Breaking Bread

"Grateful for this Day"

No sooner had COVID-19 pandemic hit than the country (and world) began a great race for baking supplies. Apparently, sourdough baking photos and recipes trended big time on social media. I missed that message. 

During the spring of 2020 it became increasingly difficult to buy gluten-free flours and yeasts. We already had a season's supply of rice and beans stocked; baking soda, laundry detergent, vinegars, bleach, isopropyl alcohol and other essentials followed, including a season's supply of toilet paper. Gluten-free baking items were next on my challenge list as a Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive person. The NCGS part is a medical story for another day. (Message me if you're interested.) Some favorite baking ingredients were found sporadically at Bob's Red Mill, King Arthur Flours, and GFJules. The strange thing about this is that I didn't eat much bread prior to the pandemic. Something as simple and humble as fresh baked bread elicited memories of friends, community and warmth. I was on a mission. Bread became love. If we couldn't be with loved ones, at least we could offer food to them. 

Timing is everything in baking. We have a wonderful but somewhat older stove with two ovens. The big oven (and central controller) died just before the pandemic hit. The smaller oven is basically a warming oven. Not suitable for well calibrated baking. 

I quickly bought a bread maker. It's a low end one. I didn't think we'd use it for long. Replacement parts for our oven are difficult to obtain. I'm still determined to repair it rather than replace it. So for now, we use the bread maker (and another gizmo we've since purchased). 

Next challenge:  I wanted to master three very different, gluten-free bread recipes.

The beauty of this challenge was the crowd sharing of opinions and tastes while we experienced the pandemic's heightened fears and uncertainties. 

How do you break bread with friends while physically isolated? 

After several starts and stops with some recipes, friends contributed their opinions as to which recipe and which baking time was best. Special thanks to Liz and Michael for detailed critiques. And of course, thanks to Alan. Always thanks to Alan. 

The recipe posted today is a yeast bread. It's a bit on the sweet side. It has honey in it. Honey is not welcome on a strict vegan diet. People undergoing a FODMAP challenge shouldn't have it, especially people who have a problem with fructose. The irony of this recipe is that I probably should not take in elevated amounts of honey, and I definitely try to avoid yeast! This was too good not to refine so that I can serve it. Although it slices well enough for thick sandwiches, this recipe is great for toast. (Please message me if you agree.) This week we tried air frying a slice in a toaster oven shaped air fryer (without oils or butter). Wow! 


The best version of this recipe is found on Perfect Bread Machine Gluten Free Bread -- Jenuine Home Website.

Not only is her recipe superb but extensive spirited comments follow. Those comments might help you tweak your settings for your specific bread machine. Not all bread machines react the same. In particular, gluten-free settings on bread machines vary significantly. Is one rise included when using the gluten-free preset? Do they actually use two? (They shouldn't. My machine's default did.) 

Here's Jen's version. We tried some similar recipes. We tried tweaking some. Jen deserves all the credit for this one. 

Please visit her website and leave her a comment. 

You'll need a bread machine. I used this one:  Hamilton Beach Bread Maker Machine Artisan and Gluten Free Although it says it has a dedicated gluten free setting I wouldn't use it for this. 

**. With this model I use the basic settings (#1) and tweak the total baking time to 2 house and 40 minutes. **
It could really use 2:45 when cooking in our New England kitchen. (Your altitude and humidity will vary the results. Play around.) 
I could set my bake time for 2:50 and then stop it 5 minutes early, or I could simple buy a better gluten-free bread maker.
There are good reviews of the Cuisinart  ones. If you're super serious then look at the Zojirushi Bread Makers. I've heard they're the bomb for gluten-free bread baking. we're grateful for the one we have. It will do. Someday we'll be back to the big oven.  

Like Jen, we use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Flour. It makes a difference! I love the other flours mentioned above for other recipes. For this recipe:  Bob's rules!
I buy it directly from Bob's when I can. During the COVID-19 rush I had to order it from Amazon when I could not find it elsewhere. 

btw, if you don't know the story of Bob's Red Mill -- especially the parts about putting people before profits, and then giving his employees all shares in the company when he retired. Yeah, I have no trouble supporting Bob's. If you can find a clip of Peter Jennings with them be sure to have tissues on hand. 


Oil or butter?  Dairy free? No problem. I've made this with olive oil. I bet some lighter oils will work nicely. 

Honey or sugar? Well, here's a problem for vegans. I've only successfully used honey. I bet sugar would work well, too. After I test with the maple syrup I'll report back here. 

Active dry yeast!  Yes! Quick-Rise -- also a yes. I use Red Star and it works fine. 
However, I found it works best unrefrigerated. 

Eggs -- haven't tried it yet with an egg substitute. Will edit when I do. 
Bring them to room temperature first for best results.

Salt -- fancy and plain. They work.

Jen also recommends a cooling rack. 

I'd like to remind you to put the mixing paddle in your machine to start; remove it when you're done. 



Sharing bread. Breaking bread. This was such a beautiful way to celebrate love, friendship and community during uncertain times. We felt we were rising above the pandemic and already celebrating some of what is right in this world:  the people who make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. People outside of our close circles who were making a difference also received some bread. It's a beautiful time to honor goodness in the world. Despite reports:  there's still a lot of goodness – and room for more.   

May you also feel the hope, joy and love we found when sharing this. May your triumphs in 2022 be bigger and better than simply finding yeast. 





Photo:

Grateful for this Day

©2020 Connie Drapeau Kennedy

www.thewelcomegallery.com

Studio:  781.837.6021

Juried into North River Arts Society's "Festival of the Arts 2021"