A Day at the Beach and English Muffin Loaves
...Every year around this time, there is a huge, two day arts and crafts fair out on Siesta Key, which is just a few blocks and a small bridge away from me. It's affectionately called the Siesta Fiesta. All kinds of amazingly talented artists and craftsmen from all over the country congregate there, setting up booths to display their wares. Whatever you're into, be it jewellry, paintings, sculpture, pottery, or handmade furniture, you will find it at the Siesta Fiesta. I love to go and walk around, take in the fresh sea air and shop like mad! That's exactly what I did last Saturday.
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...The difference for me this year as opposed to past years, is that this time, I had a purpose. Now that I had my blog to think about, I was specifically looking for cool stuff that I could use for cooking as well as in my photographs. Unfortunately, I haven't yet won the lottery, so I couldn't buy everything I wanted to (and I wanted a lot!), but I did get some great stuff that I will be sharing with you, bit by bit, in the coming weeks.
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...My first find is the very thing that inspired me to make the recipe I've chosen for this post: English Muffin Loaves. Isn't is beautiful? It's a bread baking pot! This earthenware pot was crafted by Tom and Denise Chamberlain of Tom Chamberlain Pottery in Brooksville, Florida.
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Tom started out as a potter thirty-five years ago after a stint as an art teacher. His wife, Denise enjoys cooking and baking and believes the whole purpose of pottery is for serving great food. Together, they create beautiful, and functional pieces that are equally at home in the oven or on display. All of their pottery is available for purchase on their website.
..Tom started out as a potter thirty-five years ago after a stint as an art teacher. His wife, Denise enjoys cooking and baking and believes the whole purpose of pottery is for serving great food. Together, they create beautiful, and functional pieces that are equally at home in the oven or on display. All of their pottery is available for purchase on their website.
I had to find something special to make in my little bread pot. The first thing I thought of was my one of my favorite things in the world, No Knead bread. The problem with that was that I didn't have any dough in the fridge and I didn't want to have to wait a day for some to be ready. I wanted bread and I wanted it now! I remembered a recipe for an English muffin bread that I had seen months ago on Val's site over at More Than Burnt Toast. Val is one of my favorite bloggers and her recipes are always sure to please! I had made this bread before and loved it. It has a soft, fluffy and slightly chewy crumb, with just enough "nooks and crannies" to really suck in any topping put on it. Perfect!
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...Val's original recipe had grated cheddar cheese mixed into the dough. It also had a very short rising time, which meant I could be eating fresh, hot bread in just a few hours. I decide to leave the cheese out this time, because a) I wanted to be able to spread jam all over the warm bread; and b) because I didn't have any cheddar and it was raining outside.
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I baked Val's bread in my cute little pot and it turned out beautifully. The top crust was, well.....crusty. The bread inside was divinely steamy and moist. I couldn't have asked for a better recipe to try out in my new find. Thanks, Val!
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I baked Val's bread in my cute little pot and it turned out beautifully. The top crust was, well.....crusty. The bread inside was divinely steamy and moist. I couldn't have asked for a better recipe to try out in my new find. Thanks, Val!
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...English Muffin Loaves
Adapted from Bellini Valli at More Than Burnt Toast
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1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
2 envelopes Fast Rising Active Dry Yeast
2 cups milk
2 tsp salt
6 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
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Dissolve sugar in warm water. Add yeast and let stand 10 minutes then stir well.
Dissolve sugar in warm water. Add yeast and let stand 10 minutes then stir well.
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Combine milk and salt in saucepan. Heat over low heat until lukewarm. Add milk mixture to dissolved yeast.
Combine milk and salt in saucepan. Heat over low heat until lukewarm. Add milk mixture to dissolved yeast.
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Add 3 cups flour combined with baking soda. Mix until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining 3 cups of flour to make a stiff batter. Divide batter in half and press into two 8-1/2 x 4-1/2-inch loaf pans, that have been greased and sprinkled with cornmeal.
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Sprinkle tops with cornmeal and cover.Let rise in a warm place 45 minutes or until centre of loaf is about 1-1/2-inches above edge of pan.
Sprinkle tops with cornmeal and cover.Let rise in a warm place 45 minutes or until centre of loaf is about 1-1/2-inches above edge of pan.
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Bake at 400F for 25 minutes. Remove from pans and cool.
Bake at 400F for 25 minutes. Remove from pans and cool.
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To serve, slice and toast. Spread with butter and your favorite jam.
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Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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Comments
That is a beautiful bread pot. I may attempt to make one for myself one of these days when I can get back to the wheel.
Cheers!
Gabi
What a delicious treat - and I think you've purchased some lovely things!
brava
bye
Can't wait to see more of your finds, Susan!
Isn't it funny the things we look for now that we blog? English muffins seems to popping up everywhere. I feel like I should get the hint...
Never occurred to me to make English Muffins/loaf at home. What a great idea!
Cute turtles.......I had a pet turtle once. Well, I should say that I confiscated a turtle from the side of a pond once. I tried to make him my pet...put him in a baby pool and fed him lettuce. He refused to eat so back to the pond he went. DAMN TURTLE!
Aran- Thank you! I'm all over those craft shows. So much talent!
Patricia- You would really love this bread. It is very easy to throw together and it is great toasted.
Carmen- Thanks!
Manggy- The nooks and crannies are the best part! The butter and jam just soaks right in. The meat sounds pretty good too! ;)
Gretchen- Lol! I know what you mean. Every time I walk into a store, I'm always keeping an eye out for "props".
Susan- Thank you! I'm so glad you like the both! :)
Kevin- Hehehe - everything looks good smothered in jam!
Patsy- Thanks! I'm glad you like my loot.
Homemade English muffins are soooo much better than the store bought. You should give it a try. It's easy.
Obsessive- You go, Girl! A fried ham and egg sandwich would be awesome! Great idea!
Hahaha! We had quite a few pet turtles when my daughter was little. They are the most persnickety little suckers! They just don't do well in captivity. We had one that died from constipation! Can you effing believe that!
Grazie, grazie, grazie.
Loooove the pottery, thanks for posting their website, I'm going there right now!
now that i've gotten that off my chest, cute pot and good-looking bread! :)
These english muffins look yummy - I am a huge carb-lover. English muffins with jam are some of my favorite carby treats. Thanks for sharing :), great pics too btw.
Marie- Thank you! Glad you like them both! :)
Peabody- Thanks! Its a pretty foolproof recipe.
RecipeGirl- Go for it! You really can't mess this one up. Let me know if you do.
Joanne- You're very welcome! I hope it turns out great for you. Let me know!
Grace- Lol! I'm with you on that one. Then again, I'm not that into cheese (except brie).
Canary Girl- Hehehe! You are too cute! I'm glad you like the bread. Please let me know if you do make this and how you liked it.
Cate- Thanks! I was very impressed with all of that lovely pottery!
Mike- Lol! If you made some of this bread, you could bring some to work with you for snack time!
Sophie- Welcome! I'm so glad that you came by. It's very nice to meet you too! For better or for worse, I'm a huge carb lover too.
Glad you like the bread!
Cowgirl- I'm glad you like the bread and the pot! I'm a bit of a pottery nut too. Check out the artist's web site. They have tons of great stuff.
Val- Are you kidding? I love this recipe! I've made it several times, just never posted about it. It really is the best "white" bread. Thank you for sharing it!
check out my latest post. it was inspired by one of your posts...
Thanks.
SGF- Thank you! I'll bet you could bake other things in this pot too.
Jessy- Thanks! Glad you like it.
Barbara- Do try it. You'll be hooked!
lyB- I love to collect pottery pieces too. We get a lot of these kinds of shows here during tourist season. During the summer, it's pretty dull.
Nicole- Welcome and thank you! I'm glad you found me! If you try the bread, let me know how it turns out.
Cakelaw- Thanks! I can't say enough how good this bread is. It's become one of my faves.
CanaryGirl- You are so welcome! I'm so glad you tried it! Even gladder that you loved it! :)