Adventures in Bread-making

Today Zeek asked me to make some bread. That’s a rather unusual request from him and something I really enjoy doing, so I decided to give it a go.

Step 1

I gathered everything I’d be needing and set to it. I started out with 3 cups of all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon of yeast, and a teaspoon of salt.

Step 2

After mixing all the dry ingredients I added some quite hot water and began to stir.

Step 3

This process makes a rather moist, shaggy dough. That’s as it should be, so if you’re cooking along with me don’t worry.

Step 4

After shaping the ball I covered the bowl with shrink film and left it to rise for three hours. It didn’t quite double, but it was close.

Step 6

Next, I turned it out onto a well-floured surface and shaped it again. This dough doesn’t require kneading! Look at the lovely holes created by the yeast!

Step 7

At this point I put the dough onto parchment paper and into a bowl and covered it with a tea towel.

Step 8

Now, I had to turn my attention to getting ready to cook! I took the Dutch oven and put it into the oven and set the gas to 450°F and waited for it to reach temperature.

When the stove was fully heated I lifted the dough ball, with the parchment paper, into the hot Dutch oven and shoved it inside to bake for half an hour.

Step 9

After thirty minutes I took it out, removed the lid and the parchment paper and put it back inside to bake for another fifteen minutes.

Just look at that loaf! Beautifully done, crisp crust, and a nice hollow sound when I thumped it.

Step 10

Oh, and yes, it’s just as tasty as can be! Go ahead, give this bread a try. It’s as easy as falling off a log. You’ll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by today! Since you’re surfing the ‘net anyway and you’re clearly a reader, why not pop over to Amazon and get a copy of New Yesterdays for your reading pleasure? Pick up extra copies for the young folk in your life. They’ll thank you for it and Ol’ Big Jim will too! Just click either of those highlighted links and, like magic, you’ll be off on a delightful adventure!

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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7 Responses to Adventures in Bread-making

  1. That parchment paper is genius

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Caz Greenham Author's avatar Caz Greenham says:

    That bread…looks simply delish, our Jimbo.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. jaysquires's avatar jaysquires says:

    Dang, but that bread looks yummy. You gave all the ingredients their due except the amount of hot water.

    BTW, I bought your book and read the first chapter, but I have another ahead of it for my reading. Yours has some fascinating young characters. I like that.

    When you’re between slices of bread, why not give my new website a gander. http://septuagenarianjourney.com/ I think you’ll like what I’m doing with it. Check out the Start Here and About and a few of the categories. Let me know what you think. Oh, the name is in process of being changed to Bondingfyre.com.

    Jay

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ol' Big Jim's avatar Ol' Big Jim says:

      The mind is slipping fast, Jay. I proofread that post four times. The water amount was 1 3/4 C. Thanks for buying the book! I look forward to your reaction.. Now, I’m off to septuagenarianjourney!

      Like

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