Our Daily Bread

Hi Lovelies,
I've been meaning to share this great recipe with you for a while now.  Easy peasy scrummy yummy bread.  We bake at least one loaf a day!  The original recipe can be found over here.

I follow most of it with one or two alterations.  Here's what we do:

In a bowl thoroughly mix together:
1.5 cups of water
3 tsps of Edmonds Surebake yeast (if you are using a different type you'll probably need to change the quantity)
3 cups of flour
1.5 tsps of salt

Cover with Gladwrap and let it rise for 12 - 18 hours.  We usually make up the dough between 5-6pm and bake around 7am the next morning before heading out the door.

Set the oven to 220'C.  Place an enamel covered cast iron pot (or anything with a lid that can take the heat) in the oven to pre-heat at the same time until the oven is up to temperature.

Now turn the risen dough out onto a heavily floured surface.  This dough is super sticky so it pays to flour your hands too.  Shape it into a ball and then pop it into the hot pot.  Be careful of that hot pot!

Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on.  After this time remove the lid and bake for a further 5 minutes or so without it, if it needs further browning.

It should come out smelling and looking delicious!  Place the bread on a wire rack to cool.

Finally slice and enjoy!

Edit:  A wee tip I've been meaning to give for ages to speed the process up:
Use lukewarm water and sprinkle the yeast on top.  Then chuck in the flour and salt.  The warm water will help the yeast activate quicker.
Using warm water or even on a hot day, the dough will be ready in a matter of 2 or 3 hours.  You dont have to bake it straight away of course but it does help if you need a loaf on the same day!
We often mix at night and bake in the morning, or mix in the morning and bake in the evening.  On the weekends we often mix a loaf in the morning and by the time lunch rolls along we have a steaming loaf fresh out of the oven!
Also, we often add seeds and nuts and occasionally use wholemeal flour.  Just experiment with what works.  We don't really measure any additions and haven't had a dodgy loaf yet!  It's just so versatile and easy!

Have a happy week!
L x

Lately...

Hiho everyone,
Life has been manic and sadly I haven't had much time for my wee blog!  We've been busy with appointments, work, crafting and everything in between!

Lots of things on the go as I frantically try to get my gifts completed for my Advent Swap partner Miriam... Exciting!  December should make up for the lack of action on here lately!

Also coming up in December:  announcing a new crafty linky with its own brand new button and the promise of giveaways!  Whoop whoop!

So a quick Hi and Bye from me but I'll be back!!
L x

And I cant have a photo-free post so here is one from a couple of weeks ago taken by the talented Sammy to help with a project she was working on... xx

A time to Love: My Man

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Time to laugh:  An evening of comedy with my hubby thanks to tickets from friends.

Time to notice: The increasing amount of white/grey hairs he has appearing among all the jet black ones.  

Time to appreciate:  We are getting older, and hopefully wiser.

Time to consider:  How fortunate we are to still be together.

Time to love: This man who is my constant, my best friend, my rock, my love.

L xx

A moment to breathe...

I'm finally grabbing a moment to write about the wonderful weekend we recently had.   What started off as a quiet crafty night away for 2 or maybe 3 gals grew into a jovial special weekend of 6 - 8 ladies coming from a few different locations!

We found an awesome little cottage in Leigh that could sleep a few more than just 2 people ... and before we knew it Deb, Juliet and Miriam were flying up from Christchurch and Laura was driving South from her Northern location for us all (including Cat!) to converge on Leigh/Matakana.

We enjoyed the Matakana Markets on Saturday morning and dinner with Sammy and Simone who drove up  specially (more lovey bloggy ladies!)!  Opshops were visited, we played with the clothes at Anna Stretton, the weather was beautiful, the company delightful.

It was bliss.  It was extremely timely, relaxing, deserved and we all needed it more than we realised.  We talked, and crocheted, and talked, and stitched, and talked, and ate, and talked and sewed, and talked, and laughed and hugged.

It will hold a special place in my memory bank - meeting and spending time with such beautiful women, on the inside and out, full of wisdom, smiles, support, encouragement and understanding.  I feel utterly blessed to have made such great friends from blogging.  Thank you for making the effort to travel and spend the weekend ladies - Love you guys!

Cant wait till the next girlie crafty weekend!
Have a great week everyone!
L x

Photo's all courtesy of Juliet, Deb and Cat  :)