5/31/12

B is for Baking Bread...Then and Now

Grab an Apron from my last weeks Letter A post, A is for Apron, and let's Bake Bread...the old fashion way.  Or at least the way it was baked back in the 1880's on the West Texas Frontier.

White Bread Recipe:
Boil 3 medium size potatoes in one quart of water.  Mash and strain through a colander.  Add the water in which they were boiled.  When cool add sufficient flour to make a stiff batter, one yeast cake after soaking in a little water, one tablespoon of white sugar, one half or more teaspoon of salt.  Let stand until morning.  Boil one pint sweet milk to which add one teaspoon of lard and one of butter, one tablespoon sugar.  Let come to a boil and cool...then add flour and sponge.  Let rise from three to four hours and knead into loaves.  Rise until pans are full and bake an hour.
 Did you notice the call for a 'Yeast Cake'?  In the 1880's, compressed Yeast Cake was a luxury and a new item for the homemade bread maker.  It replaced the home-made liquid yeast which was made from potatoes.   Some potato yeasts would never sour, while others had to be used within a week.  The yeast was usually kept in a yeast jug and often measured in gills.  A Gill is equal to eight large tablespoons.
That was Then....This is Now!!!
Yes, I BAKE BREAD!!!
Here's my Recipe
For More Gluten Free Recipes

17 comments:

  1. Just lovely! Things have changed, but as long as we make it with love, its just as good! Found you through Share your cup, love the look of your blog, think Ill be following along from now on. Blessings!

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  2. I will leave the cooking to you. Will take big helpings and enjoy anything you cook.

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  3. Things have sure changed. :)

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  4. Goodness! Looks like my pantry! I am not gluten intolerant, mine is a respiratory allergy to milk! Love your big blue bowl. Wonderful!
    Cheers
    R

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  5. There's nothing like fresh baked bread. The only bread I make from scratch routinely are biscuits. Speaking of which, I need to do this week. Now following...

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  6. Sue, you are so smart. I think I want to be your neighbor. ;-) ♥

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  7. Your bread looks so delicious! I can almost smell the aroma from your kitchen. For a while I made my own bread. My first time was from a recipe from the Joy of Cooking.

    Enjoy a wonderful day,
    Marianne

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  8. Awesome! I will definitely check out your GF recipe. So glad that the world is getting more wise to GF cooking/eating.

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  9. My mom invented a bunch of gluten free recipes for my adult son because of an allergy he had as a child. I think she was ahead of her time!

    =)

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  10. Hi Sue,
    Ooh that homemade bread looks yummy. My grandmother used to make 12 loaves every Sunday morning before she went to church and remember her using yeast cakes.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  11. You lost me when you put a sponge in the flour??? Can I just come over and you can teach me to make bread??? :)~Ames

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  12. Anonymous6/01/2012

    The above comment made me laugh! I'm glad I don't have to make my bread the 1880s way. My goal is to get a KitchenAid so I don't have to knead any more. Not my favorite part! Love that blue bowl!

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  13. Anonymous6/01/2012

    P.S. Somewhere in my treasures is a picture of me on a pony, just like yours! Taken in Odessa, TX in about 1953.

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  14. Ames is cracking me up! Ha Ha! You are one talented lady Sue! My mother always baked fresh bread. Sigh. Life has changed. I need to catch that A post. How did I miss it last week? Hmmm.... Have a good weekend and as always I appreciate your nice comments to me. You are a wonderful friend and one I have known for a long while here.

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  15. Fresh baked bread. Yum. the smell, and the joy of a nice warm slice with butter always make me happy.

    -Catherine

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  16. I always used to bake my bread with the sponge method.

    And...

    I made it in a blue bowl almost exactly like the one you have pictured.

    I love all the homey arts...baking bread is one of my favorites.

    Thanks for a beautifully delicious link to the letter "B".

    A+

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