In order to be eligible to win the autographed, First Edition copy of Judith Ryan Hendrick's book, "Bread Alone", all you have to do is post a comment, stating 1) Whether or not you have ever made "homemade bread". 2) Was it in a bread making machine, or the old-fashioned way? And, it doesn't have to be white bread. Any type qualifies. So, that's it! You may post up to 2 separate comments. Tell all your book-loving and bread-baking friends to stop by and post a comment, too! I loved this book! It's been a couple of years since I read it, but the characters have stayed with me.
Example of your comment: "Yes I've made bread in a bread machine." (It doesn't have to be long and drawn out. But, if you'd like to share what kind of bread, recipes and anecdotes, etc. please do so!)Oh, by the way, chances of winning has nothing to do with whether you made bread by hand, or by machine!The winner will be chosen randomly!
These 2 photos are from my ancient, Betty Crocker, paper back cook book. As you can see in the photo below, the book has been lovingly used many times. Above is the page with the white bread recipe I always followed....the old-fashioned way. I haven't made any bread in a long time, though, except in my bread making machine. I'm hoping this contest will revive that old spirit in me!
"Bread Alone" is not only a fabulous novel, but Judi includes a few mouth watering bread recipes as well. Thus....my reasoning for this contest!!
** Contest will be open from midnight tonight until midnight this coming Friday, Feb.19th. **
"It's so exciting not knowing what is going to happen next. One day I might be baking bread, the next I could be jumping out of an aeroplane!" -- Liz Barker(photos courtesy of Bp)
I was a newlywed soldier's wife in Alaska, befriended by the gal next door who offered to show me how to bake homemade white bread. We punched the dough together and then left it to rise and went for a walk. That mass of dough (massive dough) travelled all over the table, picked up a diaper pin, three pennies, the contents of her husband's ashtray, two copper colored bobby pins for her red hair, and was heading for the edge of the table when we walked back in and discovered the BLOB. I buy bread.
ReplyDeleteWhen my two oldest kids were little I baked bread twice a week (the old fashioned way) and for several years they had no idea what store bought bread tasted like. When I went back to work full time, bread making came to a screeching halt. I do have a bread machine, but only use it for making pizza dough!
ReplyDeleteOMG, Linda, you are on a ROLL (get it?!...okay, sorry)! But really, that's some great flash non-fiction that made me giggle so loudly that I startled the dog.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks, Becky, for bringing back a couple of good memories...one of which is that I do have a breadmaker that I haven't used in years! Am putting bread mix on my grocery list. Yum!
Thanks, Linda! You've got your comedic mojo on, gal!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! I know what you mean about making time for things.It's funny, that with all the "time saving" gadgets we have today, we seem to still not have enough "time"!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tam! Yep, I should dig out my bread making machine from the back of my pantry, dust it off, and fire it up! I love the aroma!
ReplyDelete** If anyone wonders what Tammy and I were referring to about Linda O's comments, click on Tammy's name here, which will take you to her blog. Then click on the comments about the dog and orangutan,,,,and read Linda's!
I have made many, many "quick" breads over the years (chocolate banana is my favorite), but I am just now getting into yeast breads.
ReplyDeleteI have made many loaves in my bread machine and I tried the no-knead method once or twice. Now I want to try the 5-minutes a day recipes. My family loves fresh bread, so why not have the dough on hand all the time?
Happy Valentine's Day!
Thanks, Becky. I know this is probably an impractical place to reply to you, but oh, well. I'm glad that you like Abbott and Costello too.
ReplyDeleteHi Looney Writer! Thanks for replying. And if you'd like to enter this contest, just leave another comment about whether you've ever made homemade bread or not.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have made dozens and dozens of loaves of homemade bread! No, never from a machine. I like the kneading part for stress relief. Ha! Sincerely, Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com P.S. Loved the Ave Maria playing in the background of your blog. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! How fun to have another new visitor! I'm curious as to how you found me. I've stumbled across blogs and wound up being great friends with people I never met in person....Was it BetweenNapsOnThePorch? I noticed that you follow Susan's blog, too! Please feel free to come back anytime!
ReplyDeleteFortunately for my waist line, I'm not a bread baker. I love the stuff way too much.
ReplyDeleteI got distracted by your play list. B.B. King & Eric Clapton did a duet of "Come Rain or Come Shine". Two of my absolute faves!!
Hey Janel! I just realized I missed your comment, when I was replying! I'm so sorry! Thanks! And Happy Valentine's Day back at ya!!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat..I'm with you. I love bread and rolls and desserts..etc.!! And I eat too many of them, but hey...Life is short...eat desserts, (and BREADS) first, right?! Oh, and thanks for the comment on my music! I always love hearing that someone enjoyed it!...And Susan, I meant to tell you that, too! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have not made bread since my 4-H days but I really enjoyed the novel.
ReplyDeleteAlice
Hi Alice! I guess I never knew that about you! I mean, I knew you were in 4-H Club, but not that you hadn't made bread in all those years! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! Come back anytime! And it's great to know that you've already read Bread Alone and liked it! You could be the lucky winner of the autographed copy! :-)
ReplyDeleteFun idea for a contest, Becky! I have made bread, white yeast bread the old fashioned way, but it has been a long time ago. I don't own a bread machine so old fashioned is the only way I could make it. The type of bread I make more often anymore is zucchini bread or banana bread rather than yeast bread that has to rise. I also like to make cornbread, blueberry muffins and biscuits.
ReplyDeleteLOL at Linda's traveling dough story. :-)
Thanks for the contest! Random selection sounds like the types of bread I've made with varying results. I've baked them with beads of sweat rolling down my forehead, armed with "Baking with Julia," a Kitchen Aid, and a makeshift spritzer for french bread to get the crisp in the crust! Through Goodwill hunting, I found a treasured 1995 April edition of a bread machine for $10 that works like a charm for kneading and rising. No more sweat. Only puffs of flour and rye dust on the counter! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Daisy! Yum....I think I want to live near you! Are you getting any new snow tonight? We are. It's been snowing lightly pretty much all day....very pretty!I'm really not tired of it yet...and hey, at least it falls in my yard in inches...and not feet!
ReplyDeleteHello "Cook with me"! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! Stop back anytime!
ReplyDeleteMy mother was the best homemade bread maker and it was a treat coming home from school having a slice of warm bread with melted butter. In high school (Home Economics) our attempt at bread turned into a solid brick that smelled of beer. Totally disgusting. After that I was afraid to attempt it and used the bread machine. Then for our anniversary when I created a French dinner for my husband, I had to make French bread and it turned out beautiful! I loved punching down the dough and never would have dreamed it could take on a life like Linda's! For Valentine's Day I made my Nut Struddel which required a yeast type dough. It was my husband's great grandmother's recipe that he remembered as a kid. It turned out good too, although constantly stirring the nut struddel part for two hours wasn't exactly thrilling. (It didn't say how long in the recipe - no wonder!)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lynn! I'm really enjoying reading everyone's comments! And speaking of Linda's bread dough...that just made me think of the "I Love Lucy" episode where the "girls" attempt to make homemade bread and it comes out of the oven about 12 feet long!!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of that Lucy episode, too!
ReplyDeleteWell, I made my bread yesterday. OHHHH did my house ever smell good! Just the right touch for a snowy afternoon. The smell reminded me that my grandmother used to send over homemade bread in a basket. She only lived a block away. I think of her every time I have fresh bread like that. Thanks for the reminder...and the memory!
Thanks for leaving your comments, Tam!! And how awesome....you actually made homemade bread, because of this!! Wish I could've been there to smell that aroma...talk about "aromatherapy"! And how lovely that your grandma lived only a block away...and sent homemade bread in a basket!!
ReplyDeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteWhen bread machines were all the rave, my dad and step-mom got me one for Christmas one year.
I did made bread in it, and it tasted good, but settled in my belly like a brick. After a few loaves and feeling miserable, I finally gave the bread machine to my best friend in order to avoid temptation.
I do want to learn how to make bread from scratch, like my mom and dad used to do when I was growing up.
I had a girlfriend who once gave me a "start" of sourdough bread that we called "Herman." You keep Herman alive by stirring him every day and on the fifth day, feeding him 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup sugar. Then you let him grow in a container in the fridge for another 5 days, stirring every day until it's time to bake. At that time, the usual flouring and kneading ensues, and the bread turns out yummy, made by hand not machine. Herman keeps literally for years too if you freeze him between baking. When you're ready to bake again, you simply thaw ol' Herman out, and go back to your stirring and feeding routine. All was well with Herman and my family, and we enjoyed many a loaf of bread, until one fateful week, I had to go on an out-of-town business trip and forgot to freeze Herman. He continued to grow and grow...and GROW in his container in the fridge, so much so that he popped his lid, and splattered everywhere! Hubby was, shall we say, upset, which was, alas, the end of poor Herman! Eek! Teri
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy! Thanks for your comments. Sorry you didn't have good luck with your bread machine! If you lived closer, I'd be happy to help you make some homemade bread!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teri! Oh my gosh, your story is as funny as Linda's!! The idea of those "living" things in my fridge, being "used" over and over, well, that's just too freaky for me! I've never had a "Herman" and I don't intend on ever having one!
ReplyDeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteGreat contest.
Let's see. When my kids were little we made made banana nut bread and monkey bread. I've never made white bread that I can remember. I have my daughter's bread machine but haven't used it yet, maybe some day.
Donna
Hi Donna! Thanks! Oooh....I love banana bread and it's one that I actually make quite often. I have my mom's recipe that is good and I also used the one in my ancient Betty Crocker paperback cookbook, too!
ReplyDelete