water with baking soda dissolved in it (please, someone explain this to me--or maybe I'll look it up on the Internet) and sprinkled them with kosher salt. 

The recipe called for baking at 450 for 8 minutes.  WAY too long in my oven (which is kind of a small, not so reliable oven.) 

So the result is mixed.  They tasted pretty good, although my husband pointed out that they a little sweet.  I have to agree, but once you were into it, it wasn't so sweet as the initial bite.  I would prefer a traditional texture.  I like the, hmmmmm, how do you describe the traditional outside of a soft pretzel--leathery? outside.  Oh, for heaven's sake.  You know what I mean.  And the inside wasn't as moist and chewy.  The trade off is that these were REALLY fast and easy and you don't stand over a pot of boiling water.

Here was the bonus: My husband, not liking my water boiling skills, bought me a hot water maker.  Maybe that's not what it's called.  I actually thought that it was a bit silly.  However, today, for the water and baking soda wash I needed hot water and had the 4 cups right at my fingertips!  YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!  Thank you technology.  I really should be more open to new technology than I am...:)

I'm going to make another batch of these for Mommies & Mojitos.  It should go well with the beer. 

Happy Baking. 

AND for those who are more interested in books:  I just started Case Histories (an awesome friend highly recommended it to me about 2 years ago.)  So far it's making me cringe BUT it is somewhat riveting.  I just wonder how someone who can't watch Pieces could read this book.  A bit gruesome.  S

So bon appetite and happy reading.

Book & Baking Blog Entry 13

Pastries I have known and loved.

My favorite city is Rome. It's beautiful. There is culture. The food is excellent. If you know where to go the wine is good.

But if you want the best pastries on earth go to Germany. Yes, the beer is good. Go for the beer stay for the bread. We arrived last night at 9 pm. It is 24 hours later. So far I have eaten brotchen to die for, a strawberry pastrie with a touch of custard, and a poppyseed swirl that was good as well.

For a snack we had a Warm melt-in your-mouth cinnamon pastry that was so good my 3-year-old cried when she didn't get the last bite.

Did I mention the bread service at meals? They served these excellent rolls-not Some faux sourdough. crusty on the outside-chewy on the inside! And some kind of bizarre yet tasty onion spread.

Yum! Happy eats from Hamburg: pictures later.